Pumpkin Patch Revisited (5 photos)

[Don Ellis]

I visited the pumpkin patch yesterday to see what was about. Almost nothing, as it turned out.

I was reduced to taking shots of tiny tendrils and a large fly when a never-before-seen-by-me ladybug landed on my camera. When I tried to move it off, it flew to a nearby leaf and I took a few photos. And just as I was about to head home, I looked left and spotted this inch-long mantis looking back -- 150 shots later, here's what I'm left with...

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

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/mantislook1.jpg

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

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

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

Cheers,

Don

They were taken with a Canon G2 and either +10 or +15 diopters.

[indiana_jones]

amazing shots!!!! good job

[djudes]

What a great expression on the little guy's face in #'s 1 & 2. These are nice.

[RbnDave]

Awsome shots! I love the greens and your compostion is great too.

[shniks]

Great photos! I really love the first, its as if it is looking wistfully away into the distance, and I love the way its face is the only thing in focus.

[cmM]

Looks like you've mastered the art of macro photography. Amazing shots (but I already knew that before I even saw the pictures :wink: )

[CyberDyneSystems]

Doc Mantis strikes again! Wow.. it's been too long Don.. these are fantastic!

Shame on you for depriving us for so long! :)

[vfilby]

How did you get the black background against the mantis? The contrast between the green and the black is very pleasing, I like it alot.

Vince

[Don Ellis]

Thanks very much to all of you for taking the time to comment. It's always nice to hear from everyone (especially since you say such nice things). If it's been awhile, CDS, it's because I've been working... amazing, but true.

Thanks as well to everyone for pointing out the shots you like best and why you like them. I always find that interesting.

As for the black background, one of the challenges in photographing these little helmet-heads is the shine off their pates and bodies, so I generally shoot with a -1/3 or -2/3 exposure compensation. Then, in Photoshop, I set my levels, duplicate the layer and set the resulting layer mode to Multiply and the opacity to 100%, although that percentage should be adjusted to taste.

I try to frame the photos so that the background is as dark as possible (combined with the natural blurring you get with +10 or +15 diopters). In these two cases, the original background was a very dark green -- when I did the Multiply layer, it became black. I very seldom use a brush to make backgrounds black.

This post-processing routine has yielded better results to my eye than going in with stronger negative exposure compensation.

Cheers,

Don

[thapamd]

Excellent! 1st one is the gem from this nice series...I guess the "eyes" have it. :)

[Don Ellis]

Excellent! 1st one is the gem from this nice series...I guess the "eyes" have it. :)

Thank you... I agree. If I were only posting one shot, it would be the first one.

Cheers,

Don

[marie]

wonderful shots Don
the first shot with the face showing it's hard to believe the whole insect is only one inch long

looking around smartly at you he seems to be thinking ......
'I heard about this fellow who shoots us but never thought I would meet him in the flesh '
:mrgreen:

I love the second and the third shot also.
he would look good playing the piano (a tiny one)

let's imagine him doing that for a second here

:mrgreen:
in the third shot it look as though he is walking away after playing to the green audience.


the bug shot is wonderful and so clear .
it must be tiny and hard to imagine that from the photograph except the leaf is so exposed and detailed

I hope you don't mind if I post something re the 'beautiful' bug
I was looking through a tiny book (which I have for years)
and it explains something which just may be what is happening this one and it is not mature yet.
then again it could be a mature species all of it's own and it's type has yet to be discovered. the little book certainly does not cover the millions which must be around
it's really nice to see the shot so close up .
and if it happens to be ladybird bug it will be an amazing shot
( without the dots)
:lol:
not many will have seen it before.
I did'nt
I imagine they are very difficult to spot in heavy growth.
not much like the bright red polka dots of the mature ladybird :mrgreen:
so you got lucky to see it at all
and in turn so did we
:D
thanks Don

[marie]

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/102761/Scan200222678.jpg

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/102761/bugs8766_L.jpg

this little fellow may not be exactly like what you captured in the picture Don.
but could this be what happens and it is a young ladybird :?
(but yours have legs so it may not be the case :? )

hope you don't mind me posting these

[Don Ellis]

hope you don't mind me posting these
[/color]

Hi Marie,

Thanks very much for your comments and especially for the references. I photograph these bugs but I don't know a lot about them. I'm thinking I need to find a friend in the entymology department of one of the local universities.

Until I do, any light you can shed on any creature is welcome... as are your insights.

Cheers,

Don

[marie]

thanks Don
:)