Absolutely new here and I am hoping for feedback

[JBW]

Now to see if this works. If it does here is the story to the picture. This cicada showed up on our porch last night. I went out with the Finepix S4200 and Myra stayed inside with the flashlight. A little playing with the picture and this is the result.

[Donald]

I'm more into wide landscapes that this sort of close-up stuff. However, given what you said in your introductory post about just getting started in the world of digital, then this is pretty impressive. You've certainly brought out the fine detail and the lighting has worked well.

[rawill]

I am with Donald on this.
This kind of work is not what I am normally attracted to.

However, this is very good photo, and the only comment I can make is one you have no control over.
I suspect a different background may have made your subject stand out.
But you can't do anything about that.

I looked here because no one had commented, then I found Donald beat me to it!
I am glad I looked.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Brian,

Firstly, welcome to CiC.

I'm a macro shooter and if I had taken this image, been able to post it here at this size with the detail, sharpness and DoF you have achieved I would be very pleased.

We all do a bit of playing with the image and you have achieved the 'goal' in getting the eye/s sharp. Lighting is not easy on any small critter that has shiny surfaces and we get problems with almost all types of lighting even with fancy diffusers so some highlights are expected, yours are not unacceptable.

As for the background, well, perhaps it would have appealed more on a nice green leaf but I actually think it almost compliments this shot.

I am not familiar with your camera but did have a quick look at it on the web and this shot certainly demonstrates it capabilities and I look forward to see some more examples, well done.

Grahame

[John 2]

Welcome Brian and an excellent starter for 10. You've certainly set yourself something to live up to.

[chauncey]

Brian...ya done good.
It wasn't that long ago that when I got a shot like that and thought "Wow, I did that, I took that shot"...feels good doesn't it?
But now, that ya know that you can do it, start thinking about how you can do it better. Nudging it onto a different background, like Grahame suggested, is but one example.

[JBW]

It was a combination of Gimp, Photoscape and Picasa to bring out the detail. That and I got to rest the camera on the ground so no shaking.

[JBW]

What can I say at 23:00 he landed on our polished cement porch. but the grey does bring out the red in the wings nicely?

[JBW]

I am not that familiar with the camera either but I do believe it has potential.

[JBW]

I did pick the cicada up for a shot in the hand but he wanted to go back to the cement.