Green Critters

[Brownbear]

[B]Just for fun...


Baby Green Iguana (Minimalist Abstract)



This little guy fell out of a tree onto a patio of a house in Mexico. I managed a couple of shots but frankly he was terrified of me, and ran away. He got inside the house and ran like the dickens around the house, and up and down a staircase (unbelievably noisy for such a tiny little guy). Cute as he is I wasn't crazy about the idea of sleeping of this critter sleeping inside the same house as me. A friend rang the doorbell and he cooperated by running down the stairs to the front door, and outside into the green yonder.

I was hoping he would come back for another visit but he didn't (:

Green Cricket (Katydid) (Just Because)



A most cooperative model, and for some mysterious reason I didn't include his hind legs. I can't remember why but you know how it goes.

[FrankMi]

I just love to see the fun shots, particularly when they have an interesting story attached. Thanks for sharing Christina!

[Brownbear]

Thanks Frank. I like to see just for fun shots too, and I need a week or two to recover from learning landscapes, stars, planets and sharpening.

[chauncey]

Skills and knowledge are transferrable to different genre. Ya done good here.

[Brownbear]

Thank Chauncey,

I just had an idea, better than this... See the next thread and post please.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

Cute critters and nice pose for the baby iguana. I have had a lack of models recently so decided to get the gear out and shoot some toads on the grass last night but the rain stopped me.

Grahame

[Brownbear]

Hi Grahame,

Toads sound very interesting. A while back I did have a cute little frog but he hopped all over the place, and wouldn't sit still. Hopefully another day.

It's raining here, too, every day, forever. Sending you sunshine so I can see your toad photos.

Hi Christina,

Cute critters and nice pose for the baby iguana. I have had a lack of models recently so decided to get the gear out and shoot some toads on the grass last night but the rain stopped me.

Grahame

[NorthernFocus]

I like the lizard, Christina. That's cool.

[Bobobird]

Cool shots both of them. Losing legs has to be a thing with you though.

Actually, scrolling back up - #1 is also a great shot.

About running scared - he saw you as a predator bird. These things have a sort of ID system in them.

[IzzieK]

I just loooovvvvvvvvveeeeeeee #1 very much. I bet that was fun running around trying to catch this fella... #2 is not bad. In fact, since you had inadvertently cropped the antenna and it's legs with your camera, how about concentrating on a further manual crop?

[wilgk]

I think both are very clever, I am itching to get out & chase some more bugs myself!

[Shadowman]

Nice, hope you have more from this series.

[Brownbear]

Thank you all for your comments.

Bobo, usually these guys are not too, timid. In the past I have been able to get much closer without them running away. I think it is because he had a rough beginning falling out of the tree. And yes, I'm very talented at clipping things.

Isabel, thank you. Actually, I didn't chase him because he was so timid, but he ran like the dickens. My intent was just to open a nearby door so he could run out. If you look closely at the iguana you will see some movement blur, but I still like him because he is so cute. Below I have explained my challenges with the katydid and included the crop you suggested.

The challenges with photographing the katydid


1. Full Body... No room to move (because I was trying to get in real close, and also fit in the long antennae.) Plus a busy background with a palm tree behind his head. Accessing him from the other side was not possible.



2. If I tried to include the antennae, I couldn't fit the rest of him in.



3. Cropped, kind of neat but loses quality.



John, unfortunately when I was in Mexico I didn't have much free time, and most of the free time I had I devoted to practicing on birds in flight. I think the only other bugs I managed was a dragonfly and as I go through my images, I will share it when I find it.

[chauncey]

Christina, in all of those images the background would have caused little concern...more DOF was called for.

[Brownbear]

Thanks for letting me know. I was at F22 but on my first opportunity with similar challenges I will try a smaller aperture. Nice to know and truly appreciated.

Christina, in all of those images the background would have caused little concern...more DOF was called for.

[deetheturk]

Great images Christina,the ones i have of a Katydid he was in a bush and was a bit of a struggle,yours are great out in the open!

[chauncey]

I was at F22

F/22...it would seem to me that your approaching the problem that "close-up" folks have...diminished DOF as you near the subject. Sorry 'bout that