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View Full Version : Red Dragon on date palm



Marc Mol
07-11-2008, 07:48 PM
Using the Nikkor 200-400VR in it's minimum close focus mode ( no extension tubes used),
you can get some pleasing results.

Nikon D300
200-400 f/4 VR
ISO 1600
f/16
1/125s
Gitzo GT3540LS

http://africaddict.smugmug.com/photos/331111086_Dvooa-L.jpg

C & C most welcome

Cheers
Marc

John Cooper
07-11-2008, 10:32 PM
A splendid looking dragonfly Marc - the rich reds compliment the the green BG beautifully.
As you were using a tripod could you've gone to F22 - F32 to include more of the wings in focus?

Marc Mol
07-12-2008, 01:01 AM
A splendid looking dragonfly Marc - the rich reds compliment the the green BG beautifully.
As you were using a tripod could you've gone to F22 - F32 to include more of the wings in focus?

I think your right John, f/22 would probably have done it.

Julie Kenward
07-12-2008, 06:01 AM
Marc, there's a couple of things here that I'd like to touch on...the first being the amount of noise in the image. Maybe it is just my monitor but there appears to be quite a lot of it in your BG. Also, the wings look quite a bit overexposed - I checked your stats to see if you used a flash because I was sure you must have but there is no mention of one being used. The detail on the body of the fly is nicely in focus but those wings really detract from him - have you tried to tone them down in post processing?

I'd also clone out the two corner objects in the BG or suggest trying this as a vertical instead of a horizontal.

Gus Cobos
07-12-2008, 08:17 AM
Hi Marc,
Your subject is sharp, but the wings are a bit soft...I am seeing a lot of noise in the background. Perhaps you would have made a stronger composition by going vertical...:cool:

Ed Cordes
07-12-2008, 08:14 PM
Nits and suggestions covered. I like the apparent smile on his face!

Don Lacy
07-13-2008, 09:24 PM
Hey Marc nice image, I do not think going to f/22 or f/32 would have help you here what little DOF you would have gain on the wings would be off set by diffraction making the whole image soft, not a trade off I would have made.