I've added the #phonography contest of to my weekly blog post in which I gather the different #photocontests that we have on Hive.

I really like the idea of a #phonography contest. For me as an amateur photographer the introduction of camera's on smartphones was a huge leap forward. I do have a 'regular' camera, but of course I don't carry it with me all day. Since I have my phone with me almost all-time, I can make photographs every time I see something interesting (and I can tell you that happens to me quite a lot).
And the quality of the phone camera's have gotten so much better in the past years.

My entry; Fire bugs

Last weekend I was making a walk with my wife when I spotted something red on a nearby tree trunk. At first I thought it was fungi or something, but when I came closer I saw it was a huge pile of fire bugs. I have never seen so many of them gathering together. Of course I pulled out my smartphone and took a photo.
Later on I used ChatGPT to find out why firebugs would gather together. ChatGPT came up with four reasons:

• Thermoregulation: (they are cold blooded and warm up in the sun)
• Safety: Grouping together can offer safety in numbers. When they gather, their bright red and black coloring serves as a warning to predators (aposematism) that they are distasteful or toxic.
• Mating Behavior: Fire bugs are also known to congregate during their mating season. Large gatherings increase the chance of finding a mate, helping to ensure reproduction.
• Food Availability: Fire bugs often cluster near food sources, such as linden seeds or other plant matter.

Despite the fact you cannot always trust the outcome of AI tools I do like to use it for answering these kind of questions.

Anyways... I found it an interesting photo to share with you for the #phonography contest. I hope you like it too!