Heterometrus spinifer by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

The Giant Forest Scorpion or Giant Blue Scorpion. This particular species is hardy, quiet but quite aggressive. The Malaysian Forest Scorpion is quite defensive and will readily sting when it feels cornered or in danger.

Scorpions tend to glow under UV illumination as a result of chemical reactions happening within the carapace.

Long has been discussed the reasons behind this UV illumination. Right now scientists believe that this phenomenon, which is very light sensitive, allows scorpions to look for areas without light- a place to hide!

Nephila pilipes ♀ by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

This is a common Golden silk orb-weaver. I was lucky enough to observe the mating process between two golden orb web spiders. Note the huge size difference between the male (smaller) and female.

The male is seen on the underside of the female, using its specialized, swollen palp to fertilise the female.

The male one will usually give the female one a back massage to calm the female before proceed to mating.

Macracantha arcuata ♀ by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

This is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre and beautiful looking spider. She possesses two long protruding abdominal spines. The spines are long, heavy and unwieldy. However, the function of the spines are left unknown. There are several colour morphs, ranging from white to red for this particular species.

Carrhotus sp. by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Found this shy Double-striped Carrhotus wondering around at my school campus. This particular spider can jump further than most of the jumping spiders do.

Coccinellidae by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Ladybugs aren't really bugs at all, they're beetles! The "lady" in ladybug refers to the Virgin Mary.

Legend has it that crops in Europe during the Middle Ages were plagued by pests, so the farmers began praying to the Blessed Lady, the Virgin Mary. Soon, the farmers started seeing ladybugs in their fields, and the crops were miraculously saved from the pests. They associated their good fortune with the black and red beetles, and so began calling them lady beetles. In Germany, these insects go by the name Marienkafer, which means Mary beetles.

The 7-spotted lady beetle is believed to be the first named for the Virgin Mary; the red color represents her cloak, and the black spots represent her sorrows.

Rhomphaea sp. ♂ by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

This is a boomerang spider that possesses a long and curvy "tail". Can be often found hanging on the bottom-side of leaves. They do not really need to spin a lot of webs to catch their preys.

Hard to find 18-105mm now. There are ample of 18-140mm in the market. Can shoot birds liao.

Yeah, good idea. Around RM350 I suppose?
50mm has lotsa bokehhh liao. Super gooding!

3 months ago, someone in garage sales, sold it at RM400.

Really? Too desperate to change lens liao perhaps.

24-70mm super gooding!

70-200mm is what he wants. Haha you mau sponsor ke?

Please don't rebut sponsoring the front cap with me!


Used once before. Very good for wedding!

Is the 70-200mm enough for birding? I tried 18-140mn kit lens before, not enough for birding. How I wish to own a birding lens too.

What about 1.7/2x TC? Not so sharp compare to the 1.4x one?

For portrait, the colour rendition of the 85mm 1.4G makes real difference. Been reading the reviews on this lens, just lovely and creamy for portrait shooting.

You can one. Just that you are saving for 70-200mm only.

老黄 by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Wahhh don't credit me lei sifu. Just a coincident find when I was looking at the butterfly.

Hyllus diardi ♀ by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Hyllus diardi ♀
Heavy jumper spider is large for a jumping spider and look at how she feeds on the big bluebottle (blowfly)
They still win the most curious spider award

Beautiful flowers by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Beautiful flowers.

Neoscona nautica ♀ by Soo Yeak Choo, on Flickr

Neoscona nautica ♀
Neoscona is also known as the sailor spider. They are nocturnal spiders. Hence, you will find them hiding beneath the leaves/branches during the day.

Your Neoscona with the webs.
I got a shot like yours but OOF. So kenot post.

Start to play around with the kitlens first. Then only proceed to invest on the lens according to what you shoot the most.

Make sure your battery is fully-charged before you go shooting.
Don't shoot with live view mode, it consumes a lot of power. Otherwise, it should last a whole day shooting.

Try to shoot with aperture priority. Your camera will automatically set a suitable shutter speed for you. You just have to play around with the Aperture (more/less bokeh) and ISO (high ISO reduces blur but in return, more noise in your photo)

Auto-focus most of the time. Unless I will only go manual during macro/video.

How I wish to own a 85mm. The colour rendition is so nice. Good shot btw.