Mating ladybirds etc (56K warning)

[dpastern]

Managed to spot these yesterday afternoon, they were mating underneath the table, I was very lucky to spot them. They were upside down, so the shots have been of course rotated the right way ;) I'm absolutely stoked with these shots :)

Dave

[dpastern]

Here are two more shots of other ladybirds...The one that is looking at me I've jokinly titled "What you looking at punk". The other shot shows the ladybird with a dent in its shell, what would cause that?

Dave

[dpastern]

And one more, a ladybird on the ground, on a leaf with what looks like a damaged wing!

Dave

[LordV]

Wonderful captures Dave.
#1&2 are brilliant- great angle- excellent focus etc.:)
Brian V.

[dpastern]

Thanks :) I'm really happy with #1 it's most probably my best shot so far.

Dave

[pxl8]

Lovely series, esp. the first. The shallow DoF meant you only got one set of eyes in focus but I think you made the right choice, his expression is wonderful.

[Choderboy]

I think #1 and #2 are excellent. You really invaded their privacy :)

[dpastern]

I did, didn't I. I did make a comment to them along the lines of "fancy a condom?" and I think that's when the male gave me that look that I captured in image #1 ;)

Thanks for the kind words guys :)

Dave

[Athena]

Great shots Dave. I think the dented ladybug was the one on the bottom in the first two shots. :)

[dpastern]

Great shots Dave. I think the dented ladybug was the one on the bottom in the first two shots. :)

Good thinking, but nope! These two were at it for well on the 45 minutes that we were there, who knows how long before we got to the park, and how long after! Talk about stamina!

Dave

[Omri Alon]

Great shots :D I love the colors :D Too bad only the male is in focus in the first pic :(

[melvynyeo]

I love the BG for #1. Maybe a landscape shot ? Excellent sharpness and colors too! Well done :D

[dazzlebea]

They were upside down, so the shots have been of course rotated the right way
Dave

Since you live down under that wasn't really necessary ;) .

These are your best shots yet! Did you change your settings? Love them :D

[Jeff2909]

I like the colors. Maybe you should have given them a room or a matchbox:)Jeff

[dpastern]

Since you live down under that wasn't really necessary ;) .

These are your best shots yet! Did you change your settings? Love them :D

Thank you! I think that it's my best shot (image #1) yet. Nothing done differently to the norm, shutter speeds faster and exposure dead on. I'm not having too many issues with the exposure, it's just keeping myself still and taking sharp images that's giving me such a dreadful time. That said, I took this shot crouching down awkwardly, with no support at all, other than my legs, I'm quite surprised that they came out so sharp. Furthermore, they were deep in shadow, so it was hard to see if I'd focused accurately or not. I don't have bad eyes, they're pretty good, but my hands don't appear to be very steady it seems.

I'm really glad these shots came out so well, cos they're good behavioural shots! Glad you liked them!

Dave

[dpastern]

I like the colors. Maybe you should have given them a room or a matchbox:)Jeff

hahaha, they looked quite cosy where they were, I did offer the male a condom (seriously, I said to it, "you want a condom!"). I think I'm going mad, since I'm starting to talk to the insects lol!!!

Dave

[Lester Wareham]

Great shots #1 one is best IMHO.