fuzzy creature

[Rita]

I saw this cute fuzzy caterpillar (?) on my walk today and thought he was rather interesting. Liked the way the orange part of his/her fur looked like little flowers. Pulled out the macro lens and gave it a try. I think my depth of field could have been better.

Any feedback is much appreciated

1. Flower pattern in fur



2. What a face

[deetheturk]

Nice image Rita,i can see the flower patterns on its orange section,i.m.o. they are a nightmare to shoot as they are constantly on the move!

David

[IzzieK]

Good shots, Rita...I see what you mean about the orangy "flowers"...

[Rita]

Thank you Isabel and David.

David, you are so right this critter never stopped moving.

[flashback]

Rita, nice shot and yes, I do see a flower pattern. This is the Wooley Bear caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella). Supposedly (according to folklore), the width of the middle, brown/orange band predicts a winter's severity: the narrower the brown band the more severe the winter.

[Rita]

Thank you Jack, except for being some kind of caterpillar I had no idea what it was. As so many had such a hard winter this year I sure hope it isn't predicting next winter already

[Geoff F]

Yes your aperture is a little on the narrow side but, due to their length, caterpillars are very difficult to get all in focus unless you have a perfect angle. So the only alternative is to get the head end, or tail, in sharp focus and let the rest of it gradually 'fade' into the distance. As you have done here.

[Ken Curtis]

Hi Rita.

A suggestion for next time is to pick the little guy up and put him on a darker background. The gravel is very bright and tends to pull the viewer's attention away from the caterpillar.

[Rita]

Thank you Geoff.

Ken, thank you for the feedback. I can't believe I didn't think of doing that! I will remember next time for sure.
Knew there was something not quit right

[Stagecoach]

Hi Rita,

Following on from what Geoff has mentioned your shooting details are 1/1250s, f/2.8, ISO 400, shutter priority.

I'm not sure of your camera model but there was scope here to go for a smaller aperture and retain a decent speed to freeze his motion.

Grahame

[Rita]

Hi Grahame, thank you for your feedback. You are right in what you have said here. I had my 75-300 on and set up for BIF, when I saw the caterpillar I changed to my macro lens but didn't change the settings . I need to start remembering those details. More practice coming up

[Geoff F]

I tried 'relocating' a hairy caterpillar to a better background recently. And it just rolled itself up into a ball.

Had to wait five minutes for it to 'unwind' then it ran off into the foliage as fast as those little legs would carry it!

Managed a couple of quick identification snaps but not the stunning photograph which I had imagined.