ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday 14 May 2015

I’M STILL AT IT. (14/05/15)

It’s not nice today it feels blasted cold. Whilst out on our walk I was turning logs over in the hope of finding an interesting beetle, grub or larvae. I found a very nice black ground beetle and decided to pop him on a rock on a plate with water and focus stack several images. I got all set up with the camera tethered to the laptop. LED ring lights for illumination and introduced it to the stage. The daft bugger had a wander round the rock and then fell in the water. I saved it from drowning with my finger and then popped a bit of honey on the rock. It ate some but before I could take a frame it was back in the water. Once again I launched the lifeboat and got a quick snap.

_V0G8296      It looks as if it has a hernia and is very shiny but that is just because it’s soaking wet. I didn’t think these could fly but it is starting to open it’s wing cases. I gave up and popped it in the hedge bottom. Ungrateful little beast.

Yesterday afternoon was hot and sunny so in between lazing about I found this little beauty.

_V0G8285

_V0G8287      I don’t know what it is but will try and find out. I now think it is a male Snipe Fly; Chrysopilus cristatus.

_V0G8293

_V0G8289    This is a bee, I think it is a Mining Bee.

I have been thinking of rigging up a finite 10x microscope objective on a tube and connecting it to the camera. It is more complicated than I realized as there seems to be little standardisation between microscope manufacturers. The tube will have to be either 160mm or 210mm long less the adaptor to the camera and the distance from that to the sensor or film plane, It gets worse as some objectives are designed to work with cover slips and others aren’t. I guess I could do with a metallurgical one. Then the threads on the objectives vary from Whitworth 36tpi to several metric ones. I did come across some excellent looking lenses with built in LEDs, lots of various magnifications and a price tags to match.

SUPER LENSES

I almost know exactly what I want. I may forget it as it would only work on dead things and with a stepping motor driven focusing system. I’ll just keep on as I am. Maybe.

18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Mersad, I have to sort this lighting out but not much chance with a shiny beetle.

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  2. You call the reluctant beetle - Ringo - an "ungrateful little beast" but maybe he just wanted to shun the limelight and enjoy a simple, anonymous life in the woods with his family and friends. All those red carpet events, the selfies and the endless interviews - it's not for every beetle.

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    1. YP, it was not happy but at least it can't bite.

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  3. I love the way the lights have reflected off the wet beetle to make it all shiny. It all looks very tricky to me especially when they don't cooperate.

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    1. Douglas, the hardest part is focus. I set the lens and move the camera. To focus I first have to locate the little blighters which is not always easy. Easier than birds though.

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  4. That beetle hasn't got a hernia; it's expecting a baby beetle. Trust me. I'm a nurse.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Frances. I never thought of that and that explains her wig cases rising.

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  5. The beetle looks magnificent in its glossy coat.
    Great eye detail on the little fly.

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    1. John, soaking wet the poor thing is. I can't ID the fly but I'm more than happy with the focus. I did pop a drop of honey on the dandelion which keeps them still or some of them.

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  6. Yes, keep on.You're doing well. So these insects were sent to challenge you?

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    1. Red, the variety is endless. I got up for a tiddle and have just spent ages snapping a moth.

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  7. Very co-operative of your subjects to pose against different coloured backgrounds. I've discovered the opposite of a geek is a muggle. That's me. I appreciate the beetle's shiny coat but have no idea what you're talking about most of the time.

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    Replies
    1. Pauline, I am both cameraman and director so shout at them through a megaphone.

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