Bombyx moth and Cecropia caterpillar shots
These are mostly for a friend of mine who asked for a photo… and, you know, just for the love of the pretty pictures.
Ercil – let me know which of these you want, or if it’s something different – I think that the first one on the red silk pillow will do best for what you’ve described.
I always forget that you have good macro capabilities with your setup, and since I’ve seen the larger moths and I’m not familiar with all the different moths, I always assume all the moths you photograph are larger.
And then I see a finger or thumb tip and think it’s cool how you’re able to get very crisp photos of all the moths and caterpillars.
As always, very cool!
Thanks! Yeah, that Bombyx is about 3/4″ long… most of the shots are just plain macro, but I did use the macro extension lens for the most-close ones. It’s funny – I shot them in a quite bright room with dark green walls, but in the super-macro shots, the walls turn to a black haze. I like the effect, but I don’t really understand how it works.
Michael, Moths, and camera lenses
Good Lord! These are fantastic!!!! You are such a sweetheart. Thank you So very much!!!
I don’t know which one to pick, your suggestion is great, but they are all SOOOO tempting! Makes me want to put them all in! (I think the editor might have something to say on that …. 😉 ).
What kind of fabulous camera lens are you using?! You know Michael, I think you might be having just way too much fun. ;P
hugs and thanks,
Ercil
Re: Michael, Moths, and camera lenses
It’s a Canon A630 (the 8 megapixel one) and some of the close-ups are using an additional macro and diopter lens. I like the way it adds on, although I sometimes feel like it’s a cop-out not to have a SLR. I get pretty good shots with it, tho!
I’ve never seen anything like the caterpillar or moth. They’re strikingly beautiful.
I’m especially fond of the penultimate picture. The moth almost seems to be saying “this is mine, I made it, and if you want to use it, you have to get through me first!” 🙂
Any chance I could get your permission to [try to] make a LJ icon out of that one?
Sure!
I just saw your page on the cecropia moths you raised from eggs in 2004-2005. It was fantastic! I was lucky enough to encounter one of these moths in the summer of 2000. I was at work in a somewhat remote location in northern Alberta (Canada). It was a beautiful sunny day and I found the adult cecropia on a pallet in the middle of a construction machinery storage yard. I was mesmerized and examined the moth for a few glorious minutes until it eventually took flight and headed to the nearby forest (from which I assume it originally came). That was over 15 years ago, and it remains one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Your pictures and detailed description of the cecropias you raised gave me an intimate look at the magical creature I crossed paths with that day. Thank you very much.