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Greengrocer Cicada
3rd PlaceGreengrocer Cicada
Beetle


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: A Bug's Life: Insects, Bugs, Beetle (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon
Location: My front yard in Brisbane, Australia.
Date: Dec 5, 2009
Aperture: f/10
ISO: 640
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: Dec 5, 2009

 I am such a coward and traitor :-(

I first submitted this image of a spider because it is so much more colourful and interesting looking.
But then I chickened out and went the safe way because of the "eeeewwwwww I hate spiders!" voters.
I might change my mind a few more times yet *sigh*



I spotted the cicada next to his empty shell, I'd say he only just crawled out of that one and was still stretching out.
He was lucky I was there with my camera - I had to yell at a bird that had him on its breakfast menu.

Here is an article about him.

Spot editing sure would have been handy here to lighten up the shadows a bit more around his head - but I do love that backlit abdomen :-)

Woooooo hoooooo, the Beetle gets her first ribbon in the bug challenge - how cool is that?

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 49
Avg (all users): 7.0650
Avg (commenters): 8.4500
Avg (participants): 6.6129
Avg (non-participants): 7.1302
Views since voting: 5048
Views during voting: 436
Votes: 246
Comments: 48
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 12/20/2009 07:09:21 AM
ha - a beetle one a bug challenge :)

congrats

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2009 05:31:45 AM
Nice catch. Light is great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/18/2009 10:58:15 AM
Wonderful detail and lighting. The colors are great along with the shallow DOF. Congratulations on the ribbon. Nice work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/17/2009 06:47:17 PM
Congratulations on a well deserved ribbon. This is truly an amazing image and I was particularly impressed with the back lighting and the effect it has on the subject.

I was ever so positive that this would do very well and am quite pleased that I managed to convince you to enter this one and not the spider image. Good luck to you in future challenges.

Ray
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 02:52:32 PM
incredible shot . the lighting and colours are extraordinary .. love how i can see suggestions of the inside of his body, the incredible sharpness and clarity .. WOW .. this is really the most amazing shot .. congrats on the ribbon and the pb .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 11:10:43 AM
I think you entered the right one!! Congrats! And love the glow!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 10:50:05 AM
I thank each and every one of you for your kind words.... makes a gal feel all warm and fuzzy :-)
 12/16/2009 09:45:51 AM
Knew this would do well with the voters. Very cool image and that translucency is just amazing. 'gratz!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 08:16:00 AM
Congrats Beetle!!!! Very deserving and finally, you won a ribbon!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 06:12:18 AM
Well done on your first ribbon!!! Richly deserved!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 05:27:32 AM
This is one I also picked for a ribbon. Congratulations. This is flawless, and I'm proud to be one of your amazing 22 10's!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 03:15:39 AM
Congrats on your first ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2009 12:41:17 AM
Congrats on the yellow ribbon!! I also think that you made the right choice.

Message edited by author 2009-12-17 04:47:22.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 11:11:54 PM
I think you made the right choice with the cicada, simply because the transparency is unique...well done and congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 08:58:57 PM
Cool bug Beetle! Congrats!

Message edited by author 2009-12-16 02:21:02.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 08:56:35 PM
Toooooo Cool, Karin! Congratulations and long overdue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 08:23:48 PM
Very nice shot. I really like the backlit abdomen also. Congrats on the yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 08:00:54 PM
Very cool, long overdue ribbon, congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:51:45 PM
Congratulations on your yellow ribbon. This is brilliant with that light showing through to 'x-ray' the cicada's body. I don't have anything against spiders but I think your choice was the right one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:48:16 PM
Congrats on your Yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:30:18 PM
You obviously made the right choice, Karin and it's a wonderful image. HUGE congrats on your first ribbon and new PB.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:19:15 PM
Yeah yeah YEAH! Beetle got her ribbon! In a BUG challenge no less! Way to go, gal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:10:10 PM
excellent choice...well done...congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:06:44 PM
Congrats, Karin, on your first Ribbon and your new PB! Lovely light you've used here!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:04:41 PM
Hey, way to go on the first ribbon. I'm a bit bummed in 4th, but I'll give it to ya! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2009 07:02:42 PM
Nice going! How appropriate for Beetle to get her first ribbon in a bug challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/15/2009 08:01:47 AM
Wonderful close up with superb detail. I love the the way the bugs body is rendered transparent by the light showing it's innards. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2009 11:52:33 PM
I like the light shining through its body. I think you should have cropped closer.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2009 01:21:35 PM
Well captured to use the lighting to show the bug's transparency. A front page contender in my book. (Not voting)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2009 10:43:45 AM
Wow! THAT is BEAUTIFUL! Way to GO!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/12/2009 10:42:40 PM
Lovely picture with amazing detail. Love the colors and transparency of the bug. Great focus - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2009 01:34:15 PM
love this one 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2009 10:38:26 AM
Beautiful capture! Love the colours
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/11/2009 06:55:25 AM
great shot- great backlighting- top 3
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 10:54:44 PM
Stunning macro. Love the light.9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 04:24:58 PM
Probably a Sydney-sider. My mother used to collect them when she was a growing up there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 07:27:09 AM
Great color
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 06:33:24 AM
What a pretty cicada! Most of the ones I see look like they belong in a horror film. The light through the abdomen is really quite fascinating; I see blood vessels =:-O
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 06:17:19 AM
I think this is the best one in the challenge. The lighting, bokeh, and translucency of the insect all make for a great shot. And, it is not over lit. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/10/2009 04:50:32 AM
Great backlighting. Could have passed in the backlight challenge. I also did a shot for backlighting and placed it here. It's not doing well however.
Great rendition on the translucent wing and colours on the body.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 05:02:59 PM
Back to comment...

Fantastic lighting and detail! He certainly doesn't look like the type of cicada we get around here. Quite lovely! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 01:57:52 PM
Great find! I love how you've got the leaves around him. Acts like camouflage!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 01:36:48 PM
Great lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 01:23:25 PM
Very nice! Colors and focus right on!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 05:45:06 AM
excellent capture in the birth of a Cicada...super detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/09/2009 04:48:12 AM
Love the detail in the wings and the backlighting of the body.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2009 09:32:11 PM
Nice capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2009 08:18:34 PM
wow, the backlighting works really well with this 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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