Luna Moth Caterpillar
I found this beautiful Luna Moth Caterpillar (Actias luna) in the fall of 2020. This was my first time finding one and I'm glad I was able to get this phot...
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I found this beautiful Luna Moth Caterpillar (Actias luna) in the fall of 2020. This was my first time finding one and I'm glad I was able to get this photo.
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Jan, 2021Views
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Awards
Action Award
Summer Views Award
Flawless Summer Award
Spring 23 Award
Top Shot Award 22
Curator's Selection
Judge Favorite
Spring 21 Award
Staff Favorite
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Peer Award
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I was walking through a wooded area on a lunch break with camera in hand and came across this Luna Moth Caterpillar in some plant debris on the ground. For me, this was an exciting find as it was on my bucket list of species I'd never photographed or seen.Time
I found this beautiful caterpillar in the early afternoon while on a lunch break.Lighting
I wanted to capture the subject in a way that truly highlighted its beauty. So, I used a speedlight with a MK diffuser to light the caterpillar and set the camera to ensure the background would be dark to let the colors of my subject stand out.Equipment
This shot was taken with a Nikon D850 with a Raynox DCR-150 macro attachment on my 70-300mm lens and a Neewer NW-561 speedlight with a MK diffuser.Inspiration
I'm inspired by the natural world around me, especially smaller, lesser known or misunderstood animals such as spiders and many insects. So, the animal itself is my inspiration and I always want to highlight them in a way that helps others to see their beauty.Editing
This is a focus stack of around 90 images that were processed in Helicon. Then minor edits were done in Lightroom.In my camera bag
I always carry my 50mm and 70-300mm along with various macro attachments. Soon I'll be adding a dedicated macro lens. I also carry a speedlight and some collapsible diffusers. I also make sure to have lots of extra batteries for both the camera and flash (and chargers) and a couple extra memory cards. I don't ever want to miss out on a shot because I wasn't prepared.Feedback
It's really all about proper lighting, diffusion, and choosing an angle that doesn't take away from the subject.
