Red Bug in the Banana Tree

[Don Ellis]

I don't really set out to photograph bugs... I just wander over to the banana tree and the red ones stand out...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/redbug551.jpg

Climbed up on three-feet-tall stacks of cement plates, rocked around a bit, got steady, reached waaaay out with the camera in one hand, half-pressed the shutter, found it was going to be a 0.3-second exposure. Got down, assembled the 420EX flash with off-camera cord, climbed back up, checked to make sure yawning ravine was still there, slapped a big wet banana leaf out of my face repeatedly, took 22 photos, kept one.

Canon G2, 1/60 sec., f7.1, 420EX and off-camera cord, Hoya +10 Macro Lens. He's a little over 3/4-inch long (1.9cm).

Don

[marie]

another laugh
: )))

its a great shot
and to think the bug never even budged all through that
what a sight it had ......... looking at you
just which of you was more creepy/ perculiar looking is the question

what we do for love....
to photograph pictures of these things, loving them.
I wish they knew about us all
and macro mania
I don't think any one of us sets out to do anthing 'off the cuff' like this
it just happens when we are 'passing' more or less, we see the creatures and the idea clicks

it seems to be some kind of 'soldier' beetle
so you could have been shot : )
they are beautiful colours especially on that leaf
and that looks like a caterpillar in its grasp
but it must (or could be) just its underside.

great face and long back legs

(and thats only the beetle : )))))))))))))))))))))

marie

[pappy]

Another incredible photo, excellent composition and stunning colours, It's sure watching you, probably wondering about that thing with one huge eye..;)

Regards,
Peter

[SoCal69]

As always Don, your photos are magnificent. You seem to have some of the most fascinating subjects!

[Don Ellis]

marie wrote:
another laugh
: )))

its a great shot
and to think the bug never even budged all through that

Actually the bug budged all over the place, at one point running out of sight up the banana stem and into the trunk. Fortunately, it returned a few minutes later.

Then it hung around the untidy gutter of the stem for awhile...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/redbug4.jpg

...when there were so many cleaner spots that were more attractive...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/redbugleaf.jpg

it seems to be some kind of 'soldier' beetle
so you could have been shot : )
I was a Marine, and we're not supposed to be afraid of soldiers. :)

they are beautiful colours especially on that leaf
and that looks like a caterpillar in its grasp
but it must (or could be) just its underside.

great face and long back legs
(and thats only the beetle : )))))))))))))))))))))
Tres cute. :) You're lucky I'm such a nice, understanding guy.

Don

[Don Ellis]

pappy wrote:
Another incredible photo, excellent composition and stunning colours, It's sure watching you, probably wondering about that thing with one huge eye..;)
Hi, Peter,

Thank you... glad you liked it. After he first ran away from me and then returned, I got the feeling he didn't really care. I have a feeling it's because the lens is so huge that it blocks me while it keeps him amused.

Just a theory, of course.

Don

[Don Ellis]

socal69 wrote:
As always Don, your photos are magnificent. You seem to have some of the most fascinating subjects!
Hi Chuck,

Thank you, thank you. I am fortunate in that there's always something happening in the garden. I took this shot one-handed, reaching through all the rubber tree leaves, at 1/10th of a second -- the light was fading fast. He's sitting on an old wagon wheel we salvaged from Leela's pub when she sold it...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/lizard1.jpg

Don

[marie]

thank you and for the great closeup's again of the beautiful coloured bug don
and of the leaf and stems.
grimy and otherwise
such wonderul clear detail in that last beautiful green leaf shown here

when looking at the first picture
it looks as though it is green paint slightly dripping off the leaf.

this last picture of the bug.........
it 'looks' like the caterpillar is taking the soldier
(...he must be a marine after all ) for a ride now
and there never was/is a caterpillar at all.

just imagine what else is going on in the garden,
all that you can't see

: )

croak
( again )

marie

and many thanks for info. re those wonderful antique ducks
etc etc etc

[pappy]

All are wonderful photos...the last one "one-handed reaching through all the rubber tree leaves" is tremendous, 1/10th no less (I'd have a blurry mess).

Thank you again, I appreciate you posting these.

Regards,
Peter

[MetallicAchu]

Don.

Excellent shots!
Very nice and very sharp colors.
The variance between the red and green colors just make the picture :)

[Jorge]

That’s a really nice colourful bug. Amazing to see how many really good shots you get from the banana trees - also liked your "banana gallery" a lot. Keep them coming!

[Don Ellis]

Marie -- that "green paint" is just rainfall that is smearing rather than collecting in droplets. I visited the banana tree between rain squalls. The phantom "caterpillar" has always been his shadow from the flash.

Peter -- 1/10th of a second one-handed is about my limit, and not every time. Sometimes the earth's rotation, muscular twitches, exhalations, gravity and small stems all come together at the right moment.

Shachar -- thank you... I agree about the colors. Now I'm totally spoiled for any other bug shots, "Sorry, you're not red; come back after you molt," and "Forget it, you're on a brown background."

Jorge -- thanks very much. It is surprising how many things live around the banana tree. It's a frequent reminder of the interdependence of all living things.

Thank you all for looking and brightening an unsunny Sunday.

Don

[fishfool]

I am in shock at how gorgeous these photos are. the colors are spectacular as is the focus... i'll bet there's no way I would ever get something that awesome out of my Canon SD1000 but I'm hard pressed not to try... -Fishfool @ The Reef Tank (http://thereeftank.com)

[Cheiri]

The first is absolutely spectacular.

[Ballen Photo]

I am in shock at how gorgeous these photos are. the colors are spectacular as is the focus... i'll bet there's no way I would ever get something that awesome out of my Canon SD1000 but I'm hard pressed not to try... -Fishfool @ The Reef Tank (http://thereeftank.com)
Don is indeed a very good photographer. :)
BTW, Anyone notice that this thread is 5 years old? Don has not even posted around these parts in two years. :confused:
I hope everything is OK in his world, and wish he would return once in a while. His presence is missed. :(
-Bruce

[fishfool]

yeh come back! i wanna hassle you for information!!! :D