Cicada, shell, upper marlboro, md_2014-07-10-19.57.12 ZS PMax

Roooooarrrrrr!, Danger, creature from the black lagoon. Or...not. Here we have a close up look at the many interesting features that are left behind when a cicada emerges. This one was in my backyard and left his/her full body suit behind on the shed. Insects are just weird sometimes, how do they go from something that looks like a land crab to a zippy green flying bombardier?

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All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.

 

 

Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

 

 

The murmuring of bees has ceased;

But murmuring of some

Posterior, prophetic,

Has simultaneous come,--

 

 

The lower metres of the year,

When nature's laugh is done,--

The Revelations of the book

Whose Genesis is June.

 

 

-Emily Dickinson

 

 

Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:

 

 

Basic USGSBIML set up:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

 

 

USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4

 

 

PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf

 

 

Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:

plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo

or

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU

 

 

Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:

www.photomacrography.net/

 

Contact information:

Sam Droege

sdroege@usgs.gov

301 497 5840

 

Done