Philoscia muscorum has a dark stripe along the centre of its back. One of the ‘famous 5’ very common British species of woodlouse most likely to be seen.
Seen all year round, it forages for dead organic matter on which it feeds during the cover of night, hiding under stones, bark or logs during the day.
Woodlice can be quite a challenge to photo, not just because of their small size, but because they generally run off and hide again when disturbed. The camera flash can be problematic, too, for it tends to bounce off the shiny surface of the exoskeleton expressing ugly highlights. A diffuser helps, but control of the light can still be a challenge. To add, narrowing the aperture to around f/36 to get as much detail as possible means flash is essential. You are also outside of the ‘sweet spot’ for sharpness, but all depends on your lens and camera, too. And without a tripod, a steady hand is needed, so bracing on ‘anything’ using ‘everything’ is key.
Equipment: Nikon D7200 with Sigma 105 mm macro lens and Raynox 250 convertor lens. Nikon Speedlight with plastic direct fitting diffuser and fabric diffuser on lens. Hand held. Settings: f/36. 1/160 sec. ISO-320. A little post-processing applied.
Nature Journeys 
Fabulous macro of these creatures, Pete!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Indira! 🙂
LikeLike
It’s fascinating to read of the settings that you used, Pete, and to see the results. I am not sure that I have ever seen a photo shot at f/36. Even at that setting, your depth of field was pretty shallow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mike. I may be retaining the depth of field as the second lens which I click onto my macro gets me that bit closer, and I am virtually in the face of the creature, almost being full frame. It can be a balancing act at times, for I think there is also a sweet spot distance wise and as to what your lens and camera can achieve. Sometimes stepping back a little and cropping later can be more effective, but I do like filling the frame when I can 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for the explanation, Pete. It is a balancing act every time I take a shot as I mentally juggle all of the options for camera settings and composition. There are definitely tradeoffs with each choice. My first instinct is also to get in as close as I can, whether physically, when I am shooting with a macro lens, or by zooming in, when I am using a zoom lens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always impressed by your work, your subjects may freak me out at times, but do love what you can do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate that, Ted, thank you 🙂 Sometimes they freak me out.
LikeLike
😂😂😂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you made a good job with this one, to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Hans 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent series, Pete!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Belinda 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Simply amazing – the details are fantastic. This is one I’ll show my daughter – she loves macro photography.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sumyanna 🙂 I hope your daughter enjoys them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pics of a tiny insect !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
That’s a fine collection of lousey portraits, Pete. 🙂 Tose large eyes seen in the second shot almost give it a cute appearance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Many thanks, Steve! I don’t know about cute, but I find them fascinating 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent pictures. I am getting more and more fond of them. Somehow 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂 I am pleased you are getting to like them more 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know why, but the last time I saw them, they reminded me of comic animals. They were so busy, running to and fro 🙂 Cute somehow. I think I am a bit strange 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you are strange so am I lol! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
^^ I didn’t dare saying so, lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person