“The Fight,” by Pål Hermansen
Hermansan says: “Male European stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) use their sizable mandibles to impress potential mates and fight off rival males. I spotted these two sparring in southern Sweden, one of only a few locations in Scandinavia where populations can still be found. In early June the males appear in the oak forest, but their arrival is tinged with sadness because this iconic species is now on the IUNC red list as it’s considered ‘Near Threatened’. Numbers are declining across most of Europe due to habitat loss.”
Technical information:
Camera: Sony A7R III
Lens: Laowa 15mm f/4 wide angle macro
ISO: 500
Aperture: f/16
Shutter speed: 1/30sec
