Hawthorn shield bug

[Jonathan Ashton]

Tripod, plamp Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/30
Av(Aperture Value) 11
Metering Mode Spot Metering
Exposure Compensation +2/3
ISO Speed 200
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Flash Off

My wife spotted this little guy in the mulberry bush in the back garden, I got my camera and tripod ready, then attached the plamp to a small tripod. I plucked the leaf carefully and placed it in the plamp, the mag was about 1:2. I thought I was going to be able to get a stack sequence but the intermittent breeze and then the bugs movement precluded that option. This is the angle of approach I wanted but tried as i could I could not get a better shot without the rim of the leaf covering his feet.
I used Nik filter in CS6 to enhance contrast and detail in the bug.
The metering mode was unintentional, I forgot to reset it!
All C&C welcome.

[Steve Maxson]

Excellent light, sharpness, and detail, plus good comp and background! A beautiful image!

[Jerry van Dijk]

Lovely fellow and great sharpness within the DOF. Before reading your text I was going to say that it would have been nice to have more of the bug in focus... I do think with this angle that should the front of the leaf have been in focus, it would have overpowered the subject.