Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Next Phase of the Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default Next Phase of the Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    My last thread featured this caterpillar in it's green phase. Here you see it in its orange phase.

    Canon 1D3, Canon 70-200L F4 IS & tubes @ 85mm
    F14, 1/125sec, ISO 400, manual mode
    Flash on manual (held by a friend) - handholding

    Comments and critiques welcomed and much appreciated.

    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    www.marinascarrphotography.com


    Last edited by Peter Kes; 12-17-2012 at 05:55 PM.

  2. #2
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The lighting on the caterpillar is optimal, there is a 3D effect, focus is excellent, very slight fall off at the tail end, it is nicely presented on the leaf and the background is complimentary. A very pleasing and informative image.
    One tiny query has someone been monkeying around in the top left corner, the edge of the leaf looks a little out of kilter.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pune, Maharashtra, India
    Posts
    7,409
    Threads
    469
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina:
    Honestly I know very little about macro.
    However this is superb image with very nice exposure.Nice lights and colors.

    Regards,
    Satish.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    9
    Threads
    4
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Marina,

    This is a beautiful picture of a beautiful individual. In my opinion the picture would be improved if there was more space on both the left and top, particularly if the leaf proper ended a little below the top left corner and the leaf stem was going out of the frame. Still, I know this was handheld, which makes that sort of composition difficult. That is my tiny critique of a superb image!

  5. #5
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Marina. This is a very cool looking caterpillar! Excellent sharpness, a nice diagonal comp, and a clean background make this a pleasing image. The light on the caterpillar is very nice without a lot of specular highlights. I'm wondering if you can open up the rather hard shadow under the caterpillar a bit more? Are you using a diffuser on your flash? It might help produce softer shadows and reduce the reflections on the top half of the leaf (though the leaf appears to be very shiny so there would still be some reflections present.) Overall, this is very well done and I think that tweaking the shadows will make it even better!

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Polokwane South Africa
    Posts
    274
    Threads
    22
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Marina, This is a beautiful image... like been said.... comp, exposure and detail is all spot on... beautiful bg and dof... agree though on the top left corner... otherwise WD!

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Saint Louis MO
    Posts
    75
    Threads
    7
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful image - and the caterpillar is eating its own perch. The colors are gorgeous.

  8. #8
    Forum Participant Dave Johnson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Japan.
    Posts
    204
    Threads
    35
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Stunning sharpness and detail Marina. A tip-top image. One to be proud of. VWD.

  9. #9
    Roman Kurywczak
    Guest

    Default

    Hey Marina,
    Some great things pointed out above. I would lighten the underside of the body a few points......that will make this explode even more on the screen! Easy tweak to a very nice image! Glad to see you getting into macro. Get the MT 24 twin lights......work great for hand holding!

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    160
    Threads
    18
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I really like the colors and the pattern on the caterpillar. It looks rather 3-D ish and makes my eyes go a little bonkers! Very nice capture Marina!

  11. #11
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    44
    Threads
    3
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is a beautiful caterpillar. As others have mentioned already - almost 3d-ish, great use of light. Sharpness and DOF both excellent.

    A great learning experience for me as I am very new to all this.

    Thanks for sharing.

  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Millington Md.
    Posts
    2,513
    Threads
    365
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful...enough said!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics