This is a froghopper. I took it with a 100mm macro lens. Exposure details: F/16 at 1 sec. Manually fired flash, under powered to about 50%.
Ahh... forget it! Back to my long winded self! :) I took this month or so ago and had to work quite hard. As far as froghoppers go this guy was huge measuring in at a whopping 2cm! As froghoppers tend to do, this chap kept scooting around the twig forcing me to engage "determined-hot-pursuit-mode", tripod and miniscule depth of field not withstanding. I was able to herd the beast by moving my hand towards it from the opposite side. Of course returing and sliding my flash baring hand forward into position saw the frogster slide round the twig again. Repeat performance ad infinatum!
Then it started raining! But this was a great thing! I taped an umbrella to the tripod and the froghopper, less determined than I, was also less willing to scoot round the twig if it meant getting wet! Yes, the umbrella was strategically placed! So I was finally able to compose a halfway decent image. But wait! There is more (and I will try and be brief!)
The background was brick and burglar bars. So I rectified this by plucking a bunch of agapantha leaves and waving them around, about a meter behind the scene. Crucifiction-like, I was still able to reach forward and fire the flash from camera side (But I had to tuck my rain coat into my Jean pant!)
The Froghopper lived in case you were wondering. Next I am going to photograph an apple, and when I am bigger I wanna do birds in flight :)
And if you have read this far...... it tells me you too are determined, and could conquer froghoppers also.
Paul the Abrupt.
3 comments:
Excellent Shot of brief one :) I enjoyed the story of the capture as well. The image looks lovely and sharp and the slight diagonal to the insect creates a sense that it's about the jump off. Great shot Paul! I reckon all the scurrying about was worth it. Question though...I really like the lighting. Was the flash diffused in any way and whereabout was it positioned in relation to the froghopper?
Cheers
E
Hi Paul,
I fully agree with Emil and I think it is a great shot! Very well executed! Well done, and your story was cool too!
Given that it was a rainy, crappy day, the worry of suncast shadow was minimal. So the flash was indeed diffussed (and under powered) and it was held just off to the right of the camera, kinda not quite above the hopper's back. If you look carefully there is a little shadow under the feet and again above the eye, like an eyebrow almost. I don't quite remember, but I may have flashed twice. Again, off camera's right, one burst slightly higher, the other slightly lower.
Glad you like it.
Paul.
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