One more Hawk Moth caterpillar shot. From the side.

[JBW]

[Shadowman]

Good composition.

[JBW]

Good composition.

I am getting intentional about composition

[Shadowman]

I am getting intentional about composition

I try but still end up cropping a lot of times, however I feel the crop needs happen more when I'm shooting with a prime lens rather than a zoom.

[JBW]

I try but still end up cropping a lot of times, however I feel the crop needs happen more when I'm shooting with a prime lens rather than a zoom.

I must admit that to me cropping is just part of the process. I don't have any prime lenses but even with a zoomer I always seem to need to slice and dice.

[ragman]

I tend to judge a photo on "interest level" over technical aspect. I never knew a caterpillar had a tail until now. Great picture.

[JBW]

I tend to judge a photo on "interest level" over technical aspect. I never knew a caterpillar had a tail until now. Great picture.

Thanks, not all of them do but the ones that do (around here) are large and interesting.

[bnnrcn]

A nice one

[Rita]

Nice one Brian. It is an interesting caterpillar. I am sure it isn't but it almost looks like it is armour plated.
You commented that the ones with tails are large. What size is this one?

[John 2]

That's a nice shot Brian. Nicely framed by the leaves and sharp where it counts.

[JBW]

A nice one

this is one of those rare occasions when a wild subject of just the right size stays still for hours on end. I played the odds and took a lot of shots.

[JBW]

Nice one Brian. It is an interesting caterpillar. I am sure it isn't but it almost looks like it is armour plated.
You commented that the ones with tails are large. What size is this one?

You're right it isn't. But it is capable of giving a serious bite with those mandibles. It is somewhere between 5 and 7 inches long. And as the experts answered me last night it is going to change into a Death Head Hawk Moth fairly soon as it is in the final caterpillar stage.

[JBW]

That's a nice shot Brian. Nicely framed by the leaves and sharp where it counts.

I admit to moving a few leaves around but not the caterpillar.

[Dave Humphries]

Brian,

I am disappointed in you

You really should have titled this:
"What has six arms, 10 legs and a spiky tail?"

... and the photo is the answer

[DigitalScape]

Very nice capture, Brian.

[Rita]

You're right it isn't. But it is capable of giving a serious bite with those mandibles. It is somewhere between 5 and 7 inches long. And as the experts answered me last night it is going to change into a Death Head Hawk Moth fairly soon as it is in the final caterpillar stage.

5-7 inches long, that's a caterpillar on steroids

[JBW]

Brian,

I am disappointed in you

You really should have titled this:
"What has six arms, 10 legs and a spiky tail?"

... and the photo is the answer

I am properly chastised.

[FootLoose]

Good composition, Brian.

[JBW]

Very nice capture, Brian.

One of those times when everything comes together. A large immobile wild target with no wind and morning golden hour for light.

[JBW]

Good composition, Brian.

and i even bent back a few leaves to help the composition along. But it was really just a case of setting up the tripod and shooting what was there.