Wasp up close

Rob Barron · 25-10-2006, 16:57

Considering I have a potentially fatal allergy to wasps, I was fighting the urge to get the heck out of there but I was determined to get the shot I was after and I kept on convincing myself this wasp was more interested in the flower he was searching around than on me. I used a 100mm F2.8 macro lens so I was able to take it without getting so close I would put myself in real danger - I love photography but am not THAT stupid! and I am pleased with the result. And yes, this is one from about 30 taken: you don't get to see the rest

Cheers,
Rob

fionaB · 25-10-2006, 17:38

said it before Rob will say it again.........WOW that is what you call Macro!

Fi

erick · 25-10-2006, 19:00

a good macro

**stepheno** · 25-10-2006, 19:17

Amazing....are they really that colour?

Sparhawk · 25-10-2006, 19:30

Fantastic Photo Rob
Glad you held your nerve long enough to get such a great shot

Regards
Sparhawk

jaimej · 25-10-2006, 19:52

That is a really lovely shot.

Keith Tate · 26-10-2006, 11:04

Great colors and composition,,,, beautiful shot !!!!

**Sonsey** · 26-10-2006, 13:56

Great shot Rob!

The dark bit of the plant at the bottom left is a little distracting but that's just being picky, good colour, detail and bokeh more than make up for it!... TFS

danpen · 27-10-2006, 07:32

Great shot, good colours and composition. I shall be picky too, (really picky) could perhaps have used a tiny bit more DoF to get the end of the antennae totally sharp.

Rob Barron · 27-10-2006, 15:10

Can't agree with you on that one Danpen, remember I was not taking a photo of a statue but of a moving object. When a wasp is working its way along a branch like that, it uses its feelers constantly twitching all the time. Getting a smaller aperture would have meant using a slower shutter speed so the increased DoF would have been countered by more blurring from the moving feelers.

No matter how much we aim for perfection, we must always accept that every picture has limitations and I personally feel what you have suggested is a nice 'ideal' but impossible in practice. Had the light been strong enough to reduce the aperture and slow the shutter down but still high enough to 'freeze' all movement then that would be different but I am not convinced that this picture would even benefit from such pin sharpness. The slight softness shows this is a living, breathing and moving piece of wildlife.

What do others think on this point? I am not arguing the feelers are pin sharp, just that I don't feel they should necessarily be so in every case.

Cheers,
Rob

Sparhawk · 27-10-2006, 15:40

I must agree with you Rob
Even as a newcomer to this I belive that something wild and alive in its own enviroment looks {to me} far better with {what some have concluded} less than perfect shot. In this situation the wasp is alive not an insect on a display board

I know I do not have either the expertise or knowledge that most of you have on here but I do have an opinion and I for one cannot see any problem with this photo
Regards
Sparhawk

skipper954 · 27-10-2006, 15:51

I agree. When in the field, we do the best we can, and I love the moving breathing piece of wildlife (as long as it is on the 'puter).

HOWEVER: do you thing the image would get more power if the head were in the third?

skip

Rob Barron · 27-10-2006, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipper954

I agree. When in the field, we do the best we can, and I love the moving breathing piece of wildlife (as long as it is on the 'puter).

HOWEVER: do you thing the image would get more power if the head were in the third?

skip

That is a fair point Skip and it was something I did consider but because the wasp is moving to the right of the picture, I believe in giving space for the subject to move into. If I cropped it a touch it might be ok but if I went as far as a third, I think it would start to feel like it was walking out of the picture so to speak.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

skipper954 · 27-10-2006, 22:55

You explained your rationale. It makes sense.

Fair enough.

StevieB · 28-10-2006, 18:01

Fantastic shot espically under the conditions

25-10-2006, 16:57	#1 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,115	Wasp up close Considering I have a potentially fatal allergy to wasps, I was fighting the urge to get the heck out of there but I was determined to get the shot I was after and I kept on convincing myself this wasp was more interested in the flower he was searching around than on me. I used a 100mm F2.8 macro lens so I was able to take it without getting so close I would put myself in real danger - I love photography but am not THAT stupid! and I am pleased with the result. And yes, this is one from about 30 taken: you don't get to see the rest Cheers, Rob __________________ Rob Barron robbarron@aol.com If you look down on other people, don't expect them to look up to you!

25-10-2006, 17:38	#2 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,318	Re: Wasp up close said it before Rob will say it again.........WOW that is what you call Macro! Fi

25-10-2006, 19:00	#3 (permalink)
erick Getting Comfy Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: france Posts: 156	Re: Wasp up close a good macro

25-10-2006, 19:17	#4 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,422	Re: Wasp up close Amazing....are they really that colour?

25-10-2006, 19:30	#5 (permalink)
Sparhawk Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 300	Re: Wasp up close Fantastic Photo Rob Glad you held your nerve long enough to get such a great shot Regards Sparhawk

25-10-2006, 19:52	#6 (permalink)
jaimej Getting Comfy Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 140	Re: Wasp up close That is a really lovely shot.

26-10-2006, 11:04	#7 (permalink)
Keith Tate Quite Chatty Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East TN. Posts: 83	Re: Wasp up close Great colors and composition,,,, beautiful shot !!!!

26-10-2006, 13:56	#8 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,209	Re: Wasp up close Great shot Rob! The dark bit of the plant at the bottom left is a little distracting but that's just being picky, good colour, detail and bokeh more than make up for it!... TFS

27-10-2006, 07:32	#9 (permalink)
danpen Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 875	Re: Wasp up close Great shot, good colours and composition. I shall be picky too, (really picky) could perhaps have used a tiny bit more DoF to get the end of the antennae totally sharp.

27-10-2006, 15:10	#10 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,115	Re: Wasp up close Can't agree with you on that one Danpen, remember I was not taking a photo of a statue but of a moving object. When a wasp is working its way along a branch like that, it uses its feelers constantly twitching all the time. Getting a smaller aperture would have meant using a slower shutter speed so the increased DoF would have been countered by more blurring from the moving feelers. No matter how much we aim for perfection, we must always accept that every picture has limitations and I personally feel what you have suggested is a nice 'ideal' but impossible in practice. Had the light been strong enough to reduce the aperture and slow the shutter down but still high enough to 'freeze' all movement then that would be different but I am not convinced that this picture would even benefit from such pin sharpness. The slight softness shows this is a living, breathing and moving piece of wildlife. What do others think on this point? I am not arguing the feelers are pin sharp, just that I don't feel they should necessarily be so in every case. Cheers, Rob

27-10-2006, 15:40	#11 (permalink)
Sparhawk Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 300	Re: Wasp up close I must agree with you Rob Even as a newcomer to this I belive that something wild and alive in its own enviroment looks {to me} far better with {what some have concluded} less than perfect shot. In this situation the wasp is alive not an insect on a display board I know I do not have either the expertise or knowledge that most of you have on here but I do have an opinion and I for one cannot see any problem with this photo Regards Sparhawk

27-10-2006, 15:51	#12 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Wasp up close I agree. When in the field, we do the best we can, and I love the moving breathing piece of wildlife (as long as it is on the 'puter). HOWEVER: do you thing the image would get more power if the head were in the third? skip

27-10-2006, 22:55	#14 (permalink)
skipper954 Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southeast Florida USA Posts: 1,721	Re: Wasp up close You explained your rationale. It makes sense. Fair enough.

28-10-2006, 18:01	#15 (permalink)
StevieB Getting Comfy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lurgan, Northern Ireland Posts: 211	Re: Wasp up close Fantastic shot espically under the conditions