Lurking in the Shadows

[velvet4269]

Not the most original title, but it'll work for now.

I had a difficult time with this bug, given the lighting. It was washed out, not matter what I did, and I couldn't get at the other side to get another angle, so I opted to play with what I had, and break a few rules in the process.

He's very much, purposely under-exposed, but I think I like the over-all effect:



And since Flickr limits the maximum size of an image, the full-size image is here (okay, cropped down from the original full-size image, which was very large, and would blow up my friend's server).

Okay, and I'm also ignoring the fact that his legs are in focus, but his body isn't.

Thoughts? Critiques? Is he creepy for anyone else?

[ToddC]

I think that this is a great shot. I like the composition and the exposure. I think the body of the bug is fine.

[ELAY]

That is very well done.

After a while bug shots tend to sort of look the same to me (no matter how well done).

Your composition and exposure create something quite effective and out of the ordinary here. Most of us are so happy just to snap the bug that we don't think about the rest of it.

EL

[clockdoc]

Very excellent work! The more you view the image, the more you see and it grows on you. Nice job!

[melanie2457]

Great job! I love how the light is acting almost like a spotlight on the bug.

[velvet4269]

I'm more tired than I thought. I should have put this in the original post, and my apologies for not doing so. There was a wee bit of post-processing, but only in the form of a crop (wow, and I'm going to bed after this, because I almost typo'd that), along the top & left hand side: mostly, removing some bright greenery that made it's way into the picture (got as close as I could, framed as best I could, and lamented the lack of a macro lens ). Pre-crop is here, and I think it makes a huge difference in the over-all mood of the photo.

And, being my own worst critic, I could have done better: I could have gotten the very tip of the leaf on the right in the frame, as well That said, I'm really happy with how this turned out.

[RAMDrive]

I love the cropped image, but I personally like the pre-crop even better. I think the lighted leaf adds to the overall scene.

[Darren Rowse]

very nice - subtle light - painting with light.....

[praesentire]

This is a great bug shot. I think that you've captured a feeling in this one. Working with what you have is what it's all about.