Where's The Bug?

[Rainforest]

I would so appreciate your thoughts and eyes on this one. I was chasing butterflies but got another Katydid. In particular is it too busy to translate and I'm wondering how the light feels? ..and of course any other thoughts you might have to share. Thank you!

[Stagecoach]

I would so appreciate your thoughts and eyes on this one. I was chasing butterflies but got another Katydid. In particular is it too busy to translate and I'm wondering how the light feels? ..and of course any other thoughts you might have to share. Thank you!

For me it's not too busy at all Susan if you consider it an image that shows how this critter is so well camouflaged within it's surroundings.

If mine I would balance the light slightly, lower the right and raise the left side. In addition you could consider a 4:6 crop, taking more from the right side and bottom and perhaps give it a very minor contrast increase.

It is well worth further work.

[JBW]

Certainly not too busy. My personal taste would have me tilt the cricket slightly upward to bring the wings to a more level position. The following is just a quicky to give you food for thought.

[Urbanflyer]

Good potential in concept. Consider options for toning down or eliminating the purple flowers which seem to detract attention from your main focus. Perhaps a crop as suggested by Grahame with the intent of reducing the flowers, or a color shift and/or blur?

[NorthernFocus]

I'm not a bug guy so won't comment on subject details. Overall it captures the nature of the natural camo that the critter wears. Lighting looks good and great detail on the subject. I don't think you'd want to crop it much tighter lest you lose the camo effect. Bug guys may suggest otherwise

[Rainforest]

Wonderful! I so appreciate your specific comments and will continue to work on this one. It's almost there :-) Thanks so much.

[Ziggy]

I like it as presented Susan.

[JohnRostron]

I like it as presented Susan.

So do I!

John

[Geoff F]

I think I would try with a slight crop from the right side and top/bottom to give a better main subject position and yes to slightly toning down the remaining flowers.

Finally, could you get way with adding just a tiny bit of highlight brightness to give the scene a fraction more 'zip' ?

Overall, a nice well focused scene.

[Rainforest]

So helpful Jim, John and Geoff. It was fun working in "camo" mode. I was thinking it needed a tiny lift/zip and will try the highlights...and some of the things suggested in the previous comments to see if it works for me. I like it as it is but I want to try further adjustments too.

[Shadowman]

To me its one of those compositions that could be oriented multiple ways, you've chosen a very 2-dimenisonal presentation that would greatly benefit from some separation of layers.

[Rainforest]

To me its one of those compositions that could be oriented multiple ways, you've chosen a very 2-dimenisonal presentation that would greatly benefit from some separation of layers.

Thanks John though I'm not sure I know what you mean. I've heard that term before and don't really get it. - do you mean I could have shot it at a different aperture?

[RandyRFJP]

I like both the processing and orientation of your katydid photo, Susan. As Dan mentioned, it shows the subject in its natural environment, amid the leaves and branches it calls "home." The title of your photo, "Where's the Bug?" is certainly appropo for the image. The flower drawing attention away from the subject, the katydid, might be correct based on photographic "theory/best practices." However, from a "natural history" photography perspective, perhaps the katydid's "as-photographed" position in proximity to the flower might be because its diet may consist of the leaves of that particular flowering plant. Not being an expert on katydids, I offer that statement only for consideration.

[Shadowman]

Thanks John though I'm not sure I know what you mean. I've heard that term before and don't really get it. - do you mean I could have shot it at a different aperture?

Susan,

You can separate the layers through use of aperture or also through method of processing; for instance you could emphasize a particular color, dodge and burn particular edges or highlights.

[Wavelength]

well camouflaged critter !!!