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Thread: Look what I caught # 2

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Default Look what I caught # 2

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    My good mate Gerrie posted a couple of these White Fronted Bee-eaters during the week, so I thought I would share mine. The perch is a protruding root from a tree in an embankment. I liked the light and how the bee eater posed with his dragonfly for me. BG shot as is.

    Canon 50D
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    F/5.6
    ISO 640

    Exp Comp +0.33
    Hand held

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    I like the pose, and the detail in prey. I think cropping from the bottom to remove most of the green bg would make the image more pleasing.

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    Great shot Stuart - nice warm colours, a great background and I really like the pose and the intact dragonfly. I am in agreement with Ben on the crop - I'd crop off some off of the bottom (and possibly add a bit at the top if there was canvas available).

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Ben, Jeff, thanks a stack for your feedback. Here is a repost with your suggestions. A little off the bottom, and adding a bit to the top.

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    Even better Stuart!

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    Just as I envisioned. Looks great!

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    BPN Viewer Haim Ziv's Avatar
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    Beautiful and very colorful. I like the second version. The BG are just fascinating.

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    Stuart, repost seems compositionally perfect. Great light, sharpness, BG and look-back head turn. Prey a huge huge plus.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Beautiful bird, beautiful dragonfly too. Great exposure, HA; and repost makes the comp better. Lovely image.

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    You nailed it on the repost. Lovely angle, colors, light and pose. Nice and sharp. The prey is a big bonus.

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    Stuart,

    Most remarkable image. Love the pose, composition and the DF puts it over the top for me. Thanks for sharing...
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    The repost looks excellent Stuart.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thank you all so much for the feedback and comments. Much appreciated.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Beautiful shot super light and detail.

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    Nice image I like the light on the bird brings out the colour and detail. I have never seen one of these with Dragonfly prey before. Well done.

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    Awesome repost. Love the background a of course the dragonfly. First thing that catches my eye is that catch light. It appears to me in the perfect spot. TFS.

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    Stuart, I am gonna swim against the tide here (no surprise there :) by saying that your original vision and post is ten times a better image than the repost. It is different and powerful and the green below ties the whole thing together. Robert O'Toole is sitting here optimizing some of my Yellowstone images and he agrees 100%. The reposted COMP is boring for me compared to the image in Pane #1.

    I love the light and you can almost feel the wriggling dragonfly trying to escape. I just love the curves of its body. And the colors of both are killer and go together perfectly. Go with whom you brought to the dance.

    Just my 2 cents plus Robert's two cents is almost a nickel.
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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Forgot to mention two perfect head angles.
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  19. #19
    Ken Watkins
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    Stuart,

    Either of these would be great for me, everytime I have had the opportunity at a nesting site the BG's have been dreadful.

    This however is wonderful, both subject and prey are insanely colourful and both have posed perfectly.
    Last edited by Ken Watkins; 10-16-2010 at 12:58 AM.

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    Great HA, eye contact, detail colours & BG! Lovely image Stu!

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thank you all so much for the feedback and comments. Aways appreciated.

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    Stuart, I love the repost much better. That was my first thought when I first looking at the original.
    TFS.

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    Stuart this is a real beauty! Congrats on another top quality image.

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    Troy, Jim, thanks a stack for your feedback. Always appreciated.

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