One At A Time, Please! by myautofocuslife

One At A Time, Please!

So when I saw the caterpillar, I was like, oooh, how cool! I get to shoot a caterpillar! And it's not tiny at all. It's big and fat with impressive spikes. This caterpillar was almost twice as thick as my forefinger.

So I raised the camera and snapped. Snap, snap, snap. Oh wait. I see another one. How cute! Two of them. Snap. Snap. Oh wait. There's another. And another. Oh. Wait. What the—!? I spotted at least 30 of them. I say 30 because I stopped counting. I needed to beat a hasty retreat.

As I walked away, in my head, I was seeing a humongous space alien taking a look at the Earth. Oh look, the alien says, there's a human being! So cute. Oh look, there's another one. How lovely. Oh. Wait. Wait. Wait one holy cosmic second! What the—!? There are millions of them! Billions of them! EEEEEEK!

No one else feels the same way? XD

ETA: It's a common birdwing caterpillar!
It's a monster!

Great shot
April 25th, 2012  
Hahahahahahahaaa. Love your story :D
April 25th, 2012  
WOW what a beast - awesome shot
April 25th, 2012  
great story.. (sounds like me..lol).. and what an incredible picture... good job!!.
April 25th, 2012  
That is huge. What on earth is it going to turn into? Maybe an Atlas Moth or something like? Funny commentary, you are not alone!!
April 25th, 2012  
Jo
You have checked your clothing haven't you? and blown your nose .... ? Great shot!
April 25th, 2012  
That is one ferocious looking caterpillar. And it's so true, one or two of something can be cute, while a massive swarm is an entirely different matter.
April 25th, 2012  
Great pic great focus!
April 25th, 2012  
@seanoneill I haven't the foggiest idea what the caterpillars are going to become. Hopefully something beautiful. I'm afraid to go back there. XD
April 25th, 2012  
Livia, you must go back! Just think of all the beautiful butterflies you'll be able to capture! ;-)
Love this capture. Great focus!
ps: My new 100mm macro is due to arrive on Friday...can't wait to take better shots like this one!
April 25th, 2012  
@myautofocuslife Very funny. I think they are moths, can see why they spooked you!
April 25th, 2012  
It looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie...
April 25th, 2012  
WOW! i never knew a caterpillar looked like that! that's an incredible macro shot!
April 25th, 2012  
Love this shot - amazing spikes! I think insects are very strange - and therefore a bit scary. Anyway - awesome shot! Don't stop:-).
April 25th, 2012  
Hahaha...I've always wondered the same thing. It would explain why the aliens don't visit us that often. "Humans! Nasty things. They definitely don't taste like chicken" Lol. I also like the fact that it almost sounds like you were being invaded yourself. Lucky you got away in time. Amazing capture by the way. Incredible detail.
April 25th, 2012  
love this shot really ugly catapillar! as for your comment line it made laugh! I just hope they werent munching on a plant in your garden or there will be no plants left if there were that many of them!
April 25th, 2012  
Saweet shot! They are taking over the world! Run for cover. How funny!!
April 25th, 2012  
@sueh They were in a small park and they were all super hungry and ferociously munching on the leaves of a vine. So many of them all in one place... *SHIVERS*
April 25th, 2012  
Amazing shot Livia!
April 25th, 2012  
Wow....it's huge.....I think it's going to eventually become Morthra out of Godzilla, although it reminds me of the smoking caterpiller in Alice in Wonderland lol ;-) Cool shot.....the focus is amazing :-)
April 25th, 2012  
Cool shot Livia, and a great story too - are they good to eat? :)
April 25th, 2012  
Wow that is a nice big juicy caterpillar! Well shot!
April 25th, 2012  
Whoa he's a big fella.....=) I would have been freaked out too.....like they were taking over! =-0
April 25th, 2012  
Outstanding capture Livia got to be a....FAV
April 25th, 2012  
Awesome macro shot, Livia! But if there are 30 or more, that bush or tree won't stand a chance!
April 25th, 2012  
Amazing shot! I have never seen a caterpillar quite like that. Thankfully, those I encounter are fuzzy and small.
April 25th, 2012  
Eeek, creepy crawly shot, masterfully executed though Miss Livia!
April 25th, 2012  
Terrific macro. Incredible detail in this!
April 25th, 2012  
Your story has me laughing so much, it is rather large though! Why are large small insects so scary?????? ;0)
April 25th, 2012  
wow, this is stunting . Great micro , great details and POV. And I agree with you . When I`m in a crowded place I don`t feel well
April 25th, 2012  
nice shot and I loved the story that went with it. :) I have a burning urge to dig out a field guide and try to identify it.
April 25th, 2012  
Wow, very impressive
April 25th, 2012  
I love your story, it had me in fits! What a monster muncher + if there were that many I'm not surprised you flipped! Excellent shot anyway.
April 25th, 2012  
This is a great shot and a wonderful story!! I never thought of it that way, but I just might now!!
April 25th, 2012  
Wow, it's so cool and creepy at the same time! Awesome macro!
April 25th, 2012  
eva
LOL! Thanks for a great laugh. Superb photo. Maybe my next camera should be a Nex?!
April 25th, 2012  
Ha, ha, ha. . .great photo and story! Hope you don't dream of creepy caterpillars tonight.
April 25th, 2012  
Hahaha - love the commentary - great shot - he is huge ....wonder what they will be!!
April 25th, 2012  
Fantastic detail! I think I might have nightmares tonight. Lol
April 25th, 2012  
Spectacular shot! :D
April 25th, 2012  
Wow, Livia, that looks huge!
April 25th, 2012  
As you say, one or two, fine! But loads are def' freaky, great shot though : ))
April 25th, 2012  
that is a freaky little guy!!!
April 25th, 2012  
With so many of them I would be worried about my garden.
April 25th, 2012  
Great capture ang good story (^~^)
April 25th, 2012  
Fantastic capture! Good move retreating fast, I'd have done the same. More than one of these cute and chubby grubs would give me the heebies
April 25th, 2012  
Wonderful detail!!
April 25th, 2012  
fantastic detail!!! never seen it from this close
April 25th, 2012  
Wow that thing looks a bit creepy but i must say its a fab shot, love the detail...great find!!!
April 25th, 2012  
Another brilliant macro Livia! I may have nightmares.
April 25th, 2012  
*eeek* It seems huge! Great capture!
April 25th, 2012  
I think he'll give me nightmares tonight...great capture and details!
April 25th, 2012  
*Shudder* fantastic shot Livia, that should be in an entomology textbook! Your commentary made me lol too. :)
April 25th, 2012  
kinda scary lookin'
April 25th, 2012  
Wow what a find!!
April 25th, 2012  
That scenario would probably be in the Movie, 'Mothaliens invade Earth"! Have you seen it?
April 25th, 2012  
Excellent!!!
April 25th, 2012  
Fantastic shot
April 25th, 2012  
What an amazing shot. Great job.
April 25th, 2012  
Funny Livia !! Great find and image.
April 25th, 2012  
LOL!!! That is awesome, fantastic capture!
April 25th, 2012  
Mel
LOL!!! what a great commentary :) and a fantastic shot to boot! i can imagine the feeling as you noticed more and more surrounding you, creeping up on you, staring at you :)
April 25th, 2012  
It's so creepy when you see them en masse like that, isn't it? Great macro of this one.
April 26th, 2012  
haha you are hilarious Livia, lovely shot of the monster too.
April 26th, 2012  
WOW! What on incredible close up!.....a proper Monster munch!! : )
April 26th, 2012  
Your macros are always perfect and in this case beautifully augmented by an incredible story.
April 26th, 2012  
Yikes! You're a brave one. I might hang around to take one of those but I'd be on the run if there were a lot of them. Neat capture with excellent detail.
April 26th, 2012  
Amazing capture and narrative, Livia! LOL! Well done, gal!
April 26th, 2012  
pretty funny! It looks huge even in your photo! I agree that one is great, two fun, then a mess of them kinda gross...but you had a great find for this one!
April 26th, 2012  
So what were you shooting this on? Pretty awesome.
April 26th, 2012  
Eeeek, gives me goosebumps just to look at this feller. How close did you have to get???
April 26th, 2012  
GREAT detail. I agree - kind of creepy alien looking - especially so many!!!
April 26th, 2012  
cool capture sooo many of them....scary...would hate to be that plant!!
April 26th, 2012  
Wow! I can't believe the size of that guy. Very unique!
April 26th, 2012  
Yikes!! It's a great closeup!
April 26th, 2012  
That would be a little scary! So cool to see one of these guys up close!!!!
April 26th, 2012  
A instant fave!! and I think that about ants and other creatures thinking that about us-- such giants in their eyes--would love to see what they metamorphosis into..
April 26th, 2012  
You are hilarious! Great shot.
April 26th, 2012  
WOW Livia you are a great photographe, very nice picture, i love it so much!
April 26th, 2012  
accept my belate appreciation.....
April 26th, 2012  
Eeeek I would fear for my garden. Someone is going to lose a lot of greenery me thinks I hope it isn't you. Great capture.
April 26th, 2012  
your story is hilarious and your focus is amazing...but can I just say EWWWWWWWWWW
April 26th, 2012  
woah that is freaky! it almost looks like it's wearing armour!
April 26th, 2012  
Lol! I always love reading your commentary! This is such an amazing macro! I love the details!
April 26th, 2012  
good grief, huge and so many! Um, what macro lens do you use? It takes fantastic pictures!
April 26th, 2012  
Lol! That's how I felt last summer, added the pity for my young Spiraea ‘Grefsheim’ that they were feeding on. But luckily me and my bush survived, as there were only ten or so caterpillars :)
April 26th, 2012  
@tooki Yeah, it freaked me out to see and realize there were so many of them. I use the Sony 30mm f/3.5 macro lens because it's made for my Sony NEX-C3 which is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. (It's not a dSLR.)
April 26th, 2012  
Wow, amazing detail ... so spiky!
April 26th, 2012  
Ya...this one's truly big n fat!!! Loved those spikes! Nice closeup!!
April 26th, 2012  
Not thats some caterpillar. Huge. Great shot.
April 26th, 2012  
What a great capture and narrative, Livia. Love the detail. I am envious as my Sony camera does not have a dedicated macro lens, it has to be set to a certain setting then try and get a macro photo per the manufacturer. It was what I could afford but miss the macro capability of my old point and shoot that worked so well. Will figure out something so I can get better close up photos.
April 26th, 2012  
Excellent capture.
April 26th, 2012  
Fav freaky munching bug
April 26th, 2012  
great capture Livia
April 26th, 2012  
I didn't have time for your story, I have even less after scrolling down that comment board, needless to say it but that is so, So cool!
April 26th, 2012  
Wow great capture, It's a monster
April 26th, 2012  
Sue
Amazing!!!
April 26th, 2012  
Lol! Great shot
April 26th, 2012  
30? where did you go this time, the silk factory?!? great shot but it grossed me out so off i go. aaaccckkk!
April 26th, 2012  
That is quite some caterpillar! Amazing size and crazy spikies on it! I think I'd have run away from all of them too!
April 26th, 2012  
Rob
Lol! Wow what an awesome shot! Wonderful detail!
April 26th, 2012  
Yikes! It does look like some sort of alien. Good capture!
April 26th, 2012  
hahaha! very funny! What a great caterpillar! Great catch Livia :D
April 26th, 2012  
That is some space age looking caterpillar, I'm not surprised you had such thoughts after seeing so many of them! Wonderful macro shot!
April 26th, 2012  
very cool shot
April 26th, 2012  
i kept wondering why i have been missing your postings......just realised that for some unknown reason i am no longer following you??? Strange.....anyways have refollowed! This by the way is an amazing shot, very impressive size!!
April 26th, 2012  
Goodness! What an awesome shot! Fav!
April 26th, 2012  
damn that thing is huge...great shot
April 26th, 2012  
Wow, amazing. Both shot and story are stunning.
April 26th, 2012  
Oh my goodness! He really does look alien. Great shot xx
April 26th, 2012  
I'm getting goose bumps looking at this and imagining them in numbers!!! Great capture!
April 26th, 2012  
Great capture, fantastic imagination! You definitely need to go back!
April 26th, 2012  
Great capture. I think your imagination is what makes you so creative. Love your thoughts on this!
April 26th, 2012  
You have an amazing imagination and powers of observation that I envy. Spectacular macro of this caterpillar - fantastic creatures that they are.
April 26th, 2012  
So cool looking... nice capture.
April 26th, 2012  
Awesome close up!
April 26th, 2012  
this is an incredible shot.. I love how much he's eaten of the leaf!
April 27th, 2012  
A great, big, ravenous, chubby, just-about-gargantuan "THANK YOU!" to all!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and leave a comment! I still recall the experience vividly, how the caterpillars moved and ate relentlessly, and I haven't been back to that little park. Someday, but not today. Or tomorrow. And when I do go back, I'll be sure to be extra careful and vigilant around that spot where these caterpillars were.

Again, thank you so much! I am always grateful for your support and encouragement!
April 27th, 2012  
another fabulous close up
April 27th, 2012  
this is fabulous... but it's got some major "ewwwwwww" factor happening... bugs that big just creep me out!
April 28th, 2012  
Awesome shot! That many caterpillars might keep me away also. Love your story.
April 28th, 2012  
Very, very cool! Awesome shot!
April 28th, 2012  
fave!
May 2nd, 2012  
Yikes! This is probably the most horrific thing I've ever seen here...and I thought I was scared of spiders! OMG! Amazing details, wish I could observe them more, but it makes me feel sick...sorry, the macro itself is absolutely amazing!
May 3rd, 2012  
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