Crab Ecoskeleton

[Stagecoach]

These are often found around my garden but this is the best condition one so far. The ecoskeleton measured 50mm across the extremities of the legs.

To try and show the undamaged condition and detail of it I did a quick stack.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[DickyOZ]

Very impressive result the stack has given sharp detail over the whole crab.

[Mike Buckley]

This is really nice! The subject is well worth keeping and photographing in unusual ways with different backgrounds, tabletops and lighting.

[Barbara Ponder]

Very nice! It's amazing how intact it is. Looks alive!

[JohnRostron]

Very impressive. Most exoskeletons that I have come across have looked dull and lifeless. In yours it is only the eyes that are the giveaway. They do look Vacant!

John

[Rita]

Very nice Grahame. What a great find, I can imagine this in a few different settings.

[Davejl]

Very impressive, especially when viewed large. Presumably it is a land-dwelling crab?

[Stagecoach]

Thank you John

[vaez]

very nice

[Stagecoach]

Richard, for info the stack was 8 frames shot at f/16 1.6s ISO100 and I used CombineZP on on OOC jpegs.

I have to admit I'm not a fan of stacking and rarely use it and in this case seems to give an unreal separation of the subject.

[Stagecoach]

Thanks Mike, I used natural light from the side diffused through copy paper for this one but I'm thinking of a backlit situation to try.

[Stagecoach]

Thanks Barbara, I think it's more amazing how they manage to get out of such a complicated structure

[Stagecoach]

Thanks John, most of the ones I find are very pale and generally damaged. I suspect this must have been one that was very recently vacated.

[Stagecoach]

Thank you Rita, my imagination is working overtime to come up with natural looking settings.

[Stagecoach]

Thanks Dave, these are land crabs and quite often house crabs as well

[Stagecoach]

Thank you Vaez

[IzzieK]

I'm here...I'm here -- late again as usual nowadays, too much things to do.I have a little break and saw this. Been awhile since you posted. Anyway, I find the crab's position as like "floating" but it is very sharp. Interesting subject.

[Stagecoach]

Good to see you here Izzie. I have not done much photography for quite a while, partly due to appalling weather and partly due to wanting to find new challenges but lacking ideas.

You are right, and the "floating" impression annoys me. All very well getting a good sharp result but it has to look natural as well.

[Rita]

Thank you Rita, my imagination is working overtime to come up with natural looking settings.

You could put it on the beach with the sunset behind and use a bit of flash to highlight the crab. Another idea would be to have it look like it is biting someone