Hiding out in the open

Better place than in my bathroom, which is where I found one during my last trip to Africa!

Nice perspective, Vincent. The geometric shape of the curled up subject really makes the image, IMO. It wouldn't be the same if it were just ambling along. Do millipedes amble?

Max

I like the comp and the light.You get a very good feel for the moment.

Dan

Nice shot of a seldom seen creature.

IIt's a cool shot but on my monitor I can't see much shadow detail in the millipede. How big are these creatures and are they poisonous? Don't think I'd want to discover one in my tent if I were on safari.

Robert, in my observation these millipedes vary from 10 to 30 cm, depending on locality. Pretty harmless creatures to people, but they do secrete a liquid which contains cyanide. This is a defense mechanism against ants and other insects and some insect eating mammals.

Definitely something different! Arthropods are my kind of subject. The millipede has some really neat texture and color which is more visible in the larger photo. I do find that the shadow across the millipede and leading up and to the right to be distracting and would like to see some more light on the millipede itself. Guessing the lens was nearly touching the animal right? Is the shadow from the camera or is the sun at such a low angle that the shadow is from the millipede itself?

I'm also a bit unsure about the background. It's kind of in the middle ground of being out of focus but not enough to be abstract. It's nice in that it gives context to the little animal on the plain but is also a bit distracting. The clouds look great but I think it's the trees that are bothering me by looking soft.

The light and shadows on the mud flat in the mid ground area is very nice. Lots of texture.

Clinton

Clinton, thank you for your comment. Just in reply to your questions. Yep, the camera was as close as possible to the subject (i.e. minimum focusing distance). The shadow is the millipede's. The angle of the sun was very low. You can see even the shadows of the textures in the ground are very long... No shadow of the camera or myself in the frame here.

An unusual subject and perspective. The warm lighting creating the shadow is very interesting. Love this.

I really liek the original wide-angle perspective here, it really puts the Millipede in perspective (pun intended ) to the landscape it lives in.

Hi Vincent,

Now there's some interesting light! I like how the low angle of the sun adds so much texture to foreground and "mid-ground". I'm torn by the amount of light on the subject - part of me wants more (to see a little more detail in the curls of the body, but I totally realize this would only be accomplished by losing some texture. Clinton has made some interesting comments about the background - not sure if I agree or disagree with him - probably because I'm always quite torn about these reasonably extreme wide angle images. These types of shots DO provide a unique perspective (and certainly one different from what I think of "as seen") but the distortions introduced (by the short focal length) seem to speak too loudly to me about "gear" (and not simply the scene) that they get in my way of fully appreciating the image. I suspect this is more of a problem I have than anything else and I suspect most others feel differently...

Cheers...thanks much for the thought-provoking image...

Brad

Vincent, I LOVE this comp. Very powerful stuff. BTW, how large is this Millipede?

Very interesting an unique Vincent. I think including the whole shadow would have helped, but maybe that angle introduces your own shadow? The background is fine by me, enough detail that it adds to the image for me.

Just found this...and like the rich color of subject and the shadows and highlights of extreme foreground.

Why didn't you show us his eyes!?