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.
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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.
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 ๐ Perhaps this dry weather has made it a ”good year” for them…long may it last.
Regards,
Mike
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
Thank you for your comments Sheila ๐
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 ๐
Regards,
Mike
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
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 ๐ Just want to be greedy and see a pair together now…
Mike