David Terao
September 2023 - Hungry Caterpillars
Original
About the Image(s)
These are milkweed tussock caterpillars I found early one morning at a local public garden. They're quite interesting-looking critters, but I learned not to touch them as the chemicals in their hairs can cause an itchy, irritating rash. I used focus bracketing with a full-frame camera and a 100mm macro lens on a tripod. The 20 bracketed images were combined in Helicon Focus and edited in Photoshop to change the background color and darken the leaf. Do you think the blue background helps?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Wonderful! Your color choice for the background, really made the subject pop. Your focus is excellent and your composition is strong. I wouldn't change a thing. You have mastered focus bracketing. Posted: 09/09/2023 10:18:50
Thanks, Cindy, although I wouldn't say I mastered focus bracketing. You just don't see all the focus-stacked images that didn't come out correctly. I was lucky in this case that the caterpillars didn't move much while the 20 images were being taken. Posted: 09/09/2023 16:00:24
nicely done, especially the change of background color, that enhance the contrast. very nice, need to learn to use that. :)
Posted: 09/15/2023 10:36:36
Posted: 09/15/2023 10:36:36
Thanks, Charlie. I made the background blue because it is the complementary color to the yellow in the caterpillar and makes the caterpillar stand out. But, I wasn't sure if it was too much. Posted: 09/15/2023 11:08:47
Amazing photograph of a milkweed tussock caterpillar. Your focus stacking technique is outstanding. Taking 20 photos gave you a well-focused image across the whole view. Nice job! Too bad you could not get eyes because that way it would look more like an animal at first glance. Posted: 09/28/2023 19:09:11
Thank you, Phyllis. Actually, the caterpillars' eyes are in the picture, but they are hard to see. Posted: 09/30/2023 08:03:05
It is quite unique image. I have never seen such caterpillars. I think the blue background is fine. If the background can be made uneven or with gradient would be better. Posted: 09/30/2023 07:02:16
Thank you for your comment and suggestion, Bai. I might try adding a gradient to the blue background. Good suggestion. Posted: 09/30/2023 08:04:54