Caught another grasshopper.

[flamin lib]

This one is Desert Camo. Just happened to have some fresh sweet corn and it made a good setting.

[soothsayer]

1. Ooh that texture on the corn husk is sweet

[flamin lib]

2. And so is the corn it was wrapped around! nt

[Lunabell]

3. Handsome critter

Beautiful detail. He looks ready for the woods.

[flamin lib]

7. As soon as he warms up.

When I stage a shot like this I refrigerate the subject for 10 minutes or so to slow them down. I can pose them using tooth pics to move the legs and antenna for a minute of three before they warm up and flee the scene.

I do the same with reptiles and such. If you share the refrig with an SO you really must let them know there's a snake in there. It will make your life simpler . . .

[Mosby]

10. That's really interesting. Thx.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. You really know how to stage a photo, my dear flamin lib!

This is just gorgeous!

The details on the grasshopper are so vivid that they look like machine parts. And the corn husk could not be better either. Love the flowing lines diagonally across the photo.

I'm also noticing the very narrow DOF! Perfect for this photo.

Love It All!

[flamin lib]

5. Well thank you so much dear Peg.

Still not the 'hopper I wanted but there is no shortage of grass hoppers in a Texas Summer.

I'd have more samples but the heat index is currently 104f. I'll have to chase them tomorrow before 10 AM.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. It's way better to avoid heat stroke, even in pursuit of an incredible photo!

This one is gorgeous!

And tomorrow is another day...

[Karadeniz]

8. It's hard to think that so much detailed engineering didn't have some sort of guiding intelligence

Behind it. Sorry to sound like the creationist I'm not, but really, nature can be just mind boggling!

[flamin lib]

9. Yeah, I hear ya' but that's more a product of our limited capacity than

an indication of hidden intelligence. If I had to characterize the evolutionary process it would not be Divine Intelligence but Divine Stupidity. It's like squirrels and bird feeders. They're not that damned smart, they just have all day every day to do nothing but try different approaches to get into the feeder. Infinite time and infinite possible variations and one of them might work, at least for awhile.

Our problem is that we haven't evolved far enough to comprehend the time and distances the cosmos has or its total callous disdain for success.

[BlueDawn]

11. Wow.......so beautiful!

Flamin lib, I haven't posted a lot, but I certainly have enjoyed looking at your photos!

I never thought that I would refer to a grasshopper as "beautiful," but I do believe this one fits the descriptor. Wow.....isn't s/he something?!

You amaze me with your talent. I want to thank you for not only your wonderful photos but also your explanations of how you set up the shots, etc. I find all of that interesting, even when I don't always understand references to certain cameras, lenses, apertures, etc. I didn't even know that a grasshopper could be refrigerated, though it does make perfect sense, really. (Refrigerating live lobsters does slow down their motor functions, right?)

Isn't nature amazing? I do love learning new things. I only recently started reading about tardigrades. I know they are extremely tiny, but I wonder if you would ever be able to photograph tham. I guess that would require a microscope(?). They aren't very cute, though.....LOL

Again, thank you for sharing with us your talent. I discovered DU when Trump started running for office, and I have come here daily in order to maintain my sanity. I don't say much, but I read threads numerous times a day. DU has truly helped assuage my anxieties. I am so very grateful for all of you.

[flamin lib]

12. Oh Blue! You make my head swell with such kind words.

There are people here with much more artistic talent than I have but I admit to being a pretty good technician.

Tardigrades are such amazing creatures. Virtually indestructible, capable of living in deep space and just about everywhere else, as ancient as time and yes, they are ugly little buggers but in the most fascinating way.

You can find a lot of my work at andyshanks.smugmug.com. I'm in the process of sorting through more than 50 years of imagery and I try to update it weekly.

Thank you again for the warm compliments, it makes me happy to make others happy.

[BlueDawn]

14. Love your website....

Hey, I did check out your site at andyshanks.smugmug.com and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing your work! I may end up purchasing some. You really are talented, flamin lib. I appreciate that kind of talent.

Yes, tardigrades are truly amazing little creatures. Virtually indestructible, too. Life astounds me.

I will enjoy your photos as long as you keep sharing them! Thank you......

[HAB911]

13. Beautiful!

The mind is a terrible thing, reminds me of a Sikorsky helicopter!