Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Gastrimargus Musicus

Yellow-winged grasshopper

Voting period is over. Please don't add any new votes. Voting period ends on 16 Apr 2011 at 05:45:45 (UTC)

Original - The Yellow-winged grasshopper displays its wing colours as it gets momentarily stuck in a barbed wire fence. A classic Australian moment.

Reason: Illustrates a key aspect of the grasshopper (the yellow wings) that is otherwise only visible in flight (or dead). I like the elegant composition of a very inelegant pose. I also think the surroundings and backdrop add classic Australian colours to the scene. The slight motion blur at 1/500th of a second (on the left foot) demonstrates the frantic nature of the situation. Limited DOF is the only drawback that I know of, but the head is sharp, and I think it's more than compensated for by the rarity of this event.
Articles in which this image appears: Gastrimargus musicus
FP category for this image: Wikipedia:Featured_pictures/Animals/Insects
Creator: 99of9

Support as nominator --99of9 (talk) 05:45, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Comment: I think I get what I'm looking at here, but it's hardly the best way to display the grasshopper in an encyclopedia article, even if it does show the wings. I'd be inclined to call this a lovely shot, but not FP material. J Milburn (talk) 23:16, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Comment That's why I put my other image in the taxobox. But the FP criteria say: "among the best examples of subject" - tick, "illustrates the subject in a compelling way" - tick, and "adds value to the article, helps understanding" - the wings are crucial to understanding something called Yellow-winged. 99of9 (talk) 00:33, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  - If this is here purely to show the wings, then I am not convinced, I'm afraid. There are surely better ways to display them. J Milburn (talk) 10:45, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    - I've had a think on this, and I'm going to have to oppose. As I say, it's a very nice image, but it really isn't FP material. J Milburn (talk) 21:07, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Support A striking image, maybe not so classically encyclopedic, but it shows the wing colours excellently, and absolutely love the composition. Did you take more images at the same time? Aaadddaaammm (talk) 16:48, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- I did take a few before it got away, but this is the only one I've released so far (I think it's the best). 99of9 (talk) 04:22, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose - It is a good shot but not great. The off-center composition is distracting and not as encyclopedic as a centered composition. Very little of the grasshopper is in focus (there was no need to shoot this fast on a stationary object with good light). Cacophony (talk) 04:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Thanks for your review. Actually it was not stationary, it was desperately trying to escape. You can actually see motion blur on the left foot, even at 1/500th of a second. The composition is chosen to obey the Rule of thirds, but it can always be cropped if central is desired for a particular use.--99of9 (talk) 04:22, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Comment don't know if it's relevant but the only article the image appears in is a completely unsourced, one line stub. Additionally, the article states "It only displays its yellow back wings in flight", if this can indeed be verified wouldn't that suggest that the wings being displayed in this setting (with the insect "temporarily" not in flight) is quite atypical? Guest9999 (talk) 12:18, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- I've added a reference. Feel free to edit or expand. Obviously you're right that getting stuck in a fence is atypical! --99of9 (talk) 12:44, 14 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Not Promoted --Makeemlighter (talk) 04:22, 16 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]