Grasshoppers, for the most part, try to hide from you when you’re attempting to make a photograph. Much of the time they just launch themselves somewhere else but, if you are lucky, they sidle around the grass stalk.
I focused on the stalk and then, with remote cable in hand, moved around to the side and the hopper obligingly came into the frame and got captured.
Red-legged Grasshopper- Melanoplus femurrubrum
5D Mark IV, 180 macro+2.0 teleconverter, tripod, circular polarizer. I like the color combination on this common grasshopper. They seem to be the ones I see more often than not although yesterday I did see one other as well as some katydids.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
The colour combination is indeed lovely.
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It’s probably the loveliest of grasshopper images I’ve made.
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I find the bluish shades attractive.
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That combined with the red legs really made me enjoy this shot.
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I’m always quite taken with the tiny details on these creatures, like this one’s striped antennae. I grinned at the scientific species name, too. Apparently the color always has attracted attention.
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On a grasshopper those legs sure do attract attention and the species name certainly is appropriate. But that name always reminds me of this, for some reason. I too like the striped antennae and some mosths have similar as well.
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Love the details, Steve. It is shots like this that make me appreciate insects so much more than I ever did. I saw one in the yard the other day as it flew away from my passing. I used to see so many years ago and the past couple years their numbers have been way down. Either the birds are getting them young, or they are declining. I hope it is the latter.
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Thanks, Eliza! That makes me happy that I am sharing these insect images if they increase appreciation. I’d rather the former as that is part of the cycle of life.
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Gosh, you’ve captured a rainbow of colours here. What a wonderful, yet subtle image.
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Thanks, Susan. These always have the red legs but the rest of the body was more colorful than I’ve seen before.
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Congratulations, Steve! Such close-ups of grasshoppers are rare. The details are astounding.
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The combination of the 180 and the 2.0 teleconverter gives me 360mm which keeps me somewhat distant from my subject. If I used only the 180 it might have launched itself away but just tried hiding. Thanks, Peter!
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Outstanding photograph!
Congratulations on outthinking a grasshopper. (I’m jealous I didn’t think of it.)
“murber”
Love the contrast provided by the leg color.
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Thanks, Wally! The grasshoppers over the years have taught me well. The use of 360mm kept it from leaving the scene and just trying to be invisible. Most grasshoppers here, we have no lubbers, are not terribly colorful. Even the flying species are mostly earth colors on their wings.
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Sneaky. (And well done!)
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Thanks, Dave. At least I enjoyed the game, not sure about the other guy.
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Great Grasshopper image Steve! Wonderful detail!
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Thanks, Reed. It was a reluctant model.
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WOWZA, I love this, look at all those colors!! Fantastic, Steve!!
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Thanks, Donna! It was a nice encounter for sure.
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It’s nice to see so many details, including the red legs.
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I am always amazed at how their bodies are formed and the various differences in the segments’ shapes.The red legs are distinctive and I see this species more often than any other.
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Nice technique with the remote and using your movement to coax it into a great position. Just goes to show you get better photos when you know your subject. 🙂
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I think that is true of all practices in photography although street is very spontaneous .
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Very nice phot and the colors came out well. Beautiful bug.
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Thanks, Alessandra. Not quite as beautiful as a lubber but not bad either.
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