Crab Emerging from Sand

[gahspidy]

This was one of many shots I had taken of these tiny sand crabs that come out from the sand once the tide goes out. They would scurry into their holes, hundreds of them, as soon as they hear movement from walking in the sand. I had to see a crab that I thought was good for a shot and facing the right angle for the light. Then set up the camera on it's tripod and sit and wait with focused on the hole and trigger in hand. I got a half dozen ok shots and this is one. Taken with Kodak Royal Supra 200 film, Tamron 70-300 zoom 1:2 macro.

[greg hxc]

Just out of curiousity, approx how big is this guy?

[gahspidy]

about 2 inches across total, shell alone about an inch

[philmony]

A great shot - I compliment you on your patience - I've sat (sometimes) for hours waiting to capture a natural shot like this ... but so far none as crisp as this one ... I really like the HUGE pincher across his face as if he's daring you to come closer ...

This was one of many shots I had taken of these tiny sand crabs that come out from the sand once the tide goes out. They would scurry into their holes, hundreds of them, as soon as they hear movement from walking in the sand. I had to see a crab that I thought was good for a shot and facing the right angle for the light. Then set up the camera on it's tripod and sit and wait with focused on the hole and trigger in hand. I got a half dozen ok shots and this is one. Taken with Kodak Royal Supra 200 film, Tamron 70-300 zoom 1:2 macro.

[gahspidy]

Thanks Philmony,
I hope to try this again. . . .when I have time

[darkrainfall]

Ah!!! Ghost crabs!! I believe that is what they are called... I first ran into them on the beach a few years ago in Duck, North Carolina.
I'd say that this is a very good shot considering how quickly these little guys move. I admire your patience. Be sure to get your exposure correct next time, before you set up to take pics... it looks like you lost some detail in the highlight on his claw, but that is just a small thing, as I know how hard it is to catch one of these on film. Be sure to post the pics when you try this again.

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Gary,
Well done! These little guys are very alerted to sound. We have these in the wetlands here. They are very important in the eco-system sustainability of the wetland . The little guy you photo-captured is a male (one big claw and one tiny claw). The female has two small claws. The big claw in males is for fighting or intimidating purposes. The small claw is for picking food.
All the best.
yoyo

[mjm]

great shot.

[Dave L]

Terrific shot........you must have great patience !

[stew]

This was one of many shots I had taken of these tiny sand crabs that come out from the sand once the tide goes out. They would scurry into their holes, hundreds of them, as soon as they hear movement from walking in the sand. I had to see a crab that I thought was good for a shot and facing the right angle for the light. Then set up the camera on it's tripod and sit and wait with focused on the hole and trigger in hand. I got a half dozen ok shots and this is one. Taken with Kodak Royal Supra 200 film, Tamron 70-300 zoom 1:2 macro.

Gary,

I like this one a lot. What a cool moment. The crab is nicely focused, while the background is appropriately blurred. However, I feel that the photo would be nice with a little less cropping of the right side, maybe so that claw is just a tad to the left of the photographic center.

But overall - good one!!!

-Stew

[Lava Lamp]

Nice work. I've never photographed these, but it seems to me they are like butterflies, which I've photographed many times and are hard to catch. Yours is a good shot, but I wish he wasn't cut off on the right side and that there wasn't that rock in front og him or her.

[gahspidy]

Thanks for all your comments . . .
Darkrainfall, I agree about exposure being off abit, hope to get it better in a reshoot.
Stew, I agree about it being cut off on the right side a bit much. As you can see I had the shot set up with the hole on the far left hoping to catch the whole crab in the frame, but I waited a bit too long.
yoyo szeto, you know these crabs well. They are very alert to sound and quickly scurry back into their holes upon sensing any movement. I shot them here in the salt marsh at low tide. I hope to do this again , but still like this one.

[natatbeach]

so I'll just add I think the momenet you captured was fantastic...such defiance in one so small !

LOL--- great shot great patience great pay off.

[kamboura]

Great shot gahspidy !... Your avatar being a cat, I feel you were about to pance on this little crab !!... hehe...
Hey... do you shoot with a remote release, or do you just hit the button without looking into the viewfinder? (please forgive the super newbie questions).

[bobbythebandit]

I agree with all the above.

[gahspidy]

Great shot gahspidy !... Your avatar being a cat, I feel you were about to pance on this little crab !!... hehe...
Hey... do you shoot with a remote release, or do you just hit the button without looking into the viewfinder? (please forgive the super newbie questions).

Thanks for the comments. . . .funny thing about my avatar is I'm really not a cat person , much more a dog kind a guy.. .that is a shot I took of my cat a while back on a 2mp point and shoot. . . .but its a long story how I come to have this cat, and well, she is growing on me.
I shot this with my tripod, remote release and camera set on mirror lock-up. Whenever shooting with a tripod, I almost always use mirror lock up and remote cable shutter release