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 © Shawn Miller

Hermit crabs of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Geograpsus grayi with eggs © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa’s Frog – The most beautiful frog in Japan © Shawn Miller

Horn-eyed ghost crab at sunset -Nikon 10.5mm © Shawn Miller

Herping in the yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

Crabs with trash homes – Sesoko © Shawn Miller

Golden habu on a fence © Shawn Miller

Ghost crab – Nagahama beach © Shawn Miller

Pryer’s keelback feeding on a white jawed frog © Shawn Miller

Baby loggerhead leaving the nest © Shawn Miller

Invasive insects – Coconut rhinoceros beetle © Shawn Miller

Blue rock-thrush with wings spread © Shawn Miller

Princess habu -Yanbaru © Shawn Miller

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko crossing the road © Shawn Miller

Okinawan green tree frog © Shawn Miller

Giant stag Beetle (Dorcus titanus) -Ie Island © Shawn Miller

Okinawa tip-nosed frog ( Rana narina ) © Shawn Miller

Hermit crab at sunset © Shawn Miller

Land crab crossing the road at night © Shawn Miller

Hermit crabs with beach trash homes © Shawn Miller

On the move- Black-breasted leaf turtle © Shawn Miller

Asian long-horned beetle © Shawn Miller

Crabs with trash homes-Yomitan © Shawn Miller

Road dweller- Namie’s frog- Stella 2000 © Shawn Miller

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

Light & Motion – The ultimate flashlight for wildlife photographers.

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Admin11

I have been using the Light & Motion Sola underwater lights for over two years now. I take them on all my adventures to include scuba diving, river trekking, caving and nature photography trips. These lights provide constant beautiful lighting and are extremely reliable, which is why they are the perfect light for me.

I recently purchased the Light & Motion Sola compact tray with the extension kit and one GoBe 700 wide light. I have been using this setup with the Canon 70D to document the wildlife in Okinawa. The flexible Loc-line arms are an awesome advantage. They are easy to move while having full control over the constant lighting.

Light & Motion field setup Photograph courtesy of Ross Gallardy

A photograph of a Ryukyu kajika frog in northern Okinawa using the Light & Motion field setup

Ryukyu Kajika frog ( Buergeria japonica )

The Light & Motion Sola 600 has a built in feature most people do not take advantage of. The light has a red light function which allows the user to get close to land and marine subjects without disturbing them. This red light is very effective and I highly recommend using it.

My underwater rig with the Light & Motion Sola 600 – Ikelite housing and strobes

The Light & Motion Nightsea Sola light can also be used on land. I am always searching for animals that fluoresce in the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa. You never know what you will find!

Light & Motion Sola Nightsea Blue light - Riukiaria falcifera

Light & Motion Sola Nightsea Blue light Millipede – Riukiaria falcifera

If you would like to know more about the Light & Motion Sola series visit. https://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

Have a great day!

Facing extinction – Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Admin11

Ishikawa’s frog (Odorrana ishikawae) is the most beautiful frog found in Japan. It is only found in northern Okinawa and currently on the endangered species list. It is one of the many endemic species facing extinction due to habitat loss. Ishikawa’s frog is a designated living national treasure of Okinawa.

Scientific name: Odorrana ishikawae
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects, worms, and millipedes
Average Size: 90mm -120mm

This is my favorite frog on Okinawa. I have only seen about a dozen in the last three years.

shikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Night dwelling in the Yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

They live around mountain streams in the Yanbaru forest. They hide in cracks and crevices in the rocks making it hard to photograph them at times.

Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

They are also masters of camouflage. The unique pattern helps them blend into the moss and leaves on the riverside.

The Ishikawa’s frog was featured in Amphibian Love – an artbook for the frogs. Artist Leah Jay created this book to show the beauty and fascinating variety of amphibians, and bring attention the the Amphibian Extinction Crisis.

If you are lucky you might find a blue Ishikawa’s frog. The blue morph is absolutely beautiful.

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

A large blue and green morph.

A juvenile Ishikawa’s frog searching for food. (Wide angle perspective)

herpetologists dream come true - the find

Sometimes they can be seen crossing the road!

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

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 Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: ryukyu wildlfe

The Art of Wide-Angle Macro Photography by Shawn Miller

Light & Motion – The ultimate flashlight for wildlife photographers.

Facing extinction – Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)