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
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
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?
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.
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
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.
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.
Joe Przybyla
"Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams
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.