Praying Mantis

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image a couple of years ago, as my post processing skills have improved I revisited the image today. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VR AF-S ED shot at 240mm (360mm FFE)
1/400 F/16 Matrix Metering 0 EV ISO 560 AWB
Post processed in Lightroom 6 and Photoshop Elements, cleaned up out of focus twigs in the background
Cropped for composition and presentation

[shane shacaluga]

Hi Joseph

Very nice details on this image. I just feel it is a bit tight on the left. Maybe adding a bit of canvas on the left and cropping a bit on the right would balance the composition a bit

The blacks in the shadows could be lifted a bit as it should reveal more details on the mantis

I can see a light area on the left of the main branch about 2/3 up the image. Maybe a masking issue?

I love mantids so keep posting them!

TFS

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Shane, thank you for viewing, commenting and suggesting improvements. I looked closely at the light area you mention, not a masking error because nothing was done in that area. I think it was the only small cloud in the sky captured in the image.

[Diane Miller]

A very nice image and good comments by Shane. I would clone out the cloud and remove the stem coming out of the abdomen. Probably also the lighter one going out the top of the frame.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Shane and Diane, thank you for viewing, commenting, and suggesting improvements. Your suggestions were an easy fix. Above it a repost with your suggested improvements.

[Diane Miller]

Looks much improved to me, but I'd still go after the bright one that exits the top of the frame.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I would have said pretty much the same as Diane so little more to add other than you were unlucky it didn't move it's head a little to avoid overlapping the right foreleg.

[shane shacaluga]

RP works for me!

Good work!