Predator with prey images

[Bruce Williams]

I'd be interested to hear members opinion on posting spider or insect "predator with prey" images - such as this one for example:



I come across these life and death dramas most days during "the insect season" and have occasionally posted forum threads containing images of these encounters. It could be just coincidence of course but I've noticed that these postings rarely receive any comment and I wondered if maybe some members might find them upsetting. I do know that many people won't watch wildlife documentaries if there is a chance of seeing animals being killed.

I'm NOT of course talking about bird or mammal predator and prey images as I imagine most of us would find them quite upsetting.

Bruce

[ChrisR]

I really, really hope that nobody would get upset by seeing insects eating each other ... you'd have to have a very weak constitution, I think

But instead perhaps people find little to talk about in terms of critique? I take similar photos myself (though not as good as this one, I hasten to add) but I would never really class them as artistic and wouldn't really expect them to win any competitions. They are what they are - a photo of an event and with macro shots in particular the problems that can be critiqued (depth of focus, sharpness etc.) are common to nearly all photos of that type. I mean, if you get everything right then you have a good photo - or at least the best you can do within the limitations of the equipment/medium

To add my 2p-worth, I think you have done very well to get the subjects into roughly the same plane of focus but of course the depth is very shallow - but you could hardly do better without stacking several together. You might argue that the image is a little over exposed in places and the flash was a bit harsh but that seems a bit nit-picky for what is a really nice photo

[PMG]

I think people probably view these and think they are interesting but unless they do that sort of macro photography will be unaware of the effort that goes in - or poss think there isn't much effort - sort of just a click and done - in the bag so to speak Also little critters maybe don't interest folk as much as the bigger 'animal' and 'bird' shots and maybe doesn't have the same appeal or catch the eye - esp if loaded next door to a stunning shot of a fox or woodpecker whatever You do first class photography Bruce in the minibeast arena and I always look but don't always comment either ......

Pauline

[Bruce Williams]

Chris

Thanks for your very helpful reply. The original purpose of my post was to get members views/attitudes towards insect "predator with prey" postings in the insect forum. I wasn't thinking so much about critiquing the photography but more about the feelings towards the subject matter - could it maybe upset some members. I hoped it didn't but thought it worth checking to be sure.

However I found your critique most helpful. You're quite right, the example image is over exposed and I hadn't realised it. A case of the lazy photographer not standing back and critically reviewing his own work. In effect I was seeing what I expected to see rather than what was actually there. Here's a quick rework:



The over-dark shadow is mainly down to using the on-board flash rather than the Nikon SB-R1 flash unit. Me being lazy again - sometimes it's just "easier" to just pick up the camera body on the way out (to walk the dog) than take the extra time to connect up the flash unit .

Pauline

Thanks for your interesting take on my question. As I said to Chris, this post was intended to be about insect "predator with prey" images - and I was thinking more in terms of Insect Forum threads than Gallery postings.

Your comments are very interesting (and very kind too ) and I'm sure they do reflect the majority opinion. To me mini-beasts are intensely interesting - so different - fascinating in an alien sort of way. However, even though I'm almost exclusively a macro photographer, I can't help responding more emotionally to a spectacular bird-in-flight image or a pic of a cute fox cub - than I ever could to a pic of spider or insect.

Bruce

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

It could be just coincidence of course but I've noticed that these postings rarely receive any comment

Any examples

From an ID point of view action shots are the hardest to ID - maybe that has something to do with it?

[Bruce Williams]

Charlie - That's a good point, 'lack of something to say' could well be the reason rather than a negative reaction to the subject matter.

Nothing very recent however here's a thread from 23rd Oct (an almost identical predator and prey subject): Unidentified lacewing larva eating unidentified aphid

Bruce

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Charlie - That's a good point, 'lack of something to say' could well be the reason rather than a negative reaction to the subject matter.

I'm usually quite succinct with my replies (otherwise I would be on WAB non-stop ) - and tend not to even reply when the thread starter has already got as far as I can go

I think Pauline has something with the "big = beautiful" thing - it takes a special sort of person to appreciate the world in macro

[Geoff F]

For me, if it happens it should be recorded.

Wildlife photographers, whether amateur or professional, should record everything that occurs, not just a cosy idealised version of nature. So well done there.

But am I correct in assuming that in this case the predator has actually found a corpse instead of actually catching and killing it?

Replies tend to depend on the question. If, for example, the question asked was 'what is this predator/prey' there would probably be more responses than just saying 'look at this interesting photo'. As the previous answers to this post have suggested.

Also, some people may feel a little overwhelmed and inadequate to reply to a near perfect real life action photo.

But one important other consideration here is to look at the number of views to an image or post instead of the number of replies.

With regard to your excellent example. Flash is always a potential problem, especially the in camera flash, as you are well aware. And when used on real action shots there isn't always the luxury of time to tell the subjects to stop what they are doing while you have a rethink of settings!

That is why I always shoot RAW for this type of photo.

Actually, if we are being excessively over critical here, I didn't notice any real problem with shadows, although on my monitor the larvae does possibly appear a tad overexposed.

ps. I find that the more difficult ethical decisions surround things like a fly struggling in a spider's web. Should you intervene, after taking a photo of course, and release the prey; thus depriving the spider of it's dinner.

Personally, I do find that the scarcity value of some species of prey does affect my actions here; although it really shouldn't matter.

[Mike Jackson]

Perhaps a predator and prey of the day thread in the insect forum would garner more interest. It seems to have done it with Dave's slugs. I've got a few I've captured and I always find it interesting to see natural behaviour. Mind you i don't always get it right. My picture of what I thought was a spider capturing and ant was apparently the ant capturing the spider.

[loripo]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Perhaps a predator and prey of the day thread in the insect forum would garner more interest. It seems to have done it with Dave's slugs. I've got a few I've captured and I always find it interesting to see natural behaviour. Mind you i don't always get it right. My picture of what I thought was a spider capturing and ant was apparently the ant capturing the spider.

I often think that a 'behaviour' section in the Gallery would be useful. I had a similar answer on a thread about one of my photos that turned out to be a spider hunting wasp, which I hadn't heard of before.