They Make Such Wonderful Subjects...

[Ken Ramos]

that I thought I might post them again. The tent caterpillars are out of the tree now and are moving along the ground, eating most everything they come into contact with and soon each one will find a spot to build its creamy white cocoon and pupate...if a bird doesn't get them first If they succeed, somewhere around late June or early July the reddish brown moth will emerge, though the moths are seldom seen, from what I have read, they can be easily identified by their color and two white stripes that run at a slight angle downwards across each wing.




Eastern Tent Moth Caterpillar
EOS 20D
Manual mode/hand held
1/250 sec. @ f/13 ISO 400
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro
Canon 430EX Speedlite @ -1/3
In shade, midday
Data for both images

Though to some the caterpillars may look quite menacing but actually they are very docile and I picked one or two up to let them crawl across my hand and along my arm. The last image I am particularly fond of, it sort of makes the caterpillar look quite charming, with the flower posed to the left of the caterpillar.

[Bruce Williams]

I can see why you like these chaps as subjects for your close-up photography. They are very photogenic in almost every way. That's not intended to take anything from the photographer Ken (he says quickly ). You've got two very different compositions here and I'm struggling to decide which I like the best. Pic2 certainly has something of the bushbaby about it ...hmmm yep I think pic2 by a whisker!

Bruce

[Ken Ramos]

By a whisker or two there Bruce, they seem to have quite a few Yes, I think that the flower to the images left and the budding leaves, in the upper right, of the small plant is really what sets off this image.

On another note, I would have, many years ago, not paid much attention to the advent of spring, other than that of the warming temperatures but now through the lens of the camera, for the first time, I have really enjoyed watching the life that is unfolding before my eyes this year. It is truely amazing what something like a camera can do for improving ones awareness.

[beetleman]

They do sorta look like furry little kittens of the insect world. I too like #2 the best, but always in the back of my mind, if I had them in one of my trees, I would have taken the picture and than taken the propane torch to the web nest long ago.

[Ken Ramos]

Doug wrote:

...if I had them in one of my trees, I would have taken the picture and than taken the propane torch to the web nest long ago.

Got a bit of a mean streak in you too, I see there Doug. Thanks

[Moebius]

Definitely #2 for me. Nice comp

Ken

[Ken Ramos]

Thanks Ken, it does seem to be the favorite