Sat at the top of the leaf...

**Bilbo_baggin** · 2nd October 2011

There was not much to see on Saturday night in the garden, despite it being so warm, which I hoped would bring out a few late nocturnal insects.

The only critters around included snails (always abundant!) and a couple of passing micro-moths, and one harvestman.

I took a few of this Phalangium opilio the leaf it was on behind it, but they ended up as just another series of enviro shots with the harvestman plonked in the middle.

I went to extreme lengths to get the angle you see here. My tripod whilst strong and steady, doesn't easily get low for macro work (Manfrotto's O55X Pro B) because you have to pull the centre column out and set it parallel which makes some angles nigh on impossible. So it ended up as a race against time to get the camera in the right position to try and create some dynamics that would give the photo something a bit different.

Any, perseverance prevailed and I managed to get this one where the harvestman was positioned nicely at the top of a leaf (this is a sea holly) and the use of al 3 extension tubes meant a good tight composition to focus on it's best feature - the head! Marumi ringflash used to fill the light from the overhead security light on the wall above me and the subject.

C&C as always appreciated.

Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: 105mm
Image Date: 2011-10-01 23:02:49 +0000
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/6.7
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (Auto, return light detected)
Orientation: Normal
Color Space: sRGB
GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: www.pauliddon.co.uk
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows

Paul.

**cybollox** · 7th October 2011

A very good capture of this very strange little subject mate, he's almost staring at you.

**Bilbo_baggin** · 7th October 2011

It's all in the eye m8, all in the eye...

Paul.

**dpSparhawk** · 11th October 2011

Harvestmen freak me out. They can be so lethargic at times but then they run like crazy.

Nice shot mate. Lovely and sharp on those eyes.

**Bilbo_baggin** · 11th October 2011

Ta buddy.

The stare is long and hard. They seem to sit still forever once settled and you can move all around them to get the best angle if they are in a decent spot.

Paul.