Back-lit Macro Attempts

Back-lighting is not a conventional way to light up subjects in nature and especially in macro photography, because it is inherently difficult to carry or manipulate the lights around a tiny subject which might disappear at any point of time. But then again, that's also what makes successful shots unique. Note that back-lighting does not work well with many subjects - I personally only attempt back-lighting on subjects with bodies that allow light to pass through, or with an elaborate outline, such as abundance of hair. On this night, a rare subject presented the perfect opportunity to practise back-lighting!

1. Owlfly larva (Ascalaphidae) with a bristle-like outline and thin, slightly translucent body seems to be perfect to put my flash behind.


2. Leaf Insect (Phyllium sp.) has a thin wafer-like body, allowing light to pass through easily.


3. Forest Leaf Grasshopper (Systella rafflesi) is another good example of a thin translucent body with intricate leaf-like veins that can be highlighted with back-lighting.


4. A large caterpillar's lengthy hairs can be highlighted with a flash behind


5. Not a typical subject for back-lighting, but the Whip Scorpion (Thelyphonida) has a really interesting tail/whip that shows up differently with light from behind.


6. Back light on a Water Measurer (Hydrometridae), not too impressive.


7. A Banded Flower Mantis (Theopropus elegans) lighted from a different angle, creates a bit of a silhouette and an interesting feel to the photo.


8. The Dead Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys sp.) has shoulder "wings" which might show up like an X-ray by shining a light through it.


9. A Spotted Tree Frog (Nyctixalus pictus) at this position allowed me to try to "see through" it.


10. One of my favorites, a Tarantula (Phlogiellus sp.) running about on a tree trunk with back-lighting causing the hairy exterior to stand out prominently.


11. Another bunch of hairy caterpillars, lots of hair means a good opportunity!


12. In this photo of the Eight Spotted Crab Spider (Platythomisus octomaculatus), back-lighting causes a different view on the leaf rather than the actual subject.

As with every blog post, here are the other interesting finds for the night. Many exotic looking finds too!
13. How the Owlfly larva (Ascalaphidae) looked in the leaf litter. Much less significant and well camouflaged.


14. Look at the eyes and mandibles... woahhh...


15. Simple shot of a Net-Casting Spider (Deinopis sp.), not so simple after all as it is almost always facing down.


16. Pair of beetles busy working hard for the next generation


17. The common Mangrove Longhorn Beetle (Aeolesthes holosericeus)


18. Always an easy subject for face shots!


19. A common Orb Web Spider (Eriovixia pseudocentrodes)


20. The elongated abdomen is pretty typical for this species.


21. Big-Jawed Spider (Tetragnathidae) busily running up and down its web to harvest prey.


22. Male Orb Web Spider (Araneidae), usually presented as a tiny speck on leaves


23. Many grasshoppers (Caelifera), big and small resting on the leaves on a wet night.


24. Very common Flatid Planthopper (Flatidae)


25. Ground Spider (Zodariidae) with a captured ant


26. The bug-eyed Katydid (Asiophlugis temasek?)


27. Haven't seen this Checkered Beetle (Cleridae) in quite a while!


28. Some actually mistake this to be a tiger beetle.


29. Lots of details on the eyes and face of the Checkered Beetle (Cleridae)


30. The usually shy looking Weevil (Curculionidae)


31. Here's one of the smallest Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae) carrying her egg sac. It measures only 1cm including legs wide spread.


32. Top view of the Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae), egg sac not too easily visible to the naked eye.


33. Thanks to Chris, we got to shoot this very shy Flower Mantis nymph (Hymenopodidae?)


34. At times, it might pose for us.


35. Most of the time, it had the back facing us. We called it "du shen" (赌神), referencing to an old God of Gamblers movie where the main character often had his back to the camera.


36. It had a very curious look despite being so shy


37. Rare moment facing the camera!!!


38. Lots of moths attracted to our lights


39. The Nursery Web Spider (Pisauridae) is quite common here


40. Huntsman Spider (Thelcticopis sp.). For the record, this used to be under Clubionidae.


41. Beautiful Velvet Ant (Mutillidae), also known as the "Cow Killer" for the extremely painful sting.


42. Bright colours to warn you perhaps?


43. Lovely pair of mating Stick Insects (Phasmatodea), looked dull at first glance but they are really quite cute!


44. Interesting looking Snail (Gastropoda) dangling from a leaf


45. @.@


46. Small little Wandering Spider (Ctenidae) running about on the leaf litter


47. One of the spiny looking Harvestman (Opiliones)


48. Behold, it fluoresces under ultraviolet (UV) light!


49. Some called this the unicorn for the tuft of hair in front, some think it is a Sparassid, but I'm going with Pisauridae for now.


50. Baby scorpions! Lots of fat ones!


51. And here's the proud mother!


52. Her babies literally climbing over her head.


53. Huntsman Spider (Gnathopalystes sp.) freshly squeezed from its moult.


54. This was very high up, had to raise my camera way above my head to get this shot.


55. Spinning crazily on its silk, so it allowed me to get a ventral view.


56. Beautiful caterpillar with "wings". Possibly a hawkmoth larva?


57. Clearer view of the tail


58. Looks like a Portia, but no tufts of hair to mimic detritus on the body. So... not sure!


59. Side view


60. Dorsal view, first required view for Salticid identification.

The complete album can be viewed here.

The back-lighting macro album can be viewed here.