Lady Bug, Orchid (two shots)

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Hi everyone, I just took these in the last few days. I found the dead lady bug on the counter, and figured, good time to work some macro. So I did. I found the orchid in my home, and was like, 'hey, let's do this thing.' So I did.

Critique, as always, welcome. In fact, hardcore critique is greatly encouraged, I'm here to share my work and to get better. Thanks.

Fragility:

Orchid:

If you're interested in the equipment or lighting or whatever, lens, camera, whatever, just feel free to ask.

Wyjid · Apr 9, 2008

your flowers are as dead on as usual. stunning. i love the ladybug idea. i just ran over to my bathroom window and picked a couple out of the frame! but i wouldn't mind seeing more dimension on the ladybug, mabey a bit of the curve of its shell.

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Wyjid said:
your flowers are as dead on as usual. stunning. i love the ladybug idea. i just ran over to my bathroom window and picked a couple out of the frame! but i wouldn't mind seeing more dimension on the ladybug, mabey a bit of the curve of its shell.

Here's the thing: the lady bug wasn't just dead, it was mangled. The shell was about flat crushed, so I didn't really feel like showing people a dead lady bug that was, you know, massacred. To be honest, I think I killed it on accident. I feel kind of bad. But, at least its memory is now forever in photo-form, right?

And thank you for the flower comments, I feel like I'm finally starting to find my groove with flower photography. But, there's always more work to be done, always. Thanks again for the comments.

Wyjid · Apr 9, 2008

ha! excellant! that's the most considerate thing that has ever been done for a ladybug to the dead ladybug. (i just hope it was a real one and not one of thoes asian ladybugs that bite, they hurt)

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Wyjid said:
ha! excellant! that's the most considerate thing that has ever been done for a ladybug to the dead ladybug. (i just hope it was a real one and not one of thoes asian ladybugs that bite, they hurt)

Oh, no, it was a nice ladybug (I assume). I figure, "Hey, this ladybug is now not just a ladybug, it's a part of art." I figure that'll make up for me maybe, perhaps, quite possibly, killing it. Haha, right?

Now, I'm just curious, what do people think of the lighting on the orchid shot?

Wyjid · Apr 9, 2008

don't know if you were going for this but i like how the petals on the outside edges of the compositon all seem to be bent back slightly. the shadows on these edges trail off nicely and give a real soft look, without compromising the sharpness of the details in the rest of the picture. if that was the goal, cool, if not, see if you can make it a practice. i'm going to now.

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Wyjid said:
don't know if you were going for this but i like how the petals on the outside edges of the compositon all seem to be bent back slightly. the shadows on these edges trail off nicely and give a real soft look, without compromising the sharpness of the details in the rest of the picture. if that was the goal, cool, if not, see if you can make it a practice. i'm going to now.

Yeah, I mean, I was trying to keep the lighting strong and the flower sharp, without making it too harsh, and I feel like I did okay with that. At the same time, I still think my lighting was too harsh. But, at the same time as I say that, that's how I prefer to light flowers, because everyone is always taking soft pictures of flowers, and I personally try and mix things up a bit.

Myspacepix! · Apr 9, 2008

yeah, what lighting DID you loose?

specs plz!

love the second

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Myspacepix! said:
yeah, what lighting DID you loose?

specs plz!

love the second

For the first shot I used two SB-800s, one from the front (level with the bug), and one from the side (level with the bug). Both were at full-power. And the shot was with my 60mm AF-S Micro Nikkor f/2.8 @ f/22

The second shot, I used two SB-800s, one from below the flower, about pointing at the front most flower, and then one hand-held from the top, about directly above where the first flash was. Both at full-power. Nikon 60mm AF-S Micro Nikkor at f/36.

Myspacepix! · Apr 9, 2008

how much are sb-800's and how come it didnt completely wash out the flower?

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

Myspacepix! said:
how much are sb-800's and how come it didnt completely wash out the flower?

I think SB-800s can be had for about $325 from B&H Photo.

I was shooting at f/36, so much less than full-power wouldn't have been effective, that's the main reason the flowers aren't washed out. I almost shoot exclusively at full-power with my SB-800s.

Myspacepix! · Apr 9, 2008

ok, thanks!

JimmyO · Apr 9, 2008

Great shots as usual. Only nitpick is the shadow on the lower part of the top flower. But i love the colors!

hanyo66 · Apr 9, 2008

The flower shot is awesome

Trenton Romulox · Apr 9, 2008

JimmyO said:
Great shots as usual. Only nitpick is the shadow on the lower part of the top flower. But i love the colors!

Thank you, JimmyO! I was waiting for someone to point that out. I can't believe I let that happen during the shoot. I'm probably gonna have to a reshoot tomorrow now, that shadow is gonna be killin' me.

I'm really glad someone picked up on that shadow, haha.