Snout beetle (Curculiondae)

[bloodhound31]

I think I got the right ID......

I found this up in the hills above the Cotter today.

Baz.

[rcheshire]

Hi Barry. I'm enjoying following your adventures and your photography. Keep them coming.

[Dennis]

Nice shootin' Baz - some lovely detail there! Just a minor observation regarding the overall lighting, it seems a slightly harsh - not much you can do unless you diffuse those flash heads?

Cheers

Dennis

[bloodhound31]

G'day Dennis. They are diffused, I have thick tissue paper over both flashes heads, but I'll take a look at it.

Thanks for the pointer. :thumbsup:

Baz.

[bloodhound31]

Thanks mate! :thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Hi Baz

I’m assuming stuff here, but if the diffusing material is the same size as the flash heads, that is, the material is just stuck on the front of the original flash head diffusers/covers, then you won’t really gain any noticeable improvement in terms of softer shadows.

To make the shadows softer, you need to increase the (apparent) surface area of the light source, so the add-on diffusers should be at least 2 to 3 times the size of the flash head(s), although they shouldn’t block the escape of heat from the flash discharge otherwise the heads will melt.:eyepop:

On my 580EX II I noticed a big improvement when using a Lumiquest soft box which has a surface area at least 4 to 5 times greater than the naked flash head, making the apparent light source much larger. An analogy is comparing the harsh shadows from the Sun on a clear day with the soft lighting on a cloudy day, where the clouds effectively diffuse the light from the Sun’s disc over a much larger area.

Cheers

Dennis

[bloodhound31]

Thanks Dennis, I understand the analogy.

I am currently experimenting in my shed with some home-made internally reflective cone-type spreaders with diffusing material over the top.

Now to just make them tough enough to carry out in the bush, without adding too much more to the bulk/weight I already carry through tough terrain, without also destroying them...

[Sharnbrook]

Nice one Baz. I posted a shot some 3 years ago of the same guy, and now he is in Canberra! There is a bit more info there, courtesy of Ponders, if you want to look, (see here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=25711&highlight=botany+bay+weevil)).

[troypiggo]

Haven't heard them called snout beetles. It's a weevil, but may be known by other common names. Great detail on the eye.

Dennis is spot on about diffusion - increasing the apparent area of light source. The twinlight is very tricky to achieve this from such small heads. I'm still playing with combos.

[lacad01]

Nice work Baz! :thumbsup:

[ving]

gee they have some nice colours baz! :D

[shelltree]

Great shots Barry. I think you will find this is a Botany Bay Diamond Weevil Chrysolopus spectabilis and is part of the family Curculionidae as you said http://brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_weevils/DiamondWeevil.htm

I love these weevils, they are such beautiful creatures and you have captured them perfectly :)

[bloodhound31]

Cheers troops. :thumbsup:

Baz.

[mangrovedutch]

Great capture Baz, it is good to see a section that I can relate to. My astronomy and astrophotography experience is .... I bought a scope yesterday :lol:. I can post some of my other stuff, and feel like I am contributing to this forum :D

Regards, Dutch