Macro DSLR Speed Challenge #29 "Earth"

For this week's Macro DSLR Speed Challenge the topic is:
"Earth"

For this weeks macro challenge try to get a macro photo with some Earth (dirt) including what lives in/on or what you found buried in/on some Earth.

Be creative, inventive and have fun!

Standard Rules apply:
Photo Submissions:

1. Camera - Any Canon DSLR camera
2. Lens - Any lens, or attachment that can give Macro photos (ex. extension tubes, bellows, macro filters, reverse mounted lens and of course a true macro lens.).
3. Time - any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
4. Size - Please see the Image posting rules.
5. Post-Processing - do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.
6. Posting -
* ONE MACRO PHOTO per photographer in each challenge.
* Photo Name/Title in the message.
* Camera model & lens used in the message.
* Post brief Exif data including ISO, shutter speed and aperture used in the message.
* Notes - anything you feel you need to explain.
7. Commenting - No commenting during challenge. When the posting is closed and a winner has been declared, comments can be made in this thread.
8. Questions - Use PM
9. Have FUN!

One challenge every week, on the following schedule:

* New Topic - After winner is declared.
* Posting Starts - Right after topic is announced.
* Posting Ends - 5:30 PM Eastern Thursday, June 18, 2009. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
* Winner from this competition decides the theme of the next one (and judges it for a winner) after this competition is closed.

Here is a link to our previous Macro DSLR Speed Challenge winners <-- click to see

The big one gets eaten by the smaller ones

You made me work on this one John........

(Raises his fist and shakes it) Oh well, it was good to get down to dirt level for a change.

Crab In The Dirt

Sand Crab

40D, f/13, 1/200, iso 100, flash

HOSTED PHOTO
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Here is a Jumping Spider Playing in the dirt.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Below Earth

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Miniature Earth Mover

After various attempts (and getting bitten about a dozen times in a few seconds), this was my best ant shot of the afternoon. I figured after my itchy aggravation, it deserved to be posted. After all, they are native residents of the earth, and I was on their turf!

HOSTED PHOTO
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sand

Emerging from the Earth

"nuclear mushroom"

Not an asteroid

The Macro DSLR Speed Challenge #29 "Earth" is now closed!

I will report back with the winners

First, thanks to all that participated in the Macro DSLR Speed Challenge!

Here are the three that I found best for this weeks topic of "Earth"

3rd place goes to - "The big one gets eaten by the smaller ones" by XxBiJoUxX
An excellent example of how things that pass away get cleaned up! that goes great with this weeks topic.

2nd place goes to "Sand Crab" by monty28428
A great example of a life on the Earth. Did he come out just for the photo?

and finally the best of the bunch to my eyes is:

1st place goes to "Emerging from the Earth" by ducklabdad
A perfect natural example of a colorful mold (mushroom) which shows it growing in/on Earth! To my eyes it fit this weeks topic perfectly.

ducklabdad as the winner you get to pick the macro topic, start the next Macro DSLR Speed Challenge and in one week vote for the winner
Any questions on how etc.... PM me! Congrats again!

Thanks again to all participants

Congrats to all the players, especially to ducklabdad on the win, and thanks for an interesting topic, John!
Monty, that crab has a mean face when you look closely at him. Maybe he didn't like his closeup.
I also liked the mushroom shots... very colorful subject for this topic.

Badgerw & Gail, I hope you had better luck at not getting bitten than I did. I'm still trying not to scratch ant bites.

Noodlesnacks... that was a cool shot of the quartz. It reminded me of that crystal growing kit stuff you can buy. I actually did buy a kit and grew some, but your real quartz is much better.

BA, I admit your spider shot was also great.. so much so it gives me the willies. I still can't seem to find those things when I go out on a macro bug hunt.

Congrats again to everyone!