my new friend's debut headshot

[i speak in math]

Found this imitation lady bug on the window sill and had to get a shot of him since I just got some extension tubes. Here is the original. I cropped the shot in a bit. Do you think its too close? I wanted to show the eyes and you couldn't really make em in the original cause they are so small in the frame. Does the lighting look too harsh. Its a pretty big source compared to the subject. Is there a way to avoid making shiny macro subjects look wet?

From Pentax K20D

Oct 23, 2009
Model: PENTAX K20D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: n/a <-- f/16
Focal Length: n/a <-- Pentax smc 50mm f/1.4 + 50mm vivitar extension tubes
Flash Used: Yes <-- onboard and triggered strobe wirelessly at 1/32nd power about 2 in away

[i speak in math]

I would appreciate it if one of the 81 viewers over the last 4 days could...I don't know...leave a short critique message or something.

[Sterling]

Probably because insect close-ups give a lot of people the creeps.

I think I prefer the original image. IMO, it's a bit too close as an enjoyable image.An entymologist may have a different opinion. I think to get a really striking shot of the eyes it would still need many times more magnification.

[JKJD]

Some insect macros can be really cool and even beautiful. I don't think your problem is necessarily the technical aspect, although I do think it is a bit too much light. I'm sorry to say that I just don't find it to be an appealing image. That's the reason I didn't comment on it when I first saw it. Of course this is just my personal taste. Someone else might enjoy it. Try not cropping so close and reducing the glare from the light. Might help it be less intimidating. Hope this helps