As I was walking through a grassy field on Thursday at Huntley Meadows Park, I inadvertently disturbed a grasshopper that flew to a nearby tree. It had been weeks since I had last seen a grasshopper, so I searched carefully for the insect and was happy when I managed to locate it on the trunk of the tree.
Although I carefully composed my shot, I did not have high expectations for it—it was a simple shot with a simple composition. I was stunned when I reviewed the image on my computer at how well it turned out. I love the way I was able to capture the texture of the tree bark and of the grasshopper, though I must confess that the background on the right hand side of the image may be my favorite element of the image.
One of the joys of photography for me is the discovering images like this, appealing images in which the separate components work together to create a harmonious whole. If someone had asked me when I first returned home from the shoot if I had captured any good images, I probably would have responded negatively—I would have been wrong.
Have a wonderful weekend.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
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Wow, Mike! This is a stunning image. I love the warm, Autumnal tones of the whole image. The glow of the background is beautiful. The capture of all the visual textures is really striking in this photo and the portrait of the grasshopper is fabulous. I think this is among your best images.
Thanks, Laura. I think you saw the image in a way very similar to the way that I did. It really is hard to be objective about my own work, but I kind of felt like this image was pretty special. Thanks, as always, Laura, for your encouraging words and thoughtful analysis of your reaction to the shot.
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Great image Mike! Really like the warm color & smooth background!
Wow! What a great photo. The browns are so vibrant.
Your delightful photo and introspective commentary brings a smile and many happy memories of a younger Benjamin and myself on our “Adventuring” expeditions. He was always so excited when a grasshopper was unexpectedly encountered as we ambled along. In the marvelous 2007 book “Kahlil Gibran : The Collected Works” I came across something that challenges the moral in Aesop’s Fable of “The Ant and the Grasshopper” : “How narrow is the vision that exalts the busyness of the ant above the singing of the grasshopper.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!! This will be saved for Benjamin!
A great surprise, and you are rightly pleased, Mike! And you did well to spot him on that trunk even with that bit of orange on his sides.
Nearly monochromatic– nice shot, Mike.
A really great shot. The tree texture really helps the grasshopper blend in well.
Thanks. It I hadn’t seen the grasshopper hop to the tree, I am pretty sure I would not have been able to spot it–both the color and the texture helped to camouflage it really well.
Hop, hop, hooray! 🙂
Cute response, Laura. I love it!