© Gunther Deichmann - the rare and very unique Leichhardt Grasshopper from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, found nowhere else in the world. Visit Gunther Deichmann website @ www.deichmann-photo.com or click on the image above.

I was very deep inside Arnhem Land and in Aboriginal Territory, I had heard about this amazing Grasshopper before and had seen a specimen at the Darwin Museum (the only one) and now I was confronted with these rare creatures sitting sluggish on a bush right in front of me. I understand the Aboriginals a lot better now, the Dream TIme and myth, I can imagine when they saw this orange colored Grasshopper for the first time, how Alien this must have been.
I was told by the Curator of the Darwin Museum that this Grasshopper had not been seen for some 100 years, I did collect a specimen for the Darwin Museum for Research purpose. All the other ones which where clinging on this bush I left where I found them, but of course took some Photos first, I might never see them again.
The Leichhardt Grasshopper is only found in the Northern Territory, Australia.
Another endangered species?

See below some more info and excerpts courtesy of:
http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/
science/scribblygum/November2000/default.htm
It's named after the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt who reported great numbers of them as he crossed the Arnhem Land plateau in 1845. However, after a few more sightings, Leichhardt's Grasshopper went incognito for 120 years. It's only reappeared on the scientific record recently, around 1973, when the mining industry boomed and access into Leichhardt's grasshopper territory was improved.
In Australia's Top End a beguiling grasshopper is heralding the coming of the wet season by putting on its gaudiest outfit. Leichhardt's Grasshopper is out in full adult glory. It's Australia's most brightly coloured grasshopper and one of the most spectacular in the world.
Leichhardt's Grasshopper is bright red, blue and orange. Its strong colours are a defence against predators which works so well that this little grasshopper has Attitude - often it doesn't even bother to fly away when predators approach.
Leichhardt's Grasshopper's scientific name is Petasida ephippigera. Grasshoppers come from the group of insects known as Orthoptera, which includes crickets, locusts and grasshoppers.
Jawoyn and Gundjeibmi people of Western Arnhem Land call the grasshopper Alyurr, children of the Lightning Man Namarrgon, a powerful ancestral being.
Catching sight of these grasshoppers requires a bit of effort and some patience. Most sites are accessible only by foot more than a day's walk from any roads. Even then it may not be worth it. Numbers fluctuate so greatly that grasshoppers may only be around one year in three.
This remoteness has made Leichhardt's Grasshopper difficult to study and also to protect. Even though it is quite rare, the grasshopper isn't able to be covered by Endangered Species Legislation because we don't fully understand its basic distribution, biology and ecology.For more info and some of the interesting Aboriginal legends go to:
http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/
science/scribblygum/November2000/default.htm

We have just removed the PhotoShelter widget on my main site...the PhotoShelter Archive has just been updated with all the images from the PhotoShelter collection.
The PhotoShelter Collection is not available anymore, however I have “JUICED” up my PhotoShelter Archives, now with over 4500 high res. images from more than 25 Countries and many other commercial subjects.

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Tags: Commercial Photography, Advertising Photography, Editorial Photography, Stock Photography, Rare Insects, Ludwig Leichhardt, Arnhem Land, Grasshopper

© Santosh Verma - Mumbai India, “Color Printers recyceld”

With his email came this super cool shot (see above) and I just fell in love with it.
Now we are in 2008 and seeing images like this…very colorful and creative…so I decided to bring you Images which I took some 30 years ago…no Aperture and Photoshop then.
The images are related somehow, showing art in its oldest and most recent form, the Australian Aboriginals used to use earth color (Ochre) and paint on Tree bark or retouch 40 thousand year old paintings in caves…now it is Inkjet Printers that translate our artwork on to paper, an amazing contrast.

© Gunther Deichmann - painting Mimi Spirit figures on Tree bark,
Arnhem Land Northern Territory, Australia

© Gunther Deichmann - retouching old cave paintings or creating a new one,
seldom practiced today, deep in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

When I received the email from Santosh I was working on some old Australian Aboriginal images and that gave me the Idea to show the ancient and new way of reproducing our thoughts and Ideas…now that is contrast!
For restoring old images with Aperture 2 (one of my previous blogs) go to: GD Photo Tutorial @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/page1/page1.html
Enjoy the images and thanks to Santosh for letting me use his Image… see below his recent letter to me…I guess he is just about to move over to Aperture 2.
GD

Dear Gunther,
Just a note to say that your feature-the feature on you
-in the magazine looks great! I was so delighted with the way
it has come out. Hearty Congratulations Gunther.
And yes, I am persuaded to download the Aperture now,
the one you gave me, after reading so much of your blog and being
encouraged by how good it is.
I will first have to learn how to download stuff with it and then, how to 
make the ' photoshoop' work on the RAW.
Don't be disappointed if I ask you for help in such elementary steps!
Oh yes! Nikon has loaned me a D3!!!! and I will be using it for the next 
one week on a Test Drive!!!
Look forward to hearing from you and working like you Gunther.
Warm regards,
Santosh

Tags: Color Printers, ideas, Rock art, Cave Paintings, Northern Territory, Culture, Ancient, Arnhem Land