The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
My wife found this critter on her pillow this morning, so it ended up in durance vile until I could photograph it this afternoon. Due to pretty gusty winds, I ended up cutting a flower and bringing it onto the screened in porch to do the photography. I cooled the mantis in the refrigerator for a few minutes to slow it down for awhile, but let it warm up nicely before releasing it (even though we have no native mantids in the NW and they are fierce predators of beneficial insects).
Specific Feedback
The mantis was a bit too active for stacking at this point, so this is a single shot at f/16. Hopefully the out of focus foreground doesn’t present too much of a problem, but please let me know if it’s an issue.
Technical Details
Sony A7Rv, FE 70-200 f/4 macro @ 200 mm, tripod, f/16, 1/50, iso 1600. Processed in LR & PS CC. Slight crop to decenter the mantis a touch more than it was in the original.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I would love to find this critter on my pillow! He/she is just gorgeous and I think it would be considering retribution for the stay in the refrigerator.
I like how the mantis is placed off-center enough to follow the rule of thirds. The mantis commands attention.
The image is sharp where it needs to be including the top of the flower. It’s a wonderful base. Lovely neutral background that makes the complimentary colours green and red pop without being over saturated.
Dennis, this is good as it gets for seeing one of these guys up close. Your small “project” paid off nicely overall. The image as presented is very impressive…
A point about your quote here. I never knew how fierce these fragile little beasts were until I saw a video where one attacked a full sized hummingbird at it’s feeder and truly had the upper hand until the video-er thankfully was there and separated them. Pound for pound or ounce for ounce I was amazed at the attack.
Dennis: I can say with certainty that if my wife found one of these on her pillow it would not survive the encounter. Kudos to you for putting it to better use. Good effort all around on this from your capture of the critter and preserving it and then the photo setup and image.
Your comment about refrigerating it to calm it down reminds me of a story about a sailor who went into a pet store and saw a beautiful parrot for sale for $1. The sailor was a little puzzled until the store owner told him that the parrot had had several owners but they had all returned him because he had a dirty mouth. Unfazed, the sailor took him home. That first day as soon as the sailor took the cover off his cage the parrot started cussing a blue streak. The sailor said, “We’re not going to have any talk like that around here” and tossed him in the refrigerator. After a few minutes the sailor took him out and the parrot promised to be good. A few days passed and the parrot went off again. Back in the refrigerator he went but this time the sailor left him in for over an hour. Properly chastened, the parrot shivered and said he would never cuss again.
All was well until a few weeks later the sailor’s mom came to visit and the parrot started cussing and insulting her. This time the sailor tossed him in the freezer and left him there until his mom went home a few hours later. When the sailor took him out about the only thing he could move was his eyes. After he thawed out the parrot said he had certainly learned his lesson and he would never cuss again. He did say he was curious about one thing, He admitted he had a foul mouth but he was really wondering what that turkey that was in the freezer did. >=))>
A fun story, @Bill_Fach. The refrigerator wasn’t an original idea by any means. Edwin Way Teale used to take a small cooler with him in the field when he was photographing insects in the 1930’s. See “Grassroots Jungle”.
Dennis: Deep in the cobwebs of my memory I think I remember some heated discussions on the old NPN about refrigerating subjects. I don’t have strong feelings one way or another and as long as the critter doesn’t succumb and resumes normal activity I don’t see any harm. Good idea that obviously led to a great result. >=))>
Very cool image, well worth the trouble! No nits at all, even without any forgiveness for all the trouble.
Years ago on a photo trip to Africa, at an outdoor dinner one evening a huge mantis landed smack on the face of one of the women. It was as big as her face. She shrieked, but more in amazed delight than fear. She posed with it long enough for everyone to enjoy it, but it was too dark for pictures. Then she carefully peeled it off and launched it into the darkness.
And thanks for the parrot story! I think our precocious granddaughter would appreciate it – and maybe treat it as one of those life lesson things.
Dennis, this is just excellent! Mr. or Ms. Mantis is tack-sharp, and the DOF is perfect for an edge of sharp flower then the rest perfectly blurred. The colour combinations work great and the muted BG draws no attention from the critter.
Resplendent!
Nice image Dennis with a great look at the mantis where it matters. Seems to be peering over the flower looking for a meal. Nice colors in flower and mantis with a pleasing background as well.
>=))>