Our website uses cookies and similar tools to improve its performance and enhance your user experience and by continuing to use this website without changing your settings, you consent to their use. To find out more about the cookies we use or how to change your settings, please see our Cookies Policy. OK See More

  • Home
  • Learn
    • Video Tutorials
    • Expert Advice
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Glossary
  • Community
  • LUMIX Ambassadors
  • Gallery
    • Lumix G Gallery
    • Photographers
    • Video Gallery
    • Rio 2016
  • LUMIX G
    • Member Reviews
    • Cameras
    • Lenses
  • News
  • Competitions
    • Photo Challenge
    • Previous Competitions
  • Offers
  • Join
  • Log in
  • Home
  • / Gallery
  • / Greyheron's Gallery
  • / Shadow play

Shadow play

Full Size

By Greyheron

My friend found a Stag beetle in his garden on Friday evening. This is a shot we wanted to try out. Simple backlighting from the sun with the leaf held in place using a plamp and the Stag beetle resting on a branch in the garden.

0 6 Comments 3174 Views

Member Comments

  1. gerryatrickgolf posted a comment on 5 June 2011 at 5:03 pm

    Good shot Mike, I think we can say that worked as intended. Where are all these Stag beetles coming from, I’ve never ever seen one.

    Cheers, Gerry.

    Log in to Reply
  2. greyheron posted a comment on 5 June 2011 at 7:50 pm

    Hi Gerry,

    We found one in woods in South London a couple of weeks ago – my first post. Another friend rang me Friday night to say this one had flown at his wife, late in the evening as she was tidying the kids things away in their garden frightening her somewhat!!! He kept it in a terrarium with a ‘nectar’ drink on fruit and we photographed it yesterday. These are the first ones I’ve ever seen, Clive’s been looking for them for – in his words – 42 years!!!! One of the photographers on our site photographed a female Stag beetle last year in the Hampshire area.

    I have to say I feel really privileged to have had the opportunity to spend some time photographing these beautiful creatures, needless to say there are ”a few” images on my hard drive – understatement ๐Ÿ™‚ Perhaps this dry weather has made it a ”good year” for them…long may it last.

    Regards,

    Mike

    Log in to Reply
  3. violet posted a comment on 6 June 2011 at 11:13 am

    Brilliant shot, it is instantly identifiable even in silhouette.

    Those of us who live north of London are probably not going to see one. I have only seen one once, in Surrey. Thirty people posed for a group photograph, and one flew straight at us! One was a keen lepidopterist, and caught it in his hand to show it to those who had not run a mile!

    Violet

    Log in to Reply
  4. greyheron posted a comment on 6 June 2011 at 11:40 am

    Thank you for your comments Sheila ๐Ÿ™‚

    That must have been quite a sight to see – Clive’s wife was somewhat thrown when this guy was flying around her head in the dark !!! They are quite spectacular creatures. Unfortunately with many our woodland areas being ‘cleaned’ of dead and dying wood – the grubs of the Stag beetle have nowhere to grow – I know many of our Wildlife Trusts have initiated plans to give these spectacular insects a fighting chance. Who knows we may see more of them in the future – it can only be a good thing ๐Ÿ™‚

    Regards,

    Mike

    Log in to Reply
  5. gordonsimm posted a comment on 4 September 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Hi Mike. Only just spotted this. Great idea – the silhouette through the backlit leaf – excellent work. Instantly recognisable even by people (like myself) who have never seen one! I live in hope .. Regards, Gordon

    Log in to Reply
  6. greyheron posted a comment on 17 September 2011 at 5:33 pm

    Thank you Gordon. It has been a great year for these as I’ve been lucky enough to see and photograph three…two males and a female ๐Ÿ˜‰ Just want to be greedy and see a pair together now…

    Mike

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Comment

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Photo Information

  • Camera

    DMC-GF1

  • Lens

    Leica 45mm macro

  • Exposure

    1/400 sec

  • Aperture

    f/6.3

  • Focal Length

    45 mm

  • ISO Speed

    200

  • Credit

    Mike Taylor

  • Copyright

    รขย“ย’ 2011 Mike Taylor

  • Date Taken

    June 4 2011, 4:36 pm

More by greyheron

Go to greyheron's gallery

Gallery Tags

  • 2011
  • backlighting
  • dmc-gf1
  • gf1
  • Leica 45mm Macro
  • lucanus cervus
  • shadow
  • stag beetle

Back to top
Copyright © 2019 Panasonic. All Rights Reserved
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us

Loading, please wait.