Venus Drive [2008-12-30]

[loboclerk]

A brisk walk at the entrance of the treetop trail. Mostly at F16, 1/160s. Somehow can't get the tack sharp pics others are getting C&C welcome

#1


#2


#3

[loboclerk]

#4


#5


#6 hehehee... I'm coming!

[velasco]

at least they are gorgeous. WOW i love the colours. whats 3? there's two of em' right?

I love the insect on 6, whats that? so comical.

[serametin]

nice series... my fav is no. 6. very funny

[Galdor]

Beautiful.

[simpleliving]

the insect in #6 looks like an alien...scary

[tchuanye]

#6 is a treehopper.

I don't see why you say its not tack sharp. The JS in #2, #4-6 are sharp. Issue is the lighting is directional, casting shadows on the opposite face. But for #2 its very nicely lighted.

#4-5 is a crab spider and have yet to shoot it though saw it twice!

[loboclerk]

Originally Posted by velasco at least they are gorgeous. WOW i love the colours. whats 3? there's two of em' right? I love the insect on 6, whats that? so comical.

Thanks! Yep, 2 of them mating (notice the behind). Not sure of the species though? Think some others have posted other pics of the treehopper in #6 before, I like the horns!

Originally Posted by serametin nice series... my fav is no. 6. very funny

Thank you! I like that too, just a pity there's a bit of thingy blocking its face.

Originally Posted by Galdor Beautiful.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by simpleliving the insect in #6 looks like an alien...scary

It actually looks like its smiling at you, smile back?

[loboclerk]

Originally Posted by tchuanye #6 is a treehopper. I don't see why you say its not tack sharp. The JS in #2, #4-6 are sharp. Issue is the lighting is directional, casting shadows on the opposite face. But for #2 its very nicely lighted. #4-5 is a crab spider and have yet to shoot it though saw it twice!

Thanks for the IDs!

Hmmm, guess I'll need to try using my diffuse flash more often. Haven't found the best way to hold it yet, been trying to balance it with my left hand while holding the lens. I got tired after awhile, need more perseverance!

I didn't know #4-5 is a crab spider. Thought it'd always have the pointed sides on the face. Took one today too but its really tiny (2mm) and ended up OOF. How do u tell that its a crab spider? Eye arrangement?



Figuring out what's #1 too, wonder if you can help? Here's another pic that I filtered out coz its OOF.

[tchuanye]

Learnt from others at NPSS on the ID. Here is a good site too:
http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guideb.../a-spiders.htm

For crab spiders, look at the legs, some are spread wide like crab, while some put them straight infront. But most I get the ID from the above website.

Handhold my flash with my 4 fingers and palm, and extend my thumb to my lens barrel for support. Flexibility is there to swap the direction of the light...e.g. if subject face right, will place flash on the right and below to light up the face and vice versa.

For #1; should be some spider from the orb-web family.

[loboclerk]

Thanks for the tips! Gonna try it again the next round.