Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ladybug - Macro Monday


I really enjoy "bugs" in the garden.  While I like taking pictures of flowers, insects and spiders are my favorite macro subjects.  So I was very happy to see my first ladybug of the spring.  I find it a little difficult sometimes to get good photos of small moving subjects, and I realized last summer that I was going through a phase where I was very focused on the technical aspects and consequently producing images that are nice but not particularly compelling.  To try to get out of this rut, late last summer I started trying to really consider color, both in the main subject and the background in insect macro shots.  This ladybug caught my eye when it landed briefly on a purple deadnettle (lawn weed) near sunset.  The reddish purple hue of the deadnettle makes an unusual and intriguing color combination with the ladybug's cheerful red, I think.

Today I'm playing along on Macro Monday, hosted by Lisa's Chaos.  Check it out to see some other cool bugs, and lots of other macro subjects.

23 comments:

  1. Good color. It is has nice sunset light.

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  2. Amazing macro!!! Excellent clarity and sharpness. What a "cute little guy". Mickie :)

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    1. Thanks. Yeah, they're so cute it's hard to take a bad picture.

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  3. I've never been able to catch a ladybug. :)
    The sun really made the red stand out - lovely capture!

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    1. Thanks. I got lucky because I was already set up on the tripod taking a photo of a flower nearby. It also helps to have a good macro lens, of course!

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    1. Thanks. I really like ladybugs, even though they're a pretty common photo subject.

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  5. There is something special about ladybugs, I love looking for them and watching them too.

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    1. Maybe because they are so colorful and whimsical looking, like something made for kids. I like them a lot too.

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  6. A constant conversation in our house (I am married to an American) is that here in Britain we call them Ladybirds... he is insistent that there is nothing bird-like about them at all.

    Mollyxxx

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    1. Yes, I know. They're not really "bugs" either, since the true bugs are a different family of insects and ladybugs (ladybirds) are beetles. I guess they are trying to encourage us to use a more appropriate common name, but I enjoy common names despite (or because of) their illogic and regionality. What's the connotation in British English of this use of "bird"? Is it a diminutive, or related to guys calling young ladies "birds" or just random? Any idea?

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  7. Wonderfully done photography ~ I too love the lady bug photo ~ thanks, namaste, Carol ^_^

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  8. Cute picture! Ladybugs are welcome in my garden!


    A Wondering Star

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    1. Mine too! On the other hand, I wish I would see more locally native lady bugs instead of this introduced species that is almost all I ever see.

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  9. Beautiful macro photo.

    Regards and best wishes

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  10. i love lady bugs and this is a gorgeous shot.

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  11. You got a wonderful shot! I need to work on my macros - but I think it's more my camera than me! (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

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    1. I have to admit I've had a lot more fun with them since I got the fabulous Canon 100 mm macro lens. I also learned a lot from a great book called ... wait a sec ... maybe I'll write up a short review for your Book Review meme, which I was otherwise unprepared for. Hold that thought!

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  12. I was photographing blooms around the garden and found a ladybug tucked beside a peach blossom. It was such a pleasant surprise. Your ladybug image is wonderful!

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    1. Thank you. It was a nice surprise for me to see this one also. I have not seen very many insects, nice ones or otherwise, yet this year.

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