Lurkers

• Photographer
  Henrik Spranz
• Technical Info
  Canon 5d Mk iv + Sigma 180/2.8 macro
• Website
  https://www.spranz.org

A series of photographs showing mantids [Ameles spec.] in an autumnal bokeh - showing them lurking for their first meal of the day. The photographs haven't been processed much - just basic RAW development. The bokeh originates from using a wide open aperture and light conditions.

• Biography
  Nick Smith for Outdoor Photography magazine: "There's something magical about Henrik Spranz's photography. Although deeply rooted in the hyper-real world of natural history and landscape, his work bears none of the hallmarks of scientific illustration or even animal portraiture. His world is a dream-like state of whimsical and wispy perfection, pastel colours and cheeky woodland creatures. In fact, it's fair to say that the Spranz portfolio has more in common with Grimm's Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Andersen or even the early animated children's movies by Walt Disney..."
• Awards
  PSA Gold Medal NARAVA 2021 category NATURE honorable mention in the Nature / Wildlife category at the Tokyo Foto Awards 2020 honorable mention in the Fine Art / Landscape category at the Tokyo Foto Awards 2020 3rd place in the PLANTS & FUNGI category at the CUPOTY awards bronze award in the macro category at the ND Awards 2020 honorable mention in the macro category at the ND Awards 2020 honor award in the category 'Mammals' at Montphoto 2020 silver award in the category 'Nature / Wildlife' in TIFA competition 2019 2nd place in the category 'Wildlife in the Garden' in IGPOTY competition 2019 3rd place in the category 'Nature: Macro' at the ND Awards 2019 3rd place in the category 'Nature: Flowers' at the ND Awards 2019 3rd place in the category 'Wildlife in the Garden' in IGPOTY competition 2018 highly commended and in the category 'Wildlife in the Garden' in IGPOTY competition 2018 winner Photographer of the Year 2018 National Geographic Germany Trierenberg Super Circuit 2018: gold medal in special theme 'Red' winner Amateur Photographer of the Year 2017 (APOY) gold award ND Awards 2017 category nature: macro honorable mention in Siena International Photo Award 2017/Animals in their Environment two second places and one winning image in APOY 2017 (Amateur photographer of the year) Trierenberg Super Circuit 2017: gold medal in category 'Nature' Sony World Photography Awards 2017 Open Competition Commended (Wildlife) 1st place International Photographer of the Year 2016 in Nature: Macro (Amateur) 2nd place in the category 'Wildlife in the Garden' in IGPOTY competition 2016 winner Outdoor Photographer of the year 2015, category 'Small World' silver award ND Awards 2015 category nature: macro