Exploring Valparai

Had a quick, last-minute visit to Valparai. The long weekend ensured the bus ticket prices were sky high and the jams on Hosur road really long.

Managed to make up for some lost time by taking hiring a cab from Pollachi. Couldn't get to see the Nilgiri Tahr or the famed Leopards, well that'd be for next time.

Thanks to Raju sir for the wonderful hospitality and Pavan for the company, a thoroughly enjoyable trip!

Here's a quick video slideshow of the sights and images from Valparai...

Till the next one..
Cheers!
Hayath

Macro photography technique

Thankful to be getting a lot of great feedback from different fora on macros, a lot of this has been due to openly shared knowledge and techniques by selfless folks.

Thought it would be only fair to keep "paying this forward"

Will try breaking down technique (or the lack of it :D ) -

1. Magnification: The Zuik0 60mm on a MFT sensor provides decent magnification. However as needed I often add on an extension tube and Raynox DCR 250

2. Focusing : High magnification requires high precision. Most times the camera is set to the smallest focus area selector possible. Contrast on edges/wings/leaves is often used to lock on AF. In tricky situations, I will switch to MF (have configured the FN1 button for this) and sway the setup to bring things in focus.
Staying as perpendicular to the area of focus one's interested in helps make use of the razor thin DoF to it's max.

3. Exposure : Plays a critical role in showing detail and right colors/texture. The black background in most of my images is predominantly due to the overall exposure, I shoot what one would call "full flash photography" - if an image is taken at the native exposure, it would essentially go fully black, exposure is defined by the "reach and intensity" of flash. Plus, most of the insects I shoot are found under thick canopy/shade.
My settings generally are ISO 200, 1/160, f10-13, Flash on ETTL with FEC based on subject
External flash helps add microcontrast and also freeze motion to an extent. I also diffuse the light enough to make it soft, that way both highlights and shadows are decently exposed

Earlier thoughts on macro technique and lighting can be found here -
http://iridealone.blogspot.com/2018/04/high-magnification-macro-and-lighting.html

Thoughts on macro photography with lenses already present in your kit -
http://iridealone.blogspot.com/2012/06/macro-for-not-much.html

Link to the simple two stage diffuser -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hayath/44807796464/

Cheers!
Hayath

The biodiverse Indraprastha - Spider meet 2018

Got the opportunity to be part of this year's Team Saaliga Spider meet at Indraprastha, Mysore. Team Saaliga has been doing some great work in spreading awareness about spiders.
Wriggled out of Bangalore to reach just past lunch time. Was amazed to see myself surrounded by lots of shrubs (and definitely not by chance, this is a result of decades of intent and proper execution). Entering the gates and gazing around I could notice something almost on every single plant/leaf. That was just a trailer, so to speak, of the biodiversity we would feast our eyes on later at night.

A heady mix of researchers, nature lovers - we were in for some great learnings. And for me, personally, not having to feel as a misfit :D
Quick welcome session and introductions set the tone for the highly interactive talks on Spiders. Anatomy, behavior, hunting and breeding strategies discussed in detail, with some great visuals. With new found knowledge, we were all set to observe better in the field. Some lipsmacking snacks followed the official release of Team Saaliga logo by the Mysore DC.

Spilt into two teams, we set out to explore. We wanted to explore and cover a lot of area, but the rich density of life ensured we were moving at a snail's pace. Almost every plant giving something to observe.

We started with this Crab spider (Thomisidae) blending in perfectly on a flowery branch


The Social behavior of the Chikunia spider, multiple spiders with their spiderlings in close proximity


Cellar spiders in plenty, many of them holding onto their eggs bundles




Most corners/gaps between leaves were taken up by Orb weavers


Wrapping up freshly caught prey with silk from it's spinnerets


Signature spiders were found in plenty too, owing to the abundance in prey the relative size of almost all spiders we found were LARGE!


Some pretty flowers around!






Dandelion, looking like a bursting firework


A hunstman lying in wait to ambush anything that gets close


A beautiful Dartlet


Palm dart


Mating moths


Freshly moulted cockroach


Weaver ants tending to scale insects




A funny looking Derbid planthopper


The wing shape is unique and fascinating!


Long legged fly


Cricket nymph



Resting honeybee


A few more fascinating spiders

Long jawed spider, Tetragnathidae


Sac spider


Wolf spider


The devil! Portia sp


The Mirror spider, Thwaitesia sp.  Couldn't manage a side-on image showing the "mirror"



This beautiful Crab spider


Comes in white too!


The striking Hamadruas




Brettus juvenile


Perfect moult of a Huntsman


If you're a thirsty bee/fly, there's no way you'd notice that camouflage. In fact Sumukha mentioned the UV emission from the spider attracts the bee/fly closer


Tree trunk spider, Herennia female


Two striped jumping spider, Telamonia female.


Some images to showcase how effective and critical spiders are as pest control, maintatining the delicate balance in the ecosystem
Crab spider, with honeybee kill


Parawixia with grasshopper


Rhene feasting on Chironomidae



Indraprastha is the brainchild of Mr.Chandrashekar, having taken up Organic farming and put it into perfect practice - the place truly is a rich biodiversity hotspot. Species covered here are a miniscule subset. The team was able to identify 81 species of spiders.

The hospitality and great food from Team Saaliga and the APC family was amazing to experience :) Thank you for opening the gates and our eyes to the wondrous world at Indraprastha!

Cheers!
Hayath