Locust

Les Meehan · 03-02-2007, 14:03

Close-up for comment.

sweet_sac · 03-02-2007, 16:26

What an interesting creature!

That's pretty stunning.

Rob Barron · 03-02-2007, 17:11

Excellent shot of the locust, needs a slightly more convincing background as the lighting isn't right. Put into a slightly more interesting background of grasses or something it could be a winner.

Cheers,
Rob

Les Meehan · 03-02-2007, 17:55

What do you mean "the lighting isn't right"?

What's wrong with simplifying and emphasizing the subject by shooting upwards?

Charlotte · 03-02-2007, 18:52

Good shot, Les

I think it needs the plain + uncluttered BG so that no attention is taken away from the subject, as it has such intricate details. I have to agree with Rob on the effect of the sky tho' - I can see pink bits in the clouds (which could do with being slightly sharper) + the blue of the sky seems a tad off-colour for a realistic sky - does the whole image have a slight cyan cast? The clouds are not quite white. Because there is such a lot of sky in the frame, these colour issues are a bit distracting. The locust itself looks good with excellent detail, except I can't distinguish its eyes clearly (which should be the main focal point of the beast) but that could just be me.

mouldy101 · 03-02-2007, 19:55

Les,

I love the shot of the locust the detail, exposure and composition is superb. I can see what Charlotte means about the eyes, although I dont see that as too much of a big deal as there is so much other detail to look at on the critter.

My only point would be what seems like the disparity between the exposure between the foreground ans the background. Now I'm only new to this, and am probably speaking out of a hole in my head. But the background does seem to be too bright for the foreground. I can't put any more detail on it than that, I'd be interested to know what sort of post processing has been used.

Hope that makes kind of sense!!!

Matt

**Dabhand16** · 03-02-2007, 20:07

I know what you mean, Mouldy - when I saw the image for the first time, I wondered if the locust and twig had been added to the sky. There is just something that does not seem right. I am not a macro photographer, but would a macro shot give the sort of cloud effects that we see here?

Put us out of our misery, Les. Is it a straight shot?

namllihs · 03-02-2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

Put us out of our misery, Les. Is it a straight shot?

Does it matter?

**Dabhand16** · 03-02-2007, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by namllihs

Does it matter?

No, just curious. If I'm getting the impression that there is possibly a degree of manipulation, maybe two shots combined and if there isn't, I can blame my colour blindness and make appropriate allowences in future. Is is only by asking that I can tell.

The clouds not seeming right is also something that I can only find out about by asking.

Rob Barron · 03-02-2007, 20:27

Absolutely nothing wrong with 'simplifying the subject and pointing upwards' at all. But are you saying then that this is 'as is' and not a replacement sky added to the original shot? I know you do that quite a lot and it is NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER but if you achieved this shot in camera then I would LOVE to know the settings you used, lens, aperture, etc! The insect on the twig seems too sharply cut out for this to be entirely natural and the lighting is nigh on impossible. You didn't use a flash (the lower half of the twig would be brighter) so the sky seems much too bright for the lighting to be natural, even using a reflector.

I LIKE the picture, that is not the issue. I am simply asking about the technical aspects of it and how you achieved it.

Cheers,
Rob

silver · 03-02-2007, 20:35

sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,.

I like the image,. the sharpening halos I would ditch but the lighting and background v cool

Sil

sweet_sac · 03-02-2007, 21:16

Hmmm I do understand where Rob is coming from now that I've looked at it a bit, but overall I love it.

Which lens?! :P

fionaB · 03-02-2007, 23:28

as others have said it does look slightly......unreal? not sure if that is the word im looking for.......... however it IS a fabulous shot......

Fi

danpen · 04-02-2007, 06:50

Love the crittur, good, sharp. I like the position he's in on the twig etc. Bug photos are my favourite subject and this is great.

Background is somewhat distracting though, yes it's nice and plain but as others have said it doesn't quite look real. This could be cause you've used a "stock" background or because of over processing a straight image, or maybe it there were unusual conditions that day and it did came out like this. Whatever the reason, for me it doesn't quite work.

Cheers

Dan

RichW · 04-02-2007, 10:22

Great shot of the locust, makes me want to go out and buy a true macro lens

Not sure about the background though, doesn't look quite right to me.

03-02-2007, 14:03	#1 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 778	Locust Close-up for comment.

03-02-2007, 16:26	#2 (permalink)
sweet_sac Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Prestwick, Scotland Posts: 218	Re: Locust What an interesting creature! That's pretty stunning.

03-02-2007, 17:11	#3 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Locust Excellent shot of the locust, needs a slightly more convincing background as the lighting isn't right. Put into a slightly more interesting background of grasses or something it could be a winner. Cheers, Rob

03-02-2007, 17:55	#4 (permalink)
Les Meehan Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I conduct workshops in Andalucia, Spain Posts: 778	Re: Locust What do you mean "the lighting isn't right"? What's wrong with simplifying and emphasizing the subject by shooting upwards?

03-02-2007, 18:52	#5 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,795	Re: Locust Good shot, Les I think it needs the plain + uncluttered BG so that no attention is taken away from the subject, as it has such intricate details. I have to agree with Rob on the effect of the sky tho' - I can see pink bits in the clouds (which could do with being slightly sharper) + the blue of the sky seems a tad off-colour for a realistic sky - does the whole image have a slight cyan cast? The clouds are not quite white. Because there is such a lot of sky in the frame, these colour issues are a bit distracting. The locust itself looks good with excellent detail, except I can't distinguish its eyes clearly (which should be the main focal point of the beast) but that could just be me. __________________ Work Smarter, Not Harder

03-02-2007, 19:55	#6 (permalink)
mouldy101 Been here a while Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Banbury, Oxon Posts: 270	Re: Locust Les, I love the shot of the locust the detail, exposure and composition is superb. I can see what Charlotte means about the eyes, although I dont see that as too much of a big deal as there is so much other detail to look at on the critter. My only point would be what seems like the disparity between the exposure between the foreground ans the background. Now I'm only new to this, and am probably speaking out of a hole in my head. But the background does seem to be too bright for the foreground. I can't put any more detail on it than that, I'd be interested to know what sort of post processing has been used. Hope that makes kind of sense!!! Matt

03-02-2007, 20:07	#7 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,979	Re: Locust I know what you mean, Mouldy - when I saw the image for the first time, I wondered if the locust and twig had been added to the sky. There is just something that does not seem right. I am not a macro photographer, but would a macro shot give the sort of cloud effects that we see here? Put us out of our misery, Les. Is it a straight shot?

03-02-2007, 20:27	#10 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,200	Re: Locust Absolutely nothing wrong with 'simplifying the subject and pointing upwards' at all. But are you saying then that this is 'as is' and not a replacement sky added to the original shot? I know you do that quite a lot and it is NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER but if you achieved this shot in camera then I would LOVE to know the settings you used, lens, aperture, etc! The insect on the twig seems too sharply cut out for this to be entirely natural and the lighting is nigh on impossible. You didn't use a flash (the lower half of the twig would be brighter) so the sky seems much too bright for the lighting to be natural, even using a reflector. I LIKE the picture, that is not the issue. I am simply asking about the technical aspects of it and how you achieved it. Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

03-02-2007, 20:35	#11 (permalink)
silver Been here a while Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 321	Re: Locust sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,. I like the image,. the sharpening halos I would ditch but the lighting and background v cool Sil

03-02-2007, 21:16	#12 (permalink)
sweet_sac Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Prestwick, Scotland Posts: 218	Re: Locust Hmmm I do understand where Rob is coming from now that I've looked at it a bit, but overall I love it. Which lens?! :P

03-02-2007, 23:28	#13 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,451	Re: Locust as others have said it does look slightly......unreal? not sure if that is the word im looking for.......... however it IS a fabulous shot...... Fi

04-02-2007, 06:50	#14 (permalink)
danpen Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 875	Re: Locust Love the crittur, good, sharp. I like the position he's in on the twig etc. Bug photos are my favourite subject and this is great. Background is somewhat distracting though, yes it's nice and plain but as others have said it doesn't quite look real. This could be cause you've used a "stock" background or because of over processing a straight image, or maybe it there were unusual conditions that day and it did came out like this. Whatever the reason, for me it doesn't quite work. Cheers Dan

04-02-2007, 10:22	#15 (permalink)
RichW Getting Comfy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent Posts: 170	Re: Locust Great shot of the locust, makes me want to go out and buy a true macro lens Not sure about the background though, doesn't look quite right to me.