Name: Andrew Neal
Picture title: Ladybird in a Poppy
Nationality: British
Occupation: Artist

Andrew:
‘Seven-spot ladybirds can be tricky to photograph. On a warm, sunny day they always seem to be on the move, which doesn’t leave much time for considering composition, angle and background. This picture was taken in my garden before the sun had reached the flowers and warmed the ladybird up. Quite often, when inactive, ladybirds tuck their legs in, it isn't a million miles away from their placement when you find a dead one. As a result, you could end up with a fairly lifeless looking image. Luckily, I found this ladybird on the curved edge of a poppy, meaning it had to hang its front leg down slightly for support. This created a much more dynamic pose, which helped the composition no end. Given that the ladybird had only recently emerged, its orange colouration was a perfect match for its surroundings.’

Technical information:
Nikon D500
Tokina 100mm f/2.8
ISO 200
f/16
1/250sec
Accessories: Yonguno YN-560 IV Flash, Raynox DCR-250 lens.
Post processing: Photoshop for tweaks to saturation, white balance and shadows/highlights. Five images focus stacked in Zerene Stacker. Final sharpen in Topaz Sharpen AI.

Website: andrewneal.gallery
Instagram: andynealphoto
Facebook: AndrewNealPhotography