Posted by Paul Hillion on March 25, 2007 at 8:53 AM
I believe mole crickets are extremely rare over on the mainland, here on Guernsey we're lucky to have a small population of them. This one was apprently on its way to being flattened by a gardeners boot before his wife remembered that I'd been looking for one and called me up to see if I wanted it. Of course I did and after taking it back home for a quick photo shoot on the dining table it was released into a safer habitat.
Like I say this was my first attempt at this sort of thing and in fact it was my 1st go with my new Sigma 150 macro. It was very difficult as the cricket obviously didn't want to keep still. I think next time I will go for a much simpler background.
Tripod, Sigma 150 2.8 macro and 30D, f/16, 1/250, 580EX flash on off shoe cord.
Posted by jack chapman on March 25, 2007 at 8:55 AM
For a first attempt (or even second,third,fourth.....) this looks pretty good to me.What an interesting looking creature.
Posted by Paul Hillion on March 25, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Thanks guys. Here's a bit of text on the mole cricket taken from the English Nature website...
"The mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), grows up to 4.5 cm long. With its brown velvety haired body and spade-like front legs it is one of the UK's most spectacular looking insects. Adults are winged and sometimes fly at night.
The mole cricket, once common in the UK, is now rarely seen and may be very close to extinction. This may be owing to the loss of its favourite habitat, the damp but well drained margins of formerly wet areas now drained."
A very fine first attempt. the bg is not a problem and looks to be natural, I am not always a fan of set-up images but in this instance it has worked well.. we are supposed to have a couple of sites on the Downs where these reside, despite long searches I have never found one so I am very envious....
Posted by John Chapman on March 26, 2007 at 6:45 AM
Is that picture your dining table Paul
Great first picture of the small insect.
John
Aberdeen.
Posted by Paul Hillion on March 26, 2007 at 7:08 AM
Hmmm, I've just had an email from a well known wildlife film maker excitedly asking if I still have the cricket as she's been wanting to film one for ages - I had to tell her that I'd released it
What's the chance it'll still be where I released it! I shall go look after I finish work today - fingers crossed!
Discussion
6 repliesLike I say this was my first attempt at this sort of thing and in fact it was my 1st go with my new Sigma 150 macro. It was very difficult as the cricket obviously didn't want to keep still. I think next time I will go for a much simpler background.
Tripod, Sigma 150 2.8 macro and 30D, f/16, 1/250, 580EX flash on off shoe cord.
"The mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), grows up to 4.5 cm long. With its brown velvety haired body and spade-like front legs it is one of the UK's most spectacular looking insects. Adults are winged and sometimes fly at night.
The mole cricket, once common in the UK, is now rarely seen and may be very close to extinction. This may be owing to the loss of its favourite habitat, the damp but well drained margins of formerly wet areas now drained."
Great first picture of the small insect.
John
Aberdeen.
What's the chance it'll still be where I released it! I shall go look after I finish work today - fingers crossed!