Camera: Camera-Olympus E-PL1
Shutter Speed: 1/250 s
Aperture: f/8
Exposure Setting: Auto
ISO: 200
Strobe Flash: Did Not Fire
Lens Focal Length: 27 mm
White Balance: Auto
Shooter's Comments:
Don't attempt this without a four year old.
I was asked to take a photo of a Woolly Bear caterpillar to go with a story about winter weather. Woolly Bear caterpillars have the reputation of being able to forecast the coming winter. I thought this would be an easy assignment. I had seen one in my yard earlier in the week. I thought all I had to do was go outside and look around my yard.
I looked and none were to be seen, I walked down my street and checked out the running track at Concordia Seminary. At this time of year, Woolly Bear caterpillars are on the move and you can usually see them crossing a street.
After an hour of looking in the obvious places, I went out to Metea County Park. Woolly Bear caterpillars had been seen around the pond that day. I looked and couldn't find them. I then caught up with Kate Trammel, 4, who had found one earlier in the day. She and her family were taking it home.
This caterpillar will hibernate during the winter, spin a cocoon in the spring and then turn into a will turn into a "tiger"-an Isabella Tiger Moth next spring. The Trammel family is going observe this process.
- Cathie Rowand, Photojournalist
