Up Close with Nature

2012 is coming to an end soon and as usual, I went through all my 2012 images and came out with this mosaic. Again, created using Big Huge Labs' Mosaic Maker. Only one new species of lantern bug for 2012, but I did manage to find an adult Zanna sp. so it wasn't too bad at all. 1. IMG_5377 stk copy, 2. R0020636 copy, 3. IMG_4804 copy, 4. IMG_3666 copy, 5. IMG_3810 copy, 6. IMG_3543 copy, 7.

Melvyn Yeo's Macro Rig. His rig consists of the Canon 5DM2, Canon 100mm L macro lens, Extension Tubes, Raynox DCR 250 closeup filter, 270ex flash and  DIY diffuser. You can check out more of his works on his DeviantArt page here and Facebook page here. 270EX on the hotshoe with a reflective board to push the light downward, and diffused by a huge concave diffuser attached to the front of the

Tropical reptiles and tropical amphibians. All photographed in West Malaysia and some from East Malaysia (Borneo). Edit: This post won't be updated anymore because it is getting way too long. While this post will remain, I have also created "Tropical Frogs", Tropical Lizards" and Tropical Snakes, which I will update from time to time. Lizards of Malaysia Cat Gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus),

Camouflage in nature. A bunch of dead leaves on the forest floor? Leaf mimic grasshopper, Chorotypus gallinaceus   A Cryptic katydid (Pseudophyllinae ) A cryptic Reduvius sp. assassin bug nymph with dirt/debris and ant carcasses on its back. Another Reduvius sp. on tree trunk This one took it to a new level. Not just debris/dirt but also moss, ant carcasses, and a roach ootheca too!

Caterpillars and/or larvae/worms I have photographed over the years. More will be added as we go. A wet and hairy caterpillar I found one rainy night. Lasiocampidae - Trabala sp. Snake-mimic caterpillar? Sphingidae -Eupanacra sp. - ID suggested by Roger Kendrick.  Selangor, Malaysia.  Map butterfly larva (Cyrestis sp.) - ID suggested by GC Gan. Bad hair day. Big Saturniidae

This has got to be the coolest gecko I have ever seen (and touched) in real life! I was scanning a tree trunk for any potential macro subject(s) when, from out of nowhere, this amazing Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli), landed onto the very same tree in front of me! Look at the cool patterns, shapes and colors on this gorgeous gecko! It was wagging its tail much like a puppy too at first.

Hisham Marmin's Macro rig. You can find his blog here, and his Facebook page here. You can also find more macro rigs here. His macro rigs consists of Pentax K5, SMC Pentax D FA Macro 100mm F2.8 WR3, Pentax AF160C Macro Ring Flash. However, instead of using the ring flash the way it is intended to be, i.e mounted onto the front of the lens, this is what he does. The images here should be self