Pennsylvania Soldier Foraging for Food
A Pennsylvania Soldier Beetle found on a chrysantemum in my aunt's garden. These are considered "friendly" beetles as they consume other insects harmful to the plants. The "Pennsylvania" variant of this beetle is yellow . . . other variants have a different primary color with the same black accent markings.
Film: Fuji Sensia 100
Made using a 35-105mm zoom lens at 105mm with its "close focus" engaged (works like a short ~5mm extension tube). Had to make this one hand held quickly before the beetle departed. Stopped down (for depth of field) until shutter speed was 1/60th or 1/125th. Made a half-dozen shots realizing camera shake and extremely shallow depth of field (holding focus distance hand held was difficult) were very high risks.
Uploaded on May 13, 2005