Cicada Study Image 1

@Sandy: Well, if you can say it or write it, it's a word. But actually, I think it is a word in relatively common usage --well, common among film buffs and critics anyway.

@MadScientist: Until I read your question the true nature of the subject never occurred to me --in spite of the fact that I know this is not the season for Cicada's, and it looked dead, it never registered that the occupant had left. It's like my thinking just didn't progress beyond taking photos.

@k@: Though I confess I didn't know better at the time, and only realized after reading the comment from Mad Scientist, this is just the shell the maturing inhabitant left behind (in spite of the fact that I know this is not the season for Cicada's, and it looked dead, it never registered that the occupant had left).

@Marcah: If you like natural sepia, check out the Wednesday shot. Personally I think I like the Wednesday shot best.

@Julian Kilsby: Fairly pleased with the lens. The only displeasing aspect is the very long hunt for autofocus when you move the lens too far away from a previous focal point --but I think that's a function of the macro capability, not the particular lens (and it does have a travel limiter which I haven't really tried using yet).

@JoeB: Don't be fooled. Like Saddam, I have any number of doubles.

@grant: I need to get a shot of a mature one after it has emerged --or even better, as one is emerging.

@Linerberry: The end of my lens was about two inches away. But anyway, they're harmless.

@Ronnie 2¢: This is just the shell he left behind. I took this photo over the past weekend but I guess this shell has been stuck to the tree since Spring. Even when the "nymph" is inside they're not in any way threatening. They move at a glacial pace.