Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Yea...My first Ambush of 2011

  1. #1
    BPN Member Patrick Sparkman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    223
    Threads
    40
    Thank You Posts

    Default Yea...My first Ambush of 2011

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Bug...of course.

    Ambush bugs are really one of my favorite subjects. They don't really move around much, and they are just cool to look at up close. This one had actually been probing the flowers around the top of this Mexican Hat. I guess he was hungry and not having luck catching a fly or wasp. I really want to get a good photo of one of these with prey. :2

    All comments welcome. Oh, and before anyone asks about DOF, I took some at f16, but the background goes black and you can't get the entire scene in focus anyway. I liked the focus on the insect on this one better as well as the green background.

    Canon 5D II, Canon MP-E 65, MT-24 Flash diffused,ISO 800, f9.0, 1/200, slight crop off the left and typical Lightroom exposure adjustments.
    Best

    Patrick Sparkman

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Southeast Texas
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    48
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is a fabulous image, Patrick! The colors, composition and DOF look fine to me and I'd be very happy with it. I found one of these little guys for the first time this year...I didn't realize just how small they were or at least the one I found...I thought it was a blimpish on the flower pedal:eek:

  3. #3
    Roman Kurywczak
    Guest

    Default

    Hey Patrick,
    Ah.....the BG goes black......was it your BG or a natural one? If it was manmade.....moving it closer may help but you can get ugly shadows......so be careful there. A good option for this type of work is another flash slaved for the BG.....man made or natural.......just to give you some other options to explore. Given the DOF you composed this very well although as you suspected....I would prefer more DOF. You still did very well overall!

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,991
    Threads
    192
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Patrick, great find! That is one cool looking bug. He fits the colors of the flower well. I like your BG and have no comments on how you handled this shot, except that i wish for a sliver more room for the left petal.

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Memphis, TN
    Posts
    1,873
    Threads
    320
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hey Patrick, Love the colors and tones. One cool bug. well done.

  6. #6
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Patrick. Yup, these are very cool little bugs! You have an attractive flower, the sharpness is right where it needs to be, and the light from the flash looks well diffused. Like Roman, I'd prefer a little more DOF, but it's tough with this lens - and I do like the green background rather than black. Roman makes some good points about using artificial backgrounds. Sometimes photographers will hold up a large leaf just behind their subject (just behind the flower in this case) for the flash to hit - thereby preventing the black background - just another trick to consider. Well done.

  7. #7
    BPN Member Don Lacy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    SE Florida
    Posts
    3,566
    Threads
    348
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Way cool bug you captured image works for ma as posted but I think a little more DOF would have made it stronger.
    Don Lacy
    You don't take a photograph, you make it - Ansel Adams
    There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs - Ansel Adams
    http://www.witnessnature.net/
    https://500px.com/lacy

  8. #8
    Brendan Dozier
    Guest

    Default

    Very cool shot and comp, Patrick. Like the detail and rich colors on this. Agree on a bit more DOF, but very nicely done.

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    586
    Threads
    35
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The bug and flower make a great pair, Patrick. You did very well with the composition and placement of the plane of focus. While I wouldn't object to more DOF, I have no problem with the DOF as is. And I certainly agree that trading more DOF for a black BG would not be the way to go. Perhaps a localized contrast adjustment (curve w/ layer mask?) would help the eye stand out a little more.

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