Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

  1. #1
    Stagecoach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Suva, Fiji
    Posts
    7,076
    Real Name
    Grahame

    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    For some reason I had been under the impression that the Nikon 1.4x TC would not fit my 105mm macro but tried it today and it couples ok. There's possibly some degradation in IQ when using it but it makes working with these guys a bit easier

    So for this set I got some extra reach and did not have to crop so much in post. All taken using the SB600 camera mounted with a cardboard snoot and diffuser to get the light right up front and Auto Focus.

    No 1
    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    No 2
    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    No 3
    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    No 4
    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    No 5
    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Grahame

  2. #2
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,716
    Real Name
    John

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Nice shots.

  3. #3
    DanK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    8,798
    Real Name
    Dan

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    great captures.

    I think you can improve these in post. Take #3, for example. It's relatively low contrast; the background is uneven; and the critter is a bit underexposed.

    As a quick illustration, I did this:

    1. I selected the background and turned it black with a levels tool. There's nothing in that space anyway.
    2. I inverted the selection and brightened the bug. I used a curves tool for this.
    3. I added a bit of contrast.
    4. I sharped the result. I used a high-pass filter because I didn't want to sharpen anything but the large edges.

    It's a quick-and-dirty edit. For example, if I were going to take more time, I would do something in the process to avoid brightening the foreground. However, I think it is enough to show that you can squeeze a lot more out of these images.

    Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

  4. #4
    Stagecoach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Suva, Fiji
    Posts
    7,076
    Real Name
    Grahame

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowman View Post
    Nice shots.
    Thank you John.

  5. #5
    Stagecoach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Suva, Fiji
    Posts
    7,076
    Real Name
    Grahame

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Quote Originally Posted by DanK View Post
    great captures.

    I think you can improve these in post. Take #3, for example. It's relatively low contrast; the background is uneven; and the critter is a bit underexposed.

    As a quick illustration, I did this:

    1. I selected the background and turned it black with a levels tool. There's nothing in that space anyway.
    2. I inverted the selection and brightened the bug. I used a curves tool for this.
    3. I added a bit of contrast.
    4. I sharped the result. I used a high-pass filter because I didn't want to sharpen anything but the large edges.

    It's a quick-and-dirty edit. For example, if I were going to take more time, I would do something in the process to avoid brightening the foreground. However, I think it is enough to show that you can squeeze a lot more out of these images.
    Thank you Dan.

    I agree the wasp in No 3 can be brightened up a bit and to do this I simply use curves in ACR and raise the 'lights'. As for the darker background on your edit, whilst I have no problems at times having a plain black background on this occasion I had consciously kept some colour in it.

    The problem I have with No 3 is that whilst I love the pose I missed AF on the eye and that 'bugs' me so I lose it bit of enthusiasm in the PP

    Something else that's bugging me is the colour of the wasps and when I import them to ACR there's a big difference between what camera colour profile I use so I'll take a WB card out there today and see what transpires.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Australia (East Coast)
    Posts
    4,524
    Real Name
    Greg

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Nice work, Grahame. I think the coloured backgrounds in the first 3 images work better than black. I find the blues and greens are more complementary than the black. Good luck with the reshoot.

  7. #7
    Stagecoach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Suva, Fiji
    Posts
    7,076
    Real Name
    Grahame

    Re: Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp - Getting even closer

    Quote Originally Posted by FootLoose View Post
    Nice work, Grahame. I think the coloured backgrounds in the first 3 images work better than black. I find the blues and greens are more complementary than the black.
    Thank you Greg.

    Quote Originally Posted by FootLoose View Post
    Good luck with the reshoot.
    I did have some very good luck Greg on my following attempt, firstly solved the 'colour' problem and secondly never got stung as I fell forward when the fence I was leaning heavily against to get up close gave way

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •