Overly Intense Background for this Spider?

[Paul Guris]

I took this photo today of some type of small spider near my back yard pond. I lined it up directly with an impatiens flower about 8' or so behind it. Does this work or is the pink of the flower just too overpowering for the image?

Nikon D7200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED + TC1.4 II, 420mm total (630mm effective)
ISO 800, 1/250, f/16, flash used

[Mike Hitchen]

I htink the only thing wrong with the background flower is that it is not large enough - if it could have been round in stead of ovoid and with the spider central to it, it would work better. But I don't mind the colour at all Ithink because the spider is quite angular so 'challenges' the intense colour in its own way.

[Hazel Grant]

I like the bright color...a different look. My concern is with the blown whites and detail of the spider itself. Overall, it has a surreal type look and that works together.

[Diane Miller]

A very nice and different image! Color itself isn't a problem for me, although it does place the image in a category that might not be that acceptable to nature purists. But competitions seem to have gone for the strange and different look lately. No right or wrong there.

Hazel has an excellent point about the whites. Should be easy to fix in raw processing and might give you some leeway to experiment with the colors. Would love to see a RP.

[Warren Spreng]

I agree with the other comments, if you could tame the whites on the spider I think there is more detail there to pull out.

[Paul Guris]

Thanks, all, for your comments. I'll see what I can do about taking down the highlights.