Amazon - Photographic Hoppertunities III

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:29 pm

Hope you guys aren't experiencing hopper burnout. Here are a few more:

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:04 pm

With the quality of these hoppers, burnout seems to be a long way away.

Aweson pics, Craig! And nature did a pretty good job with the hoppers, too.

--Rik

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:43 am

I agree with Rik concerning hopper burnout. The second hopper is quite unsual and interesting though. I wonder what that long fiberous tail is all about?

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:57 am

Never get tired of these wonderful pictures Craig. It looks like the second one would have trouble jumping with the drag from that tail

I wonder what the adult looks like (assuming that is a nymph)

Moebius · Post by **Moebius** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:07 am

Hey, wait a minute, I don't think I have that second one in my collection. Very nice pic of an interesting subject. How large do you think that second was?

The first one could benefit from the Shadows/highlights tool or perhaps the burn/dodge tool to lighten it up in places. The focus is too crisp on this one to let it go.

I see the stem is freshly broken in the first pic with the broken piece also in the picture. Did you do that in getting situated for the picture or does that hopper have the teeth of a Great White..

Ken

crotermund · Post by **crotermund** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:43 am

Thanks a lot, guys. Well, Ken, I'm glad I still have the ability to surprise even you

. On the first one, I did use shadows / highlights quite a bit, but I didn't use the burn / dodge tool. I will have to try that. The 2nd one was probably about 3 inches long if my memory serves me correctly, however, with the dizzying amount of insects we saw I am not 100% certain.

Good eye regarding the stem, but I don't think it is "that" fresh of a break (it looks pretty dry) and I am fairly certain I didn't do any special picture preparation on this. I think it is actually 2 distinct breaks and not the broken piece as it appears. As shy as these things are I don't think he would have sat there and let me break a couple stems an inch from his face.