Project 52 By Wendy Stanford

[Wendy Stanford]

Thankyou everyone for their constructive comments, they are really helpful, makes me take another closer look at the image from different perspectives.
shadows out I think.
Mal, B&W version

[Nicola]

Wendy
this is a beautiful picture
but I prefer the colour version. Perhaps this B&W convertion has too much mid tones... if you don't mind, here a quick go of what I mean..

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I think the B&W conversion came out a bit flat with the tones so in this case, perhaps the colour version as well. We're not supposed to do edits in the Project 52 threads but I did have a quick look at and I'd suggest darkening the greens and lightening the reds and blues in the B&W conversion, just to try and increase the overall contrast in the B&W - but only if you're interested

[Wendy Stanford]

Thanks Nicola, your image is a big improvement on mine, converting to B&W is something I will add to my list of projects that I will try and master, at the moment I am just using the presets in Elements or reducing the saturation, obviously there is a little more to it,
Thanks for your comments Mal, I'm off to expand my horizons in the area of B&W conversion

[Goldcoastgolfer]

at the moment I am just using the presets in Elements or reducing the saturation, obviously there is a little more to it,

You might be able to find more B&W presets that you can import into Elements. That's what I do with Lightroom, although I inevitably end up always tweaking the presets somehow.

[Wendy Stanford]

You might be able to find more B&W presets that you can import into Elements. That's what I do with Lightroom, although I inevitably end up always tweaking the presets somehow.

Thanks Mal, have found a couple of quite comprehensvie tutorials in several magazines that I have, they list a few plug-ins, will have a little play over the weekend

[Wendy Stanford]

Ventured into the macro world for this week,
Nothing like something dead (2 mice bought back by the cat) to attract flies in the summertime.


1/80, F7, ISO 200.

As it was a handheld shot I was pleased with the outcome, I like the horizonal line, as I did have placed on the diagonal, but thought looked better utilizing the rule of thirds.
Cheers

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I think it must be the week for great macro shots of bugs. I think you've nailed it perfectly

I will say that because of the way the DoF is, the blurring of the ledge actually makes it feel like it isn't quite horizontal. I'm pretty sure it's an optical illusion, but combined with the negative space on the right I'm finding it's leading me out of the frame a little.

That might be just me so I'd be interested to hear from everyone else on the topic.

[SpiderBob]

I agree with Mal, it needs to rotate counterclockwise 1.25 degrees. But I do like where you have positioned it, facing the blurred space in front of it. As the fly is very focused and sharp, nice picture
A question, I noticed you used pattern or Evaluative as your metering mode and am impressed with the photograph, I have always used spot for these closeups did you have a lot of PP.

[jeechu1970]

Ventured into the macro world for this week,
Nothing like something dead (2 mice bought back by the cat) to attract flies in the summertime.


1/80, F7, ISO 200.


Excellent shot indeed..i like the sharpness....and the lighting

As it was a handheld shot I was pleased with the outcome, I like the horizonal line, as I did have placed on the diagonal, but thought looked better utilizing the rule of thirds.
Cheers

[Wendy Stanford]

Thanks Mal, Bob and Girish, I think you are right and have rotated the image slightly counterclockwise.
I use Evaluative metering as my default, however with Macro I have a Canon 100mm 2.8 L Macro lens that I focus manually, I shoot in RAW so some amount of PP is required, I sharpen, adjust the levels, and crop, rotate etc
Cheers

[Goldcoastgolfer]

That's better

[Wendy Stanford]

This week is playing with light, or more getting the right lighting setup.
I tried with all different angles and light sources, because they are tubes it was difficult to get just the right amount so that the light wasn't too strong, ended up with the straws sitting up off the surface with a small LED torch shining across and up into the straws slightly,



F20, ISO200, Exp 1/60

[jeechu1970]

This week is playing with light, or more getting the right lighting setup.
I tried with all different angles and light sources, because they are tubes it was difficult to get just the right amount so that the light wasn't too strong, ended up with the straws sitting up off the surface with a small LED torch shining across and up into the straws slightly,



F20, ISO200, Exp 1/60

Wow........very nice composition and lighting...........i like it

[Donald]

This week is playing with light, or more getting the right lighting setup.

Innovative, imaginative and wonderfully executed.

One suggestion/question - Is it too close to the left-hand edge of the frame? What if there was just a little more space over there?

[Nicola]

Wendy, week 7 and week 8 are really beautiful pictures!
about week 8 one, perhaps, IMHO, i 'd add a bit more room on top, not at left....
thanks for sharing
Nicola

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Beautiful and very creative Wendy. I think this is one case where a bit more negative space would work potentially on all sides but it might be an idea to have a play and see what comes out the best. It looks great as it is but I'd probably also try a graduated filter along the bottom to brighten ever so slightly the bottom of the straws.

Really well done!

[SpiderBob]

Looks great Wendy, very creative indeed. So simple, so well done.

[Bunty Plumchip]

Love it, and also the assymetrical placing of the arrangement.

[PBelarge]

Like Donald mentioned, it is a little close to the left side, but otherwise a wonderful image. I love the colors and black background, but I especially like how you have capture the end/edge of the straws, just wonderful and eye catching.