Grasshopper Loving and A Cricket - Macro Shots with a Hybrid Macro/Zoom Lens

[AgentDrex]

Taken with a 75-205mm f/3.8 Close-Focusing Zoom Lens:

#1 - Jiminy Cricket

#2 - Grasshopper Loving

 

[Compaq]

Have you edited these? They seem a bit "flat" to me, or lacking contrast.

#2
LOOL
It's in focus, it's sharp, it shows it all - it's what all lovin' pics should be like

#1
Those blown areas are sort of distracting, imo.

 

[Ron Evers]

I agree with Compaq. No life to the pics.

 

[Compaq]

Yup, they need to pop

(man, I don't like that word)

 

[AgentDrex]

Yeah, these were taken in the parking lot of the office I work. I think for giving them (as Mr. Evers mentioned) life, I'll just save for some flash or triggers with my old flash units (if they work) so I get some nice shadow/light play. I am guilty of lazily using the pop-up which completely killed these photos...but I still like the grasshopper one...the cricket one not so much...I had NO idea how fast those little things are. Oh, and they bite. HARD. Jiminy Cricket was a mean little son-of-a fill in the blank...If I had a chance to backdrop them using something other than a parking lot, what would be a better choice?

 

[Compaq]

Perhaps in grass or something where they live?

I took the liberty of adding contrast, darkening the background, dodging and burning and cropping and sharpening #2 a little bit.

 

[lyonsroar]

giggity

 

[AgentDrex]

Perhaps in grass or something where they live?

I took the liberty of adding contrast, darkening the background, dodging and burning and cropping and sharpening #2 a little bit.

Thank you much, looks nicer...