Darkling Beetles rejoice at beautiful sunsets by doing hand-stands.
EXIF:
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Lens: Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 Macro
Configuration: normal
Extension Tubes: no
Image Stack: 45 Images
Stackware: Zerene Stack
Aperture: f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/25th sec
ISO: 200
Light Source: natural light, sunset
Stabilization: Hand-held, resting on stump
Subject Size: 25 mm
Species: Red-backed Darkling Beetle (Eleodes suturalis)
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
I flipped over one of the stumps around my fire-pit and found this big beauty. When I touched the Beetle it went into the classic hand-stand defensive posture of Darkling Beetles. This made it incredibly easy to shoot a focus stack in situ. The Beetle smelled like musk, which I’m assuming came from the liquid on the tip of his abdomen visible in the photo below, and is probably why they stick their butts in the air as a defense. Both photos are stacks of 45 images, which is probably on the high side. I could have probably increased my focus differential, decreased the number of shots, and come out with the same image.While trying to photograph the Beetle the first time, an errant slug slithered into the frame. I was able to stack the rapidly shot images into a GIF movie that shows the slug moving into frame. It’s one for the macro photography blooper reels.
Equipment used:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Olympus Zuiko 60mm Macro Lens
Equipment used:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Olympus Zuiko 60mm Macro Lens
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- 45 focus bracketed images leaning camera on ground
Reload the page to play. This GIF shows the image stack as it’s being taken and a slug slithers into frame.
