The Canon 70D Is Back In Action!

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Admin11

Last month, I received a memory card lock error on my Canon 70D Body. I sent it off to Canon USA for repair. Canon replaced the shutter assembly and a few covers. They informed me that my 70D shutter exceeded the normal life expectancy at a total of 156,642. I purchased this camera body in January 2014. This camera body has been the most durable and reliable camera body that I have owned so far.

Canon 70D: Favorite features

Fully-articulated touchscreen
High ISO capabilities
Responsive auto focus system
Lightweight and compact

Below are some of my popular photographs taken with the Canon 70D. Featured in National Geographic, BBC, WWF, IUCN, and Scientific publications.

: Planet or plastic -NatGeo

: Okinawa Woodpecker

: BBC – fluorescence Okinawa

: WWF -Crabs with beach trash Homes

: Japanese workbooks – Okinawa nature

: Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko

I often use the Canon 70D to photograph fluorescence in the Yanbaru forest. This is a custom setup I use to photograph flowers and animals.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

The equipment I use for my Series “Crabs With Beach Trash Homes”

Canon 70D
Tokina 10-17mm
L&M Stella 2000
Canon 270ex flash

Shawn Miller – Crabs with beach trash homes. photographed by David Orr

Thanks to Canon USA for the great customer service and quick turnaround!

The Hallowell’s tree frog – Okinawa

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Admin11

The Hallowell’s tree frog ( Hyla hallowellii ) is found on Okinawa, Amami and Tokunoshima Island.

Scientific name: Hyla hallowellii
Common name: Hallowell’s tree frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, grassy areas and farm fields near water.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 30mm-40mm
Color: Bright green with a white belly

The Hallowell’s tree frog is fairly common but not often seen. The beautiful frog lives high above the ground in trees making it difficult to find and photograph.

The Hallowell’s tree frog

They are easy to locate during mating season. The male produces a fairly high pitch squeak sound over and over.

The Hallowell’s tree frog -vocal sac

The Hallowell’s tree frog -mating call

The Hallowell’s tree frog

Let’s protect the wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Admin11

The Okinawa green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis viridis ) is found on Okinawa, Iheya and Kume Island.

Scientific name: Rhacophorus viridis viridis
Common name: Okinawa Green tree frog
Distribution: Okinawa, Kume, and Iheya.
Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes and farm fields near water.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 45mm-75mm
Color: Olive green, Bright green and dark brown

Okinawa Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

This beautiful frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it resting on tree branches, blending in with the surrounding green leaves.

Natural habitat © Shawn Miller

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

Amami green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis amamiensis) © Shawn Miller

The breeding season stretches from February to April on Okinawa.

Green tree frog mating © Shawn Miller

On Kume Island the tree frogs transform to a golden brown when mating.

Kume Island tree frog © Shawn Miller

They construct a foam nest on a tree branch above a still water source. Eventually, the foam liquefies when the eggs are ready to hatch.

Frog foam nest © Shawn Miller

Not all frogs survive to make the nest. The Akamata is the most common snake on the Okinawan Islands. It feeds on venomous habu snakes, baby sea turtles, lizards, and frogs.

Akamata snake feeding © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the Meet your Neighbours global biodiversity project.

MYN Technique © Shawn Miller

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

I often find this frog searching for insects on the road.

Roadside green tree frog © Shawn Miller

” Know your nature with Shawn Miller ” Let’s protect the wildlife of Okinawa.

Light-painting with the nightsea by Shawn Miller

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Admin11

Light painting is the artistic technique of moving a hand held-light source while taking a long exposure. The purpose is to illuminate the subject with constant lighting to create a powerful image. It takes a steady hand, patience, trial and error and imagination. Using a specialized blue light (nightsea) will allow you to capture fluorescence. The images will be enhanced with beautiful bright vibrant colors.

Most plants and animals fluoresce under blue light. Below are some of my favorite long-exposures photographed using the Nightsea and a Canon 70d. I also included some comparison photos under white light.

Beautiful cherry blossoms under blue light, Okinawa-Japan

Cherry blossom under blue light

Psychedelic cherry blossoms

Cherry blossom |white light

Sunflowers show some fluorescence under blue light, Okinawa-Japan

Sundflower under blue light

Sunflower under white light -zoom panning

The animal must not move in order to get a sharp image during a long-exposure.

Rhinoceros coconut beetle under blue light

Rhinoceros coconut beetle under white light

( Onomustus kanoi ) fluorescence photography

Cicada under blue light by Shawn Miller

Cicada under white light

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under blue light

The Rosy gypsy moth (Lymantria mathura) Under white light –

More flowers painted with the Light & Motion Nightsea

Flowers under blue light

Flowers under blue light

Cactus under blue light

Mochi leaf flower under blue light

Flower under blue light

Light-painting with the Nightsea and Sola 600 red light

Light-painting Okinawa

Blue light comparison (450nm) with UV (385)

Blue comparison – 450nm vrs uv 385nm

Equipment used

Light&Motion Sola Nightsea or Gobe blue light
Modeling light Gobe 700 wide (white light) to lock in focus
Camera with Manual capabilities and macro lens (Canon 70d *60macro)
Manfrotto Tripod and remote
Barrier filter (block the reflected blue light )

My above water camera setup for fluorescence

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

The Light & Motion Nightsea Dive light.

Sola NightSea underwater blue light

My underwater setup for photographing fluorescence.

Friends and supporters – Save 20% off your first Light & Motion purchase https://prz.io/648x6bGC1

I want to thank Light & Motion and Nightsea for all their continuous support over the years.

Protecting Okinawa’s endangered beetles – Yanbaru forest

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Admin11

Poaching has been a big problem in northern Okinawa. The endemic animals of the Yanbaru forest are highly valued in the exotic pet trade market. The Okinawan Ministry of the Environment and the wildlife protection center are working hard this year to prevent the poaching of these endangered species. The Okinawan’s are spreading the word in the news, local papers, flyers and even monitoring the forest roads at night.

Poaching flyer -Yanbaru

August through September is when people search the forest for the rare Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle (Cheirotonus jambar). If you see anyone taking this protected species please contact the authorities. I have yet to photograph a live animal. It is one of the rarest beetles in the world.

Rarest beetle in Japan -Yanbaru long armed scarab beetle, wildlife center

The giant Okinawan stag beetle (Dorcus titanus okinawanus) is also a high prized specimen in the pet trade.

Giant okinawan stag beetles

Giant okinawan stag beetle

Beetle collectors use fruit filled net traps to lure in the beetles.

Yanbaru beetle trap (Dorcus titanus okinawanus)

The beetles hooked shaped arms get caught in the netting.

Giant stag beetle (Dorcus titanus okinawanus)

Over the years, I have found a few traps with dead beetles attached.

Female okinawan stag beetle

In 2019 I found this undescribed beetle in the Yanbaru forest.

Unidentified beetle ,Yanbaru

Beetle collecting is popular on Okinawa. Its important to be familiar with the specific beetles that are protected species. Let’s protect the wildlife of the Yanbaru forest for future generations.

The King of the Yanbaru forest – Holst’s frog

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Admin11

The Holst’s frog ( Babina holsti ) is a rare species found in northern Okinawa. It is currently listed endangered on the IUCN red list. It is designated as a natural monument by the Okinawa Prefecture. This large amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to habitat loss.

Scientific name: Babina holsti (Boulenger, 1892)
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects, worms, snails and small reptiles
Average Size: 100mm -125mm

The King- Holst’s frog

The Holst’s frog is the largest frog found on Okinawa. It hides in holes, crevices and small caves in the day.

Searching for food

This is a size comparison photograph taken with the iPhone 6s. This is a good size frog but they do get larger than this.

Comparison – Iphone6s

The juveniles have a dark brown patch on the top section of the body. They blend in very well with their habitat.

Juvenile Holst’s frog

They are sometimes found searching for food on the back roads of Northern Okinawa.

Juvenile Holst’s frog – Yanbaru

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife!

Crossing wildlife

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Capturing fluorescence – Fluorescence enhancement photography by Shawn Miller

Featured

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Admin11

All photographers experience a time when their work becomes redundant and lose vision. The Light & Motion Sola Nightsea has opened up a new style of photography for me. Recently I have been blending the Light&Motion Nightsea blue light with ambient light underwater and getting beautiful vibrant results.

Some of my Fluorescence enhancement coral images were featured in The Blue Planet 11 publication. It’s always nice to see years of hard work finally pay off.

Underwater fluorescence – Shawn Miller featured Blue planet 11

Here are some basic lighting examples using different techniques.

Fluorescence techniques © Shawn Miller

Here are some of my favorite images using this fluorescence enhancement technique. All Images I used Light&Motion Sola lights to achieve these beautiful vibrant results.

Fluorescence enhancement © Shawn Miller

Underwater fluorescence © Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography © Shawn Miller

Nightsea and Sola 600 blended- fluorescence© Shawn Miller

My fluorescence camera rig for underwater

Shawn Miller fluorescence setup © Shawn Miller

Friends and supporters – Save 20% off your first Light & Motion purchase https://prz.io/648x6bGC1

Know your nature with Shawn Miller

Light and Motion macro field setup – Constant lighting by Shawn Miller

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Admin11

Light and Motion lights produce constant lighting with studio quality output. This light configuration is convenient while shooting macro photography at night. The camera, tray, arms and lights are combined into one lightweight unit. The light output can be easily adjusted with a touch of a switch. Having the lights on loc-line arms allow simple light angle adjustments.

The custom Light and Motion macro field setup consists of

Sola Tray kit with extention tray and arms
Third custom loc-line arm mounted
GoBe 700 wide light
Sola 600 light
Sola 1200 light
Canon 70D with 60 mm macro lens and strap

Light and Motion macro field setup by Shawn M Miller.

I was fortunate to have beautiful weather both nights testing the constant lighting setup in northern Okinawa. Six of the animals below are endangered species listed as threatened on the IUCN red list. All of these night dwellers are decreasing in numbers due to deforestation.

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko -Red list

Namie’s frog (Limnonectes namiyei) – Red list

Okinawa tree frog (Rhacphhorus viridis)

Ryukyu Tip-nosed frog -Red list

Anderson’s crocodile newt- Red list

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko -Red list

Ryukyu brown frog -Red list

Holst’s frog ( Rana holsteri ) – Red list

Ryukyu Kajika frog

If you would like to learn more about these lights, check out the site!

http://www.lightandmotion.com/the-perfect-light

Have a great day!

Namie’s frog (limnonectes namiyei) – Amphibians of Okinawa

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Admin11

The Namie’s frog ( Limnonectes namiyei ) is an endangered species found only in northern Okinawa. It is currently listed threatened on the IUCN red list of endangered species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to deforestation and the use of pesticides.

Scientific name: Limnonectes namiyei
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects
Average Size: 70mm -115mm

Namie’s frog -Yanbaru forest

Namie’s frog- Photographed using the Stella 2000

Namies frog- Stella 2000

Massive legs allow them and capture prey with lightning speed.

Namie’s frog ( limnonectes namiyei )

Webbed feet allow them to quickly escape predators in the water.

Namie’s frog – Top view

Wide angle perspective – showing the environment it lives in.

Namie’s frog – Wide angle macro

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

Road dweller- Namie’s frog with leeches

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

The Art of Wide-Angle Macro Photography by Shawn Miller

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Admin11

Wide-angle macro photography is popular with wildlife photographers. The technique allows the photographer to document the animal in its natural habitat and show the full scene it lives in. The photographs have great impact and deliver a bug eye perspective using a wide angle lens. I generally use off-camera flash with a custom soft box to make these photographs. Lately, I have been testing a variety of on-camera flashes to achieve a different perspective. One of the biggest challenges is lighting the subject evenly with soft diffused lighting.

The most popular lenses used for wide angle macro photography ( WAM )

Tokina fisheye 10-17mm f3.5-4.5
Nikon fisheye 10.5mm f2.8
Sigma fisheye 15mm f2.8 E
Venus Laowa 15mm f4 – (Manual focus only)

The Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye is my favorite lens in my bag and has been my go-to lens for the project “Crabs with Beach Trash Homes”

Tokina fisheye lens

Below are some of my favorite wide-angle macro images photographed in Okinawa-Japan.

Fighting pose - Preying mantis, IPhone 6s

Pryer's keelback feeding on a white jawed frog

Kuroiwa's ground gecko crossing the road

Praying mantis @Hedo Point

zanpa lighthouse and hermit crabs

If you would like to learn more about this technique I recommend Wide-Angle Macro: The Essential Guide by Clay Bolt and Paul Harcourt Davies https://www.e-junkie.com/shop/product/482943.php

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: canon outdoors

The Canon 70D Is Back In Action!

The Hallowell’s tree frog – Okinawa

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Light-painting with the nightsea by Shawn Miller

Protecting Okinawa’s endangered beetles – Yanbaru forest

The King of the Yanbaru forest – Holst’s frog

Capturing fluorescence – Fluorescence enhancement photography by Shawn Miller

Featured

Light and Motion macro field setup – Constant lighting by Shawn Miller

Namie’s frog (limnonectes namiyei) – Amphibians of Okinawa

The Art of Wide-Angle Macro Photography by Shawn Miller