The first three are uncropped with MPE-65mm and the 5D. The 4th (side view) was with a Canon 100mm Macro.

I'm ordering that lens and the MT-24 flash first part of May :^)

The MPE65 would be close to useless without the MT-24. :-) Look at a set of diffusers. Sto-Fen makes a set that I am using, but I've seen a set of "Puffer Pop-Up" diffusers by Gary Fong strapped on to a MT-24.

ordering a set of those Gary Fong 'Puffer' diffusers. They should do the trick!

That is a species of Chalcophora, and based on the location, and the overall size and frontal furrow, I'd say it's probably a Chalcophora virginiensis. As always, another opinion would be good.

I added a side view, if that helps? Any thoughts on why I would make a good landing strip? And why it played dead? The other BG images show them up and around.

In my experience, these guys land about anywhere, and it probably landed on you arbitrarily. I doubt there was a reason other than you were nearby as it was in flight. And playing dead is a defense mechanism (also common in some other Coleoptera) when handled or disturbed.

The side view shot really doesn't add anything to help ID, but I'm pretty confident in the ID. The frontal furrow is diagnostic, and the elytra and overall size are consistent with what I'd expect in virginiensis. I just prefer a good consensus on ID for species that have similar kin.

Wrong color for C. georgiana, I'll second C. virginiensis