Photos From Today

Austin Greene · Mar 3, 2012

UPDATE: #2 has been redone and posted lower on the page. I don't know what the hell I was thinking with that first crop!
#3 has been cropped and posted as well. Both are improvements

#1 has now been overhauled in PP to take care of the nasty highlights. What do you think of the progress?

Well I set out this morning to have a great day of taking photos, unfortunately, while it did turn up better towards the end, today turned out not to be too great of a day. Beautiful weather, but hardly any wildlife out! What was out was not too keen on having its photo taken. So here is what I came up with by the end of the day. Any CC is greatly appreciated, I know these need it, I can't help but feel a little let down with them.

1. This was the pinnacle of my desperation today...ladybugs. More of a snapshot IMO, and I'm not a fan of the reflection off its shell or the brightness of the plant's cuticle. What do you think?

IMG_2149-2 by TogaLive, on Flickr

2. A crop. I just couldn't get close enough without it getting spooked and flying off. I tried bumping the SS up to 3200 but I still couldn't freeze those damn wings! I like it better than #1, but I think it might need a wider crop. What are your thoughts?

IMG_2153-2 by TogaLive, on Flickr

3. Probably my favorite of the day, though thats not saying much today. I was as close as I could get with the 55-250 for it to focus, but I do like that beautiful blue of the neck scales. Also, I think the eye didn't come out too bad, though its not like the turtle eye from last week. The DOF is decent IMO, but a bit more might have brought his body into focus. For whatever reason, I didn't mind all the negative space in this one so much as I usually wood.

IMG_2158-2 by TogaLive, on Flickr
What are your thoughts TPF? Again, any CC you have is really appreciated. After last weeks shots I felt like somehow I missed the bus this week, and I'd like to have some things to keep in mind for next time

Thanks!
Toga

PixelRabbit · Mar 3, 2012

Hey Toga

I think you are spot on with your own C&C. Light looks harsh in #1 but I like the composition. #2 def needs more room. As it is the little guy is lost. Since you didn't freeze his wings (but darn close !) I think your second option to accentuate is his size perhaps?
#3 I can't wait to see

PixelRabbit · Mar 3, 2012

Ooooo 3 is nice! I like the DOF and your focus is great. Too much background perhaps? Would live to see a closer crop

mhbethea · Mar 3, 2012

I love 2 maybe a faster speed to freeze the wings. But great shots

Austin Greene · Mar 3, 2012

After some of that great CC, here is where I'm at

I think both are much better

2 EDIT:

IMG_2153-4 by TogaLive, on Flickr

3 Closer Crop:

IMG_2158-4 by TogaLive, on Flickr

What do you think?

PixelRabbit · Mar 3, 2012

Nice! Much better on both

Austin Greene · Mar 3, 2012

Thanks Pixel! I really appreciate the CC, and I'm a much bigger fan of the new crops

cgipson1 · Mar 3, 2012

Hey Austin,

How's this? Did a ladybug for Lightspeed, one time! Not hard to do.. the little guys do get some glare going!

SCraig · Mar 3, 2012

I think the second crops are much better. I don't see that your day was such a loss at all. The lizard is a great shot and the fact that the Humming Bird's wings aren't frozen is what imparts a sense of motion to the shot. I feel it would have been less of a shot if the wings had been frozen.

Austin Greene · Mar 3, 2012

cgipson1 said:
Hey Austin,

How's this? Did a ladybug for Lightspeed, one time! Not hard to do.. the little guys do get some glare going!

YOU SAVED MAH LADYBUG

:hug::

You mind me asking what you did? Just cloned it out?

Austin Greene · Mar 3, 2012

SCraig said:
I think the second crops are much better. I don't see that your day was such a loss at all. The lizard is a great shot and the fact that the Humming Bird's wings aren't frozen is what imparts a sense of motion to the shot. I feel it would have been less of a shot if the wings had been frozen.

Hmm, maybe you right

I had not yet thought about the hummingbird like that, but you make a lot of sense. I guess I was just a bit (more like a lot) focused on getting those wings frozen and was a bit disappointed that I didn't achieve the goal. Thanks for making me look at them in a new way

cgipson1 · Mar 3, 2012

togalive said:
cgipson1 said:

Hey Austin,

How's this? Did a ladybug for Lightspeed, one time! Not hard to do.. the little guys do get some glare going!

Click to expand...

YOU SAVED MAH LADYBUG :hug::

You mind me asking what you did? Just cloned it out?