Three bugs from today...

Paul Iddon

This ladybird was found walking across the flagstone around the pond edge and rescued to the apple tree. Here she is sat on the end of a twig where the bud is ready to spring forth from soon, and I got a nice peep from her before flying off...

Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Image Date: 2012-02-18 12:25:46 +0000
Focal Length: 100mm
Focus Distance: 0.38m
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: -0.50 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Auto, return light detected)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB
GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: A View of the UK - Paul Iddon Photography









Next is the grub of the evil Vine Weevil - these devil larvae destroy the roots of the strawberry plants, and Gill ended up chucking all the strawberry plants from the planter into the recycle bin (not the compost bin, don't want to encourage these nasty bugs at all...)

Used the tubes on the Canon 100 lens.


Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Image Date: 2012-02-18 13:18:37 +0000
Focal Length: 100mm
Focus Distance: 0.34m
Aperture: f/6.7
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: -0.50 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Auto, return light detected)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB
GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: A View of the UK - Paul Iddon Photography








Last, but my no means least, my favourite shot of the three...


On the rockery stone there is a ready made studio for outdoor work (even though the rockery is in a very dark part of the garden) and once the wife found this cutworm, it seemed a great place to place it for a good background.

As you all are aware, I am a great fan of selective focusing in macro, keeping lots of bokeh and allowing even the subject to blur out - exactly as I have done here (I do have more of the shoot with longer DoF though) but I particularly like the way this one has worked out.

The cutworm caterpillars are pretty unwelcome in the garden - they do a lot of damage to plants, but they are interesting to look at - and have gorgeous eyes.....

The most damaging UK species is the Turnip Moth (Argrotis segetum) caterpillar, though they like many plants, especially our strawberries!

The bonus springtail is pure happen-stance. I certainly didn't see it on the Live-view screen as I composed the shot, only on the PC afterwards, but it certainly helps to give a stronger guide to the size of these large 'pillars.

Tubes on the Canon 100mm again.


Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Image Date: 2012-02-18 13:28:56 +0000
Focal Length: 100mm
Focus Distance: 0.73m
Aperture: f/6.7
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: -0.50 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Auto, return light detected)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB
GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: A View of the UK - Paul Iddon Photography







Paul.

Snowgirl

Fascinating little creatures. I can see how you missed the springtail in the last one - he's a bit smaller than the giant caterpillar! Nicely done. Liking your new lens, aren't you?

Paul Iddon

Hi Cici.

Yeah, the little springers are not on the radar when a big 'pillar is around!

Lens is very good, it even auto-focuses quickly with all 3 extension tubes on.

Paul.

Lord Vetinari

Lovely series of shots Paul
Brian v.

Paul Iddon

Cheers Brian. Hope for more as spring warms up.

Paul.