photoartflightPraying Mantis Portrait
I was looking for interesting bugs in our gardens to photograph and I found this Praying Mantis in the shade under some of the flowers. It was very dark but that made the Mantis stand out more. I was using a 300mm lens with a 1.4X Teleconverter @ f/11 with a Canon R. I wanted to make sure I got detail on the head and antennae only so I did a handheld 13 image focus stack to make sure I had detail on it’s head & 2 antennae or feelers. I purposely only wanted detail on the head and antennae and let the body go soft.
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What a wonderful close-up shot of the head of the praying mantis, Reed. It is amazing to see that you did a 13-image stack handheld. Wow! I guess the mantis stays pretty still when he is praying. 🙂
Thanks Mike! Even if you are somewhat aligned when shooting the series, Photoshop does a great job in aligning all the layers before blending! Then just let Photoshop blend them together! The mantis also might have moved a little but Photoshop probably aligned the mantis also with aligning the layers. You might have to do a small touch up here or there after blending but usually not too much. Comes in handy for getting what you want the final image to be! Also sort of the same techniques for panoramas or multi-row panoramas. Thanks again!
This is a wonderful photo, Reed!!
Thanks so much Belinda! They are fun to do and it helps you get the image you envision. The more you do multi-image handheld panoramas the better your success rate!!
Really excellent results!
That’s quite a stunning capture, Reed, and so well detailed!!!
Thanks so much Greta! They are fun photo subjects!
A fantastic portrait, Reed!! Love this!
Thanks so much! It is fun to shoot a series of focus points to get the focus area you want! Plus Photoshop does most of the work!
Great close-up, Reed. I am so glad we are bigger than these guys!
Wow! Never thought of that! I am also glad we are bigger also now that you mention it!!
😀
Great headshot, Reed!
Thanks Steve! They are fun to photograph!
I believe it is flirting with your lens, Reed! Great shot!!
Thanks Donna! Lately I am just looking for photo subjects in our gardens. But hopefully planning trips to Blackwater NWR & Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Brigantine Divison.