278: One Dozen Ladybirds

Settings: f/5.6, 1/10, ISO 100, 50mm Cosinon M42, 19mm extension, tripod.

241: President Weevil

Settings: f/9.5, 1/40, ISO 100, 50mm Pentacon M42, 25mm extension, tripod.

141: A Strange Flat Bug

...On a lemon balm leaf.
I have no idea what it is, all I know is that it's a living thing with tiny legs underneath a flat, lumpy, shield-like carapace.
It's definitely one of the creepier bugs I've found in the garden this year.

Settings: f/16, 1/2.5, ISO 100, 50mm Pentacon M42, BPM Bellows near full extension, 1/4 flash, white cards & foil reflector, tripod.

099: Three Ladybirds

Ladybirds, ladybugs.
They seem to be everywhere right now, but I can't help but keep taking photos of them. It's only a pity I've barely found other than the common seven-spot variety so far. I will keep a lookout for more in the coming weeks.

Settings: /6.3, 1/25, ISO 100, 50mm Cosinon M42, 48mm extension, tripod.

023: Ladybirds on Holly

A lucky find today.
I was doing some pruning at the end of the garden when I discovered some red spots on the stubby end of a holly twig, partly obscured by a bushy growth of leaves. I didn't expect to find ladybirds somewhere like this in January.
I set up a tripod right next to the twig and mounted the camera with flash. After much fine repositioning (a requirement of very shallow focus range) I took this final image at f/7.1, 1/180 sec. ISO 100, low power flash. I pointed the flash forward with a foil reflector to angle the light down, and used a piece of white polystyrene underneath to reflect some light back up.