Pond skater and unknow green bug?

[tchuanye]

Took this also at Marina. Have not seen a pond skater for a very long time, and now first time can see it close up. Just to share.




This interesting green bug landed infront of me. Wings looks like a lallang. Anyone know the ID? Thanks!

[metalgear]

very nice shots and great colour. do you mind posting your equipment and settings ? it looks like you got overhead the pond skater ?

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by metalgear very nice shots and great colour. do you mind posting your equipment and settings ? it looks like you got overhead the pond skater ?

Hi,

I am using the Fz10+Nikon 6T+Sigma Close up lens.
Settings:
ExposureTime : 1/125Sec
FNumber : F8.0
ExposureProgram : Manual
ISOSpeedRatings : 50
Ext bounce flash

[Falcon]

I like pond skater shot. Very nice.

[metalgear]

Originally Posted by Falcon I like pond skater shot. Very nice.

like it better considering the equipment - great effort ! please describe how you got overhead. were you very close and off the edge of the pond ?

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by metalgear like it better considering the equipment - great effort ! please describe how you got overhead. were you very close and off the edge of the pond ?

At this Marina, there is this small cement wall next to the wooden bridge. This short wall is in the water that seperate the pond. Its about say....1m high? and the water level to the top of this ledge is about 50cm.

So I had to bend down, supporting my weight with my left elbow and sling the camera around my neck, tensioning the strap to my neck and face towards the pond skater, and move my head-strap-camera up and down......not easy, considering that they were moving around...pause, move...pause. Had to squeeze off a few shots before one appear sharp.....or at least sharper than the rest. I think the eye could have been sharper as can only see a bit of the compound eyes when I zoom in.

[metalgear]

Thanks !

I always get a big kick reading the story of the shot while viewing it. I am sure many others too would like to learn about other's techniques and macro hotspots.

Its good to see that the picture took some sweat and effort - it makes it even more beautiful and meaningful !

[mphil]

That green bug is just a short-horn grasshopper, do a search for 'acrididae' to find the species. Nice colors, but for the gerrid pond skater, the lighting could be better, prefer to have the light from the head rather than the rear, but still quite good. I suppose the dof cant be increased?

[Xiao_shin]

First pic is very nice.

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by mphil That green bug is just a short-horn grasshopper, do a search for 'acrididae' to find the species. Nice colors, but for the gerrid pond skater, the lighting could be better, prefer to have the light from the head rather than the rear, but still quite good. I suppose the dof cant be increased?

Thanks for the ID....did not know that there are grasshoppers that look like that.

Thanks for the comments on the skater. The light came from the bounce flash which was above the butt. Maybe can try sideways next time.....but must do some stretching ex first...