dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

While picking some strawberries and cherry tomatoes this morning I saw this little caterpillar merrily munching away on a strawberry leaf. I would be interested in your opinion of the photos. I used a Nikon D7000 with an SB900 Speedlight and a 6X8 diffuser in manual mode. Lens was the Nikon 105 f2.8.

EDIT: I shot them all at 1:1 but then cropped them.

Dennis

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Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I best like the caterpillar color in image #3, even though the reflective highlights from leaf & stem are blown-out.
If your camera settings are all Manual mode, I do not understand the EV bias selected. I also caution against any aperture smaller than f/16.
Exif info:
Camera Model: NIKON D7000
Image Date: 2014-06-24
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/19.0
Exposure Time: 0.0029 s (1/350-sec)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: +2.50 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No

Just to check proper SB-900 speedlight set-up:
1.) Set to Manual output (recommend starting at 1/8 power, adjust as needed);
2.) Set to widest pattern (14-mm lens match?);
3.) Drop-down plastic diffuser used;
4.) Softbox internal white cloth diffuser stretched left-to-right via Velcro strip.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thanks Douglass. Your tips at the bottom, #3 and 4, were followed. When I saw the EXIF data I checked my camera. It revealed a +2.5 EV. Normally I do check prior to taking any photos for the day just to make sure I didn't still have the camera on self timer etc. Today after spotting the caterpillar I was so excited to take the pictures I hurriedly grabbed the camera and did not check anything. Yes, I know, Bad Dog. In this case I sure deserve it. I mean, it is a caterpillar. Where was he going to go?

Dennis