Photography has the power to transform everyday moments into extraordinary memories, and sometimes, the most inspiring lessons come from the fresh perspective of a young photographer. That’s exactly what happened when Skylum sent me to Corpus Christi, Texas, to work with a group of talented young photographers at the Sharpshooter Foto Workshop. This incredible event, hosted by Skylum affiliate Angie Birmingham at The Welder Wildlife Foundation in Sinton, Texas, provided the perfect setting to nurture creativity and technical skills in budding photographers.
Among the many talented students, one stood out—Brooklyn, a young photographer from Jourdanton, Texas, who captured a breathtaking image of a grasshopper bathed in golden sunlight. When she showed me the shot, I was immediately intrigued. I asked her how she got it, what inspired her, and the process she followed. Her insight was so impressive that I knew I had to share it with you.
Brooklyn is the twin sister of Zella, whose image Day at the Ranch was selected from over 513 entries for the prestigious Rodeo Austin Art Show. Their talent for capturing the beauty of nature and rural life is inspiring, and Brooklyn’s grasshopper image is a perfect example of how to turn an everyday encounter into a stunning piece of art.
Whether you’re an experienced photographer or just starting, Brooklyn’s approach to insect photography offers valuable lessons that can be applied to photographing other small subjects like butterflies, lizards, and bees.
Seeing the potential in an ordinary subject
Brooklyn wasn’t out searching for the perfect shot. She was simply in her garden, tending to her plants, when she noticed a small grasshopper perched on one of her milkweed plants. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over everything.
At first, she hesitated. Her camera was inside, and she debated whether it was worth going back to get it. Would the grasshopper still be there? Would she miss the shot? But something told her to take the chance. She ran inside, grabbed her camera, and returned to find the grasshopper still perfectly positioned against the golden backdrop.
This moment taught her a valuable lesson that all photographers should remember:
“Always be ready, and never ignore a great shot just because it seems inconvenient.”
Nature photography often comes down to being in the right place at the right time—but also being prepared to take advantage of the moment.
Camera settings for stunning insect photography
Once Brooklyn had her camera, she knew she had to act fast. Handheld shooting meant she needed settings that would balance stability, sharpness, and light. Here’s how she set up her shot:
- Mode: Manual – This gave her complete control over exposure.
- Aperture: f/2.8 – A wide aperture helped separate the grasshopper from the background, creating a soft, dreamy blur.
- Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec – Fast enough to reduce camera shake but not quite enough to completely freeze motion.
- ISO: Auto – Allowing the camera to adjust ISO helped balance exposure without making manual adjustments.
- Exposure Compensation – Adjusting +EV or -EV to fine-tune brightness based on the available light.
These settings can work for photographing other small creatures like butterflies, lizards, and bees, but for fast-moving subjects, a shutter speed of 1/500 sec or higher may be needed.
Overcoming motion blur and enhancing sharpness
Even with the right settings, Brooklyn faced a common challenge—motion blur. The slight movement of the grasshopper, combined with handheld shooting, resulted in a softer image than she wanted.
Instead of giving up, she turned to Luminar Neo’s SuperSharp AI, an incredible tool that restores detail and sharpness without making the image look unnatural.
This is a great reminder that post-processing is not about “fixing mistakes”—it’s about refining your vision and making your image the best it can be.
If you find that your images aren’t as sharp as you’d like, try these solutions:
- Use a tripod whenever possible to eliminate hand movement.
- Increase shutter speed to at least 1/250 sec for sharper shots.
- Use image stabilization if your camera or lens has it.
- Fix blur in post-processing using tools like SuperSharp AI or Photoshop’s shake reduction.
Editing insect photography in Luminar Neo
Brooklyn’s image was already visually striking, but she knew a few enhancements could make it even more compelling. Here’s how she edited it in Luminar Neo:
1. Restoring sharpness with SuperSharp AI: The slight blur from the handheld shot was quickly corrected, bringing out crisp details in the grasshopper’s legs and antennae.
2. Adjusting black tones for depth: Deepening the blacks added contrast, making the grasshopper stand out more against the background.
3. Enhancing colors without overdoing it:
- Increased vibrancy to bring out the rich greens of the plant.
- Slightly reduced saturation to ensure the sunset tones didn’t overpower the subject.
4. Tweaking exposure for the perfect balance: By adjusting exposure and highlights, she ensured that the golden sunset glow remained natural without losing details.
5. Saving and exporting in high resolution: The final step was exporting the image in high resolution, making it ready for printing, sharing, or further creative use.
Applying these techniques to other subjects
Brooklyn’s approach to capturing the grasshopper can be applied to other small creatures in nature photography:
- Butterflies: They move quickly, so use a faster shutter speed (1/500 sec or higher) and a medium aperture (f/5.6 to f/8) for better depth of field. Be patient and wait for them to settle.
- Lizards: They often bask in the sun, making them easier to capture. A slower shutter speed like 1/125 sec can work well. Position yourself at eye level for the best perspective.
- Bees and Fast-Moving Insects: Use a shutter speed of 1/1000 sec or more to freeze motion. Continuous shooting mode helps capture the perfect frame.
Final thoughts: Inspiration from a young photographer
Brooklyn’s story is proof that you don’t need years of experience to create a stunning image—you just need a keen eye, a willingness to learn, and the courage to take the shot.
Her journey from seeing the grasshopper to capturing and enhancing the image is a perfect example of what photography is all about: noticing beauty in the ordinary, acting quickly, and using technology to bring your vision to life.
So next time you’re outside, whether in a backyard, park, or wildlife reserve, keep your camera ready. You never know when inspiration—like a tiny grasshopper in golden light—will strike.
