Stag Beetle Pics

[nps474]

Shot this guy walking around the garden, I believe its a male, but I don't know for sure.









As usual, comments and tips are very appreciated!

[Loupey]

Nice detail you captured here, NPS.

A few comments/pointers for you:

1) My first impression is "too close, too close!" followed by "too big, too big!" I realize that this is a large subject, but I would still like to see the whole specimen and its environment.

2) For such hard shelled creatures (i.e. opaque), I think the harsh lighting doesn't do the creature much justice. Use a reflector, umbrella (a real one even), towel, shirt, etc. to create a shaded shooting environment. You will be able to pull out more details from the shadows. At a minimum, it will give you some different options.

Thanks for sharing. Please keep posting

[nps474]

Nice detail you captured here, NPS.

A few comments/pointers for you:

1) My first impression is "too close, too close!" followed by "too big, too big!" I realize that this is a large subject, but I would still like to see the whole specimen and its environment.

2) For such hard shelled creatures (i.e. opaque), I think the harsh lighting doesn't do the creature much justice. Use a reflector, umbrella (a real one even), towel, shirt, etc. to create a shaded shooting environment. You will be able to pull out more details from the shadows. At a minimum, it will give you some different options.

Thanks for sharing. Please keep posting

Thanks Loupey. Yeah I know, all macros and no wide shots. I only posted the best of the bunch, the discarded shots had even more of the negative points you brought up associated with them. . The lighting was tricky, I tthough a nice bright shine on the insect's carapice (Is that the right term?) would be flattering but I agree the glare is a bit distracting. I have almost no experience creating lighting, or casting intended shadows, that type of stuff, thus far I have been focusiing on composition, subject ect. It's going to take a lot of practice I think. Thanks for your comments, very on-point.

[paulnj]

I found a similiar beetle last week. It was HUGE(2 INCHES?) and it's mandibles were much larger.