Jaws

Image Critiques
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Jaws
Jaws1500Ă—1292 215 KB

Weekly Challenge

Insect Portraits
6/14/26 - 6/20/26
Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical

About This Image

The Japanese Tiger Beetle cruises up and down country roads and tracks on the prowl for insect prey like beetles and butterflies. It only takes wing to quickly change location, reverting to slow stalking followed by a quick pounce when it finds a tasty meal. It locks its victim in that robotic pair of clamps, then munches away at leisure. Pleasant dreams!

Feedback Requested

I thought of stacking, but I think the fairly narrow focus on the “jaws” adds a certain sci-fi horror to the scene. Does it evoke this?

Technical Details

Camera: NIKON D500
Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1/1250s
Aperture: f/9
ISO: 500

Basic tonal treatment in LR, Denoise and PS Shadows/Highlights. Minor cropping, then added a dark vignette.

1 Like
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Great photo Mike. I love the focus on the jaws and the colors of the head are amazing. I do think your framing adds that sci-fi horror touch. Very nice.

3

I love this! Tiger beetles are some of my favorites because they are so freaky and beautiful. I think you’ve definitely captured the freaky part of their personalities. Those jaws really are something and I’m very glad they are only a couple of centimeters long! Such shimmery color behind just hints at their striking patterns and metallic sheen. I think the narrow DOF is just fine and this shot has a lot of dramatic effect. Nicely done.

4

Mike: Now that is one psychedelic beetle! If one of these showed up in a bad trip it would probably trigger an underwear crisis. Superb management of the DOF and the details on the face. Terrific find and an even better capture. >=))>

5

Holy cow!! What a wonderful portrait of a wonderfully interesting insect that I hope I will never meet.

You’ve handled the colours so well and the DoF is perfect.

6

Amazing and wonderful!!! This is the perfect portrait, with the OOF legs adding an even creepier feeling! 11/10!

7

Wow, Mike! What a scary little guy this is. Glad he doesn’t come in larger sizes! Those jaws are something else. A butterfly wouldn’t stand a chance. I don’t think I have ever seen one of these.

8

Thanks @timothy3 @Diane_Miller @Kris_Smith @Bill_Fach @Glenys_Passier and @Shirley_Freeman. See Kris’s couple for a more friendly take! Only a couple of cm long but they move very quickly for their size.

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9

Mike, your choices here work great. What an amazing head and jaws! The red “neck ring” adds to the drama. This looks like a perfect BEM (Bug Eyed Monster) for a low budget horror show.

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10

Wow, nice structural colors make this an extremely colorful menace to the insects on this critter’s menu. I think this shot works well for the horror effect. You could even crop it tighter for a more vertical view. However, I like this as presented. Well done Mike…Jim

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12

Wow!!! There is so much great detail here in the face! And the iridescent colors come through beautifully. It is a jaw-dropping image :slight_smile:

1 Like