On the sheets

[blacknstormy]

Well -the sheet we use for light trapping We lug a petrol generator up the mountain, set up a sheet on a piece of rope strung between 2 trees, wait for the night, and plug in a mercury vapour lamp...... the insects that come in for a look are fantastic. This is a spotted katydid (Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata) (for Tim) - if you want to take the time, it has 22 spots on its wings LOL - taken while on the sheets, hence the background

[big pix]

almost looks like a studio shot.......... great work.....

[blacknstormy]

Thanks Bernie - that was one insect with attitude It really was posing, I'm sure of it !!!!!

Rel

[Oneputt]

Stunning in it's simplicity. Excellent shot

[fozzie]

Rel - that is one hell of a great shot

Did you feed the bug (spotted katydid) after posing so brilliantly

[mudder]

Wow, what an amazing world you would see... This looks like a magazine shot, came up great...

[Finch]

You really are using the 105mm 2.8 macro to perfection. I can also see this shot being published - no doubt about it.

Cheers

Michael

[blacknstormy]

Oneputt, Fozzy, Mudder and Finch - thanks

Fozzie - didn't feed it, but accidentally took it home wrapped up in the sheet when we finished Unpacked the car, took all the gear inside, and low and behold, the sheet started to make a lot of noise. We unwrapped, put the poor little blighter in a zip lock bag for the night, and returned it to the scene of the crime next morning.... none the worse for ware - so no insect was harmed in the making of this photo (well, THIS insect wasn't harmed anyway )

Rel

[big pix]

I guess it do not need the kiss of life...........well done

[thaddeus]

Excellent scientific art! Looks like I'll need to take my camera camping!

[sheepie]

That's an amazing shot for 'in the wild'! Thanks for sharing the technique, would never have thought of something like that! Have you got any photo's showing the setup for the night?
Again, really cool - well done!

[blacknstormy]

Bernie - it definitely did not need the kiss of life

Thaddeus - thank you for the compliment - don't you take your camera camping anyway??? I think Damian would love it if I didn't

Sheepie - this is the setup - the generator is on the other side of the sheets (sorry, didn't take a shot from that side, but is a normal 240V petrol generator) - 2 Queen size sheets, clipped onto the rope using bulldog clips, and held out in a tent like fashion with rocks (or sand, or whatever is on hand) and the mercury vapour lamp put between the two. At night - this acts as a beacon to insects, and they flock to the light, and land on the sheet. We hover around with torches, and check what has come in - particularly, we are usually looking for cicadas and lacewings



Rel

[Manta]

Fantastic shot Rel and a very informative thread showing some of the fun stuff you, Damo and the rest of team DDWFauna get up to.

[Sheila Smart]

I am in awe of shots such as this. Well done indeed. I guess it really does pay off to go to such lengths to get your shots (and no doubt get eaten my mozzies for your troubles).

Cheers
Sheila

[blacknstormy]

Thanks Simon - we'll have to drag you along one night won't we

Sheila - thank you for the compliment There are many others on this forum that take much much better shots than I, but I'll get there one day. I have only one more thing to say "AEROGUARD"

[rdv]

That is a great shot. Thanks for the insight on how the shot was taken. How did you manage to get the shot side on like that though? If ever you need a hand one day, just give us a yell. The learning AND photographic experience would be priceless.

[Big V]

That is a fantastic result, great shot given the simplicity of the set up..