National Moth Week: Selected Artworks

It’s National Moth Week right now, and in honor of the event, I’m posting two works of art I’ve made this year featuring photos of moths I’ve taken from around my house. I’ve been documenting and creating art with these creatures for a few years now. Enjoy!

Vacationers

Oceanus Rubigo

And say hello to our models:

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Macro Mantis: Insect Photography Up Close

I see the world in new ways since discovering iPhoneography, especially in close-up macro view. A rich universe of detail exists all around us, all the time, just waiting to be appreciated. And with only a little effort we’re free to visit whenever we want.

Praying Mantis – Here’s Looking At You!

Macro Mantis, featured recently at the 1000 Words Showcase by the WeAreJuxt team.

I noticed this mantis on the porch one morning and brought him to the kitchen table with a glass and some paper. He seemed fine with that, and I was careful not to harm him throughout the shoot.

With my iPhone 4, a macro lens by Photojojo, and a high-powered flashlight from Home Depot, I captured several shots, some like this using Hipstamatic’s John S. lens and Rock BW-11 film. The app adds a random depth that I like.

Experimenting with the light and camera positioning, I coaxed out varying shadows and highlights, the most dramatic being when the beast seemed to stare right into the lens. No doubt he was experiencing what being abducted by aliens must be like for humans.

After about five minutes of that, it was back to the wild on a bush in the yard where he blended in much better than in the kitchen.

The good folks at Juxt recently featured this mantis shot of mine in their 1000 Words Showcase.

What do you think? Ever done any macro photography? What are your techniques? Let us hear from you in the comments.

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Cicada Eyes – Single Image Sundays

These guys are making a furious noise in the trees here in North Carolina. Every 13 years or so, depending on the species they come around, and I was lucky enough to get some shots of one over the weekend. I believe it may be part of Brood I, but I’m not totally sure. I took this with my iPhone, using Hipstamatic and a macro attachment lens.

What do you think? Have you experienced any of these critters around your neck of the woods? Let us hear from you in the comments!

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Mr. Waspy – Single Image Sundays

Click to see this fellow in a montage, 
“Mr. Waspy McFlowerstein” at Pinterest.

I saw this guy hanging out one morning from the inside of a glass door (hanging out, ha!) and snapped a few quick images using a Photojojo macro lens and Hipstamatic app via iPhone. With a slightly different angle, I then featured this fellow in a montage:Mr. Waspy McFlowerstein.

What do you think? Ever experimented with macro photography? What do you think of wasps? What would you name this guy? Let us hear from you in the comments!

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National Moth Week: Cool Pics Wrap-Up

Okay, this is it for the moth photo posts (for a while, anyway). I usually do a Single Image Sundays post right about now, but I’m supersizing it for you with a bonus slideshow of  select photos I’ve taken & shared in support of National Moth Week, which ends today. Here’s my favorite image with a link to the whole set on Flickr:

“Catch Me If You Can”

What do you think? Have you ever participated in a group photo project, or nature documentation? Ever experimented with macro photography? Let us hear from you in the comments!

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Single Image Sundays: Moth At The Door

Right place, right time, Hipstamatic and a bit of luck.

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