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In Autumn's Grip

© Dennis Gay

In Autumn's Grip

Uploaded: April 11, 2011

Description

Wearing autumn colours, a little Valanga irregularis (Giant Grasshopper) nymph is well camouflaged amid the colourful autumn leaves of a rose bush.

Shit in my garden in Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia on a partly overcast and mild early autumn late afternoon.

Canon EOS 40D & Canon 28-135 USM IS Lens: RAW, Manual settings of f/36 @ 1/320sec, 115mm, ISO 100, Vivitar 285HV flash unit with wireless remote, Tripod, Timer.
Lightroom 2.2 & Photoshop CS3.

Enjoy!

Exif: F Number: 36, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/320 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 115.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 40D

Comments

Dennis Gay April 11, 2011

THE MAKING OF 'In Autumn's Grip':

One of the fascinating facts about these creatures is that usually after a moult the nymphs will take on the colours of the foliage on which they are feeding.

It was a stay-at-home Saturday and I becoming very bored inside my house so I decided to gird my loins and go out into the wilds of my yard to track down any unwary subjects of the insect kind.

After five circuits of the house I had very little of any value on my card and had been content in using my latest close-up/flash set-up when as I slowly walked passed my one and only little rose bush I spotted this cute li'l critter among the dying leaves at the end of a long cane.

It was a most obliging subject and allowed me to rattle off quite a series of shots. At first I hand held the camera and flash but when I tried to achieve the lighting you see in this shot it became very awkward to do so and I was not very happy about unsteady hold I had on the camera.

I asked the grasshopper not to move, rushed inside and brought out Mr Tripod. It made all the difference with this shot in giving me the clarity I was after while letting me hand hold the flash at all sorts of angles until I got it right.

My willing subject hardly moved during all these theatrics. What little movement it did was to get into a better position. I thanked it for that. (Mad? Maybe!)

I have given up using sync cords with my "*Vivitar 285HV flash unit*":http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/02/return-of-classic.html and have begun using my el cheapo eBay wireless flash sync system. It works like a dream.

Enjoy!

GB
Dennis #1368572

Amalia Sylvia Arriaga Salinas level-classic April 11, 2011

Wonderful details and lighting Dennis!,
Amalia #9345410

Dennis Gay April 11, 2011

Ciao *AMELIA*!

Lovely to see you join my garden safari.
Maaaaany thanks indeedy for the uplifting and encouraging great feedback on my little grasshopper study. So glad it caught your eye.

GB
Dennis #9345487

Arthur Bohlmann April 11, 2011

Truely great nmacro Dennis, the detail is awsomme #9345816

Dennis Gay April 11, 2011

Happy Days Are Here Again *ARTHUR*!

My warmest Aussie thanks for your visit and for the inspiration of your great feedback on my li'l hopper.

GB
Dennis #9345878

Douglas Pignet April 13, 2011

lovely colors and textures here Dennis...very nice #9348725

Dennis Gay April 13, 2011

Yo *ROBERT*!

Lotsa thanks for stopping by to check out my rose bush and its resident hopper and for leaving such uplifting and stimulating feedback. So glad it caught your eye.

GB
Dennis #9348879

Dennis Gay April 16, 2011

Yeeeeehaaaaa Mr Editor!!!!!

A thigh smackin', hearty and warm Aussie THANK YOU for awarding my li'l nymph a PICK!

GB
Dennis #9354638

Liz blahh April 18, 2011

Like the composition & light of this beauty! #9356794

Dennis Gay April 26, 2011

By Crikey *LIZ*!

A wheelbarrow load of Aussie thanks for joining my garden safari and leaving such an uplifting and encouraging wrap for my hopper study.

GB
Dennis #9371819

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic May 18, 2011

Huge CONGRATZ on this amazing Finalist. Good luck up next and thanks for the description, Dennis!

UB.
#9412697

Dennis Gay May 19, 2011

Well Blow Me Down Mr Editor!!!

A gazillion Aussie thanks for elevating my little nymph to *FINALIST status.

GB
Dennis #9412888

Dennis Gay May 19, 2011

Lordy Be *USMAN*!

Massive thanks for your great wrap, your encouraging support, your capital congratz and for sharing the joy.

GB
Dennis #9412892

Carla Capra Anderson May 19, 2011

Hi Dennis;
This is a wonderful image. Congratulations on your Finalist Award.
;) CC #9413406

Dennis Gay May 19, 2011

Howdy Do *CARLA*!

Lovely of you to drop by my feral garden to check out my rambling rose and its resident grasshopper.
Massive thanks for your encouraging wrap and hearty congratz.

GB
Dennis #9415648

Lydia Williams level-classic May 21, 2011

Hi Dennis, What a great image...I probably would have missed this little guy..So happy for you that you cauaght it...congratulations!! #9420021

Dennis Gay May 21, 2011

Mon Dieu *LYDIA*!

Merci beaucoup Madame for stopping by my rose bush to check out my tiny Grasshopper and for your inspirational feedback and hearty congratz.

GB
Dennis #9421016

Merna L. Nobile May 22, 2011

It is with great pleasure that I offer my congratulations on your award for the month of April. Merna


#9422299

Dennis Gay May 22, 2011

Hellooooo *MERNA*!

Many thanks indeed for your sincere and upliftng congratulations delivered with such style. I am so proud to accept them. 8-)

GB
Dennis #9422825


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