COOL!!! A cicada is born

Dani

I was helping dad put pool chems away in the poolhouse and happened to notice this guy out of the corner of my eye. Its the first time I've EVER seen one of these shedding into adult form! I've always found just the empty shells laying around.

These were all taken handheld with the rebel, 18-55kit + 250D and my new speedlite 550ex flash

Shedding old skin


It didn't have anything to grab onto to pull itself the rest of the way out... so I offered it a finger and it latched on and gave a tug... out from its old shell it came and it crawled up my hand



I didn't want to interfer too much though.. so I promptly let it crawl onto a branch so it could dry normally. They really are pretty when their wings unfurl!

here he's all crinkly still though



It didn't take long for them to dry... I got the camera hooked up and then went back out to look at him and they were already nice and unfurled and dry. I think they wait around for their exterior to harden up before making any first flights though!

after I unloaded the first pics I went back out and took more of him with his wings dry!! Had to use a flash light to help the cam focus lol...

here they are!



and



Hope you guys enjoyed as much as I did!!

aero-nut

Wow!!! That is very cool! I don't think I have ever witnessed that, even though we have tons of them back home. Thanks for posting those!

audi

!
wow. that first shot is amazing! very symbolic.

wonderful job!

nikk

picture all nice and sharp. i really enjoyed looking thru this series aswell.

but the only advice i want to give is....................... go out and get a card reader now!

Dani

Thanks guys!!!!

for those who posted earlier.. I added pics of him with his wings dry too :

pathfinder

Very interesting series of shots Dani

I think these images are an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved with a 250D filter screw in macro lens adapter and the 580ex. These images are very nice and do not suffer from the harch electronic flash look usually seen with on camera flash. Very nicely done Dani!! The 580ex rocks!!

Did you hold the flash off camera or was it mounted in the hot shoe?

Dani

pathfinder wrote:

Very interesting series of shots Dani

I think these images are an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved with a 250D filter screw in macro lens adapter and the 580ex. These images are very nice and do not suffer from the harch electronic flash look usually seen with on camera flash. Very nicely done Dani!! The 580ex rocks!!

Did you hold the flash off camera or was it mounted in the hot shoe?

Thanks!!! The flash was on camera inthe hotshoe.... I need a lens combo that gives a longer working distance though.. because the 250D with the kit lens puts you rather close for flash work. That or I need some kind of flash bracket or stand for off camera use.

bfjr

Yes very cool series, never seen that myself
Thanks for posting

Lord Vetinari

Great shots and captures Dani, I love the colours on newly emerged adult insects- sort of look like ground glass/jade.

Brian V.

BigAl

Neat series Dani. Luck to find it, but what you did afterwards was certainly not luck. That 250 is quite impressive!

regards
alan

gtc

kerching!a sale?
very nice shot dani-it is so rare to catch them in this act and rarer still to have a camera handy-i think this could be a seller.(congratulations on the 'you know what business' too-hope all works out)

greg

Dani wrote:

I was helping dad put pool chems away in the poolhouse and happened to notice this guy out of the corner of my eye. Its the first time I've EVER seen one of these shedding into adult form! I've always found just the empty shells laying around.

These were all taken handheld with the rebel, 18-55kit + 250D and my new speedlite 550ex flash

Shedding old skin


It didn't have anything to grab onto to pull itself the rest of the way out... so I offered it a finger and it latched on and gave a tug... out from its old shell it came and it crawled up my hand



I didn't want to interfer too much though.. so I promptly let it crawl onto a branch so it could dry normally. They really are pretty when their wings unfurl!

here he's all crinkly still though



It didn't take long for them to dry... I got the camera hooked up and then went back out to look at him and they were already nice and unfurled and dry. I think they wait around for their exterior to harden up before making any first flights though!

after I unloaded the first pics I went back out and took more of him with his wings dry!! Had to use a flash light to help the cam focus lol...

here they are!



and



Hope you guys enjoyed as much as I did!!

marlof

A nice story and cool shots. What more could we want?

Andy

aj: there's still time to find a girl that's more, well, "girlie."

:uhoh

gtc

allright in my book
bug fancying gals are ok in my book -they can put up with just about anything and can rough it -its the ones who are scared of chipping nail polish and messing up the hair that I am wary of....

MuskyDude

andy wrote:

aj: there's still time to find a girl that's more, well, "girlie."

:uhoh

lol... Naw, me likes his woman a bit dirty. Ok, a lot dirty...

WTG Dani!!!! Great shots, tack sharp! I knew you'd get great bug macros with your new flash!



AJ

Skippy

Ohhhh Excellent Work Dani
They are weird looking bugs those Cicadas, actually last summer was the first time I haven't really heard them, this year I think we have a had a lot more rain so this summer might see a change in things.....the drought did some major damage to the Eco system, we hardly hand any bees either.

I see your Flash performed really well, so that would make you really happy I'm sure I'm going to give my flash a good work out over the next 7 weeks in America.

Dani you were very lucky indeed to catch the morphing process as it was actually happening, I love seeing your shots, I just hope I too can show you some critter shots during my US visit, I have packed every lens I own
Even packed my Kenko Ext tubes, and my Flash & Diffuser too.

Awwwww boy I may get a chance to find a bug that is not GRAY, BLACK, BROWN, or Plain Old WHITE yeahhhhhhh that would be real nice.........even a pretty butterfly will keep me happy

Take Care Dani....... 2 sleeps to go, 2 sleeps to go whooohoooooo!!!!!!!
Skippy (Australia)

Dani wrote:

I was helping dad put pool chems away in the poolhouse and happened to notice this guy out of the corner of my eye. Its the first time I've EVER seen one of these shedding into adult form! I've always found just the empty shells laying around.
These were all taken handheld with the rebel, 18-55kit + 250D and my new speedlite 550ex flash
Shedding old skin
It didn't have anything to grab onto to pull itself the rest of the way out... so I offered it a finger and it latched on and gave a tug... out from its old shell it came and it crawled up my hand
I didn't want to interfer too much though.. so I promptly let it crawl onto a branch so it could dry normally. They really are pretty when their wings unfurl!
here he's all crinkly still though
It didn't take long for them to dry... I got the camera hooked up and then went back out to look at him and they were already nice and unfurled and dry. I think they wait around for their exterior to harden up before making any first flights though!
after I unloaded the first pics I went back out and took more of him with his wings dry!! Had to use a flash light to help the cam focus lol...
here they are!
and
Hope you guys enjoyed as much as I did!!

gluwater

Very nice. I like series like this where you tell a little story about what happened instead of just posting the images. Maybe ther should be a "Story" Forum?

Nick

Phil U.

wow Dani! excellent series! Love the "progress" you captured.

wxwax

Since you were there for its "birth" will it now follow you everywhere you go?

gluwater

wxwax wrote:

Since you were there for its "birth" will it now follow you everywhere you go?

No, but I think it makes Dani it's godmother.

Dani

gluwater wrote:

No, but I think it makes Dani it's godmother.

Does this mean I have to buy it birthday and Christmas presents???? :lol

gluwater

Dani wrote:

Does this mean I have to buy it birthday and Christmas presents???? :lol

Dani

wow!!!! I didn't expect so many replies!!! Thanks all! Glad they were enjoyed I'll just reply to everyone individually in one big honkin post... or something :uhoh

bfjr wrote:

Yes very cool series, never seen that myself
Thanks for posting

Thanks Ben! It seems most people have never seen this event.. which is why I feel blessed to have captured it! Now if I can just catch the thing crawling out of the ground and up onto a stick before it sheds the old skin

Great shots and captures Dani, I love the colours on newly emerged adult insects- sort of look like ground glass/jade.

Brian V.

Thanks Brian! yup he does look like jade doesn't he? (she???) Too bad they don't stay that color... its so much prettier than the drab olive/brown and black they harden too.

Neat series Dani. Luck to find it, but what you did afterwards was certainly not luck. That 250 is quite impressive!

regards
alan

Thanks Alan!!!!!! I sure love my 250D.. great piece of glass for what it is!! I recomend everyone have one lol

very nice shot dani-it is so rare to catch them in this act and rarer still to have a camera handy-i think this could be a seller.(congratulations on the 'you know what business' too-hope all works out)

greg

Thanks Greg! on both accounts

A nice story and cool shots. What more could we want?

hmmmmmm how bout a party!!! well it technically IS his birthday.... so... uhhhh :bday
:lol

kidding... Thanks marlof

aj: there's still time to find a girl that's more, well, "girlie."

:uhoh

hey you shush up Andy!!!! I'm plenty girlie when I need/want to be :smack :thwak :lol

bug fancying gals are ok in my book -they can put up with just about anything and can rough it -its the ones who are scared of chipping nail polish and messing up the hair that I am wary of....

Hey thanks greg!!!

lol... Naw, me likes his woman a bit dirty. Ok, a lot dirty...

WTG Dani!!!! Great shots, tack sharp! I knew you'd get great bug macros with your new flash!



AJ

:sweet

*goes and gets dirty... oooops.. I mean... thanks AJ :D

lol........

They are weird looking bugs those Cicadas, actually last summer was the first time I haven't really heard them, this year I think we have a had a lot more rain so this summer might see a change in things.....the drought did some major damage to the Eco system, we hardly hand any bees either.

I see your Flash performed really well, so that would make you really happy I'm sure I'm going to give my flash a good work out over the next 7 weeks in America.

Dani you were very lucky indeed to catch the morphing process as it was actually happening, I love seeing your shots, I just hope I too can show you some critter shots during my US visit, I have packed every lens I own
Even packed my Kenko Ext tubes, and my Flash & Diffuser too.

Awwwww boy I may get a chance to find a bug that is not GRAY, BLACK, BROWN, or Plain Old WHITE yeahhhhhhh that would be real nice.........even a pretty butterfly will keep me happy

Take Care Dani....... 2 sleeps to go, 2 sleeps to go whooohoooooo!!!!!!!
Skippy (Australia)

yeah Its been horribly dry here this year too... our yard and flowers look like crap!!! :cry

My guess is you get plenty of fantastic photos to share with us!!!

Very nice. I like series like this where you tell a little story about what happened instead of just posting the images. Maybe ther should be a "Story" Forum?

Nick

Thanks Nick! always nice to share the story when theres actually one behind it I think :

wow Dani! excellent series! Love the "progress" you captured.

Thanks Phil!!

wow... this is a long reply!

Dani

wxwax wrote:

Since you were there for its "birth" will it now follow you everywhere you go?

uhmmm.... geez I hope not!!

*looks over shoulder* :uhoh

Higgmeister

An excellent series of shots Dani. Just goes to show that being aware of your surroundings really pays off. Quite amazing considering a kit lens (I have the same one) with an attachment (250D). Nice job with the exposures. Hope you don't mind me asking, but how many shots did you take for this many keepers. I may shoot several shots from several positions for about 20-30 shots of a bug to get "maybe" 3 keepers if I'm lucky (many times I get 0 keepers). Usually it's my focus or DOF plane that is off. Did you go auto or manual focus?

Thanks for sharing,
Chris

Also, congrats on your recent acquisition . So, has he driven your other love yet (TT)?

Dani

Higgmeister wrote:

An excellent series of shots Dani. Just goes to show that being aware of your surroundings really pays off. Quite amazing considering a kit lens (I have the same one) with an attachment (250D). Nice job with the exposures. Hope you don't mind me asking, but how many shots did you take for this many keepers. I may shoot several shots from several positions for about 20-30 shots of a bug to get "maybe" 3 keepers if I'm lucky (many times I get 0 keepers). Usually it's my focus or DOF plane that is off. Did you go auto or manual focus?

Thanks for sharing,
Chris

Also, congrats on your recent acquisition . So, has he driven your other love yet (TT)?

Thanks Chris!!! I'm not sure but maybe 15-20 shots at the most. Just various positions and angles... they all came out nice and sharp and well exposed though so I just picked a few from the bunch.

I used auto focus

and nope... I offered though!!!!!

Steve Cavigliano

Fine, fine shots of this noisy lil insect What's even cooler is that you were there to lend a helping hand (or finger, as the case may be....).


I remember these guys from my childhood in NY and hearing that almost electric buzzing noise they make. We don't see or hear many of them out here on the Left Coast

That kit lens did a super job too



Steve

Dani

Steve Cavigliano wrote:

Fine, fine shots of this noisy lil insect What's even cooler is that you were there to lend a helping hand (or finger, as the case may be....).


I remember these guys from my childhood in NY and hearing that almost electric buzzing noise they make. We don't see or hear many of them out here on the Left Coast

That kit lens did a super job too



Steve

Thanks Steve!

Aussie_bluey

Very nice macros, I like the series showing the different stages of the wings drying.
Tim

Dani

Aussie_bluey wrote:

Very nice macros, I like the series showing the different stages of the wings drying.
Tim

Thanks Tim!

Netgarden

Dani, so nice to see you! Wonderful, fabulous shots! Love the camera I bet! You sure have it all figured out already! Enjoyed your photos tremendously.
You guys have the coolest bugs.