Bugs bugs and more...erm..bugs

[ClaudioG]

Hi all...i posted some of theses images on the bug thread and although i think its an awesome thread i just feel it doesnt give enuff critique. Pls dont stop the Thread!!! i think its epic and i also agree that we do need a macro section..which doesnt HAVE to apply to insects...

Im posting these just so i can get a little more critique and see where i can go right... im also struggling with colour on screen...so in general i'd like to here if these seem oversaturated, to bright, to dark and also if focus is acceptable or not..etc. Pls feel free to go BOS!! ( as we say in South Africa) aka Go Mad!!









This next one not my best,,,but seriously,,DOES THAT NOT LOOK LIKE IRONMANS'S MASK????

[bnnrcn]

Yes the last one certainly looks like Ironman's mask Your images look nice to me. Colors don't look oversaturated and I like the BGs. I especially like #1 and #4. Macro shooters might comment better than me though

[Geoff F]

Basically looks fine, Claudio. The depth of focus is rather shallow but that is part of macro photography and there isn't much in the way of options other than stacking shots; which isn't always possible even if you have suitable software.

Maybe the orange antennae are a bit on the 'strong' side but I don't really see that as a problem.

With #3 the lower fly is mostly out of focus so I would consider cropping differently to remove it and concentrate on just the upper insect. I suspect that would produce a better composition as well.

Jumpers are always good subjects. Once again, if you could have created more depth from stacking, it would have been truly stunning. But as I previously mentioned, that option is often unavailable with live models.

With the last spider, its front and rear bits are in good focus but the middle section is soft which does look a bit odd. I would have preferred to see just one end sharp and the rest gradually fading into softness.

So all in all, good photos of very tricky subjects.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[IzzieK]

Claudio, I am not an expert in macro bug photography as I still have to deal with them (I like them frozen in the freezer first...) but here are my thoughts...I can't comment on your processing or your shot because they all look good to me...

#1 I like the focus point of the head here, very clear view of his eyes. I believe the second shot is the same fly but with a catch? #3 is my favourite of all -- very mysterious aka movie style spying in a science fiction flick. I don't care much either for the bottom fly...the top one beats them all by comparison especially with that pose...the last one is good too -- Ironman with his hands in the air surrendering to the enemy? Cute.

I forgot David's favourite -- the jumping spider...he's cute but with David (deetheturk) spoiling me with his good jumper images, I do not like the angle of this shot...sorry. Could be better...

[ClaudioG]

With #3 the lower fly is mostly out of focus so I would consider cropping differently to remove it and concentrate on just the upper insect. I suspect that would produce a better composition as well.

Jumpers are always good subjects. Once again, if you could have created more depth from stacking, it would have been truly stunning. But as I previously mentioned, that option is often unavailable with live models.

Thanks Geoff.... yeh stacking seems interesting but i only take images of live insects...still need to at least try once on a dead one just to see how it comes out.

Also agree on #3 the fly doesnt really add to the image

[ClaudioG]

Thanks Izzie for the advice... that 2nd one is actually its mouth part. If ya open it full image you'll see it more clearly. Agreed as both you and Geoff have mentioned about the out of focus fly.

[Geoff F]

When shooting on a tripod in calm winds I find that I can quite often manage two shots for stacking. Occasionally three will work.

Much easier of course on dead subjects. For example here is a three shot stack taken for identification purposes; so no attempt to get a pleasing composition, just showing the required identification areas.



More care and more stacks with finer spacing between stacks could produce better results, particularly if a slider tripod head was used. But in real life situations, simply two focus points is always worth attempting.

Assuming of course, you have suitable stacking software. I did try Zerene but found that for what I wanted to do the stacking option in Adobe CC or one of the later CS programmes was just as good.