Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus auratus) Experiment
Jan 9, 2020 11:51:36 #
This is my preserved Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus auratus) that I staged for a focus stacking session. The experiment was to see if I could create a gradient pastel background using an Android Tablet placed behind the subject and this is the result as my first attempt.
I started with an Android Tablet that I seldom use anymore and created a gradient pattern using a paint program by smearing colors and blending them and saving the result as a JPEG image.
I staged the Milkweed Beetle and setup the camera with a reversed 28mm enlarger lens and I placed the Android Tablet behind the stage. It was a pain-in-the-butt getting the tablet to stand up and find the right angle and hoping that the screen did not "sleep" in the middle of the 20-minutes of camera shooting.
I found the result to be encouraging and I've learned a bit about the choice of colors and the depth of hue to use the next time.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
I started with an Android Tablet that I seldom use anymore and created a gradient pattern using a paint program by smearing colors and blending them and saving the result as a JPEG image.
I staged the Milkweed Beetle and setup the camera with a reversed 28mm enlarger lens and I placed the Android Tablet behind the stage. It was a pain-in-the-butt getting the tablet to stand up and find the right angle and hoping that the screen did not "sleep" in the middle of the 20-minutes of camera shooting.
I found the result to be encouraging and I've learned a bit about the choice of colors and the depth of hue to use the next time.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
Jan 9, 2020 12:01:30 #
Great shot. At first glance, I thought, "That doesn't look like a milkweed beetle," since all that I've seen have been orange with black spots. But, with a little googling, I see that it's Chrysochus cobaltinus - Cobalt Milkweed Beetle.
Jan 9, 2020 12:27:07 #
Very clever! I had tried taking pictures with my laptop screen providing an illuminated background. A single frame shot, with smallish aperture for depth of field did not work. Using flash toward the screen even worse. But the conditions for stacking are well different, and favorable for getting a recording of a background. So I may one day steal it!
This is a gorgeous picture. Very artfully illuminated all around. I was thinking Chrysochus auratus.
This is a gorgeous picture. Very artfully illuminated all around. I was thinking Chrysochus auratus.
Jan 9, 2020 12:46:34 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Mark, here's a bit more detail of the setup: I put a translucent cup with white paper towel on the end of the lens to much like that of a lens hood. The length of the "bottom" is cut out so that the subject fits under it. The cup is open so that the camera can see past the subject. I illuminate the cup diffuser with constant LED lighting to create a light tunnel to envelop the subject with soft light. The tablet is set about six inches behind the subject. The advantage that I'm finding is that the brightness of the tablet can be dialed to fit my need.Very clever! I had tried taking pictures with my laptop screen providing an illuminated background. A single frame shot, with smallish aperture for depth of field did not work. Using flash toward the screen even worse. But the conditions for stacking are well different, and favorable for getting a recording of a background. So I may one day steal it!
Jan 9, 2020 13:43:12 #
It is Auratus. Cobaltus is north and west from Gary.
The species name is a giveaway. Cobaltus, from the blue from the metal. Highly poisonous, by the way. Auratus from the Latin for gold.
The species name is a giveaway. Cobaltus, from the blue from the metal. Highly poisonous, by the way. Auratus from the Latin for gold.
Jan 9, 2020 13:52:17 #
newtoyou wrote:
Holy-Moly..! Thanks for telling me and I'll surely not eat one now (joking of course) however I will be sure to wash my hands after handling them. Another good reason to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer when in the field.It is Auratus. Cobaltus is north and west from Gary.
The species name is a giveaway. Cobaltus, from the blue from the metal. Highly poisonous, by the way. Auratus from the Latin for gold.
The species name is a giveaway. Cobaltus, from the blue from the metal. Highly poisonous, by the way. Auratus from the Latin for gold.
Jan 9, 2020 14:05:09 #
At the risk of belittling your efforts, an art shop may have another solution. The one I shop in is a locally owned business. There selection of paper patterns and textures is huge. Could you not use that as you used construction paper?
I have a foam core light box I used some translucent, backlit paper in, plus side lights. Need to work on it, first tries show promise.
I would not trust this perverse tablet I use to stay on.
It just occurred to me. You could use spray starch to mold the paper to conform to your needs.
I have a foam core light box I used some translucent, backlit paper in, plus side lights. Need to work on it, first tries show promise.
I would not trust this perverse tablet I use to stay on.
It just occurred to me. You could use spray starch to mold the paper to conform to your needs.
Jan 9, 2020 14:16:05 #
sippyjug104 wrote:
Or use wet lens wipes AFTER you clean your lens.Another good reason to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer when in the field.
It is the element and compounds of cobalt that are poisonous.
Although, the insect has compounds from the plant that make it taste nasty, and are poisonous to different degrees.
Jan 9, 2020 14:27:51 #
newtoyou wrote:
Bill, I like your line of thinking and I've done some with colored paper that I got at Hobby Lobby as well as magazine cutouts. What's so energizing to me is that the possibilities are only limited by my imagination and experimentation. There's also a fellow that sells a collection of gradient colored backgrounds on a ringed flip-pad that many macro fellows use for their work. It's a long winter and I keep warm in the basement with my camera and coffee cup so there will be a lot of time to experiment.There selection of paper patterns and textures is huge.
Could you not use that as you used construction paper?
You could use spray starch to mold the paper to conform to your needs.
Could you not use that as you used construction paper?
You could use spray starch to mold the paper to conform to your needs.
Jan 9, 2020 14:31:13 #
Bill - seriously, you gave me the most important advice of the poisonous charastics of many insects and the need to be aware of accidental transfer of it on them to me so I am very thankful for your informative reply to my post.
Jan 9, 2020 14:35:00 #
Jan 9, 2020 14:36:50 #
I have a set of inexpensive color gradient filters. About four inches square.
They were bought with things like this in mind. Backlit they provide a color gradient. Muting the backlight would alter effect. And as you say, a lot of room for experiment. So far they are unused, but one thing at a time.
They were bought with things like this in mind. Backlit they provide a color gradient. Muting the backlight would alter effect. And as you say, a lot of room for experiment. So far they are unused, but one thing at a time.
Jan 10, 2020 00:55:47 #
As far as I am aware, no toxic insect is dangerous when dead. In the current example, this beetle when alive is not really a problem for large humans. Just birds. About as noxious as a stink bug.
Bills' idea of colored gradient filters seems a good one. What I was doing with the laptop was finding bokeh background pictures (lots of those on the internet) and trying to use them for background. Experiment failed for reasons mentioned earlier, but used for stacking that could be different.
Bills' idea of colored gradient filters seems a good one. What I was doing with the laptop was finding bokeh background pictures (lots of those on the internet) and trying to use them for background. Experiment failed for reasons mentioned earlier, but used for stacking that could be different.
Jan 10, 2020 03:01:31 #
Jan 10, 2020 10:23:38 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
As far as I am aware, no toxic insect is dangerous when dead. In the current example, this beetle when alive is not really a problem for large humans. Just birds. About as noxious as a stink bug.
Bills' idea of colored gradient filters seems a good one. What I was doing with the laptop was finding bokeh background pictures (lots of those on the internet) and trying to use them for background. Experiment failed for reasons mentioned earlier, but used for stacking that could be different.
Bills' idea of colored gradient filters seems a good one. What I was doing with the laptop was finding bokeh background pictures (lots of those on the internet) and trying to use them for background. Experiment failed for reasons mentioned earlier, but used for stacking that could be different.
Mark, I really like your idea of getting sample paint swatches from a local hardware store and what's even better is that there is no cost for them. So many choices....so much time.
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