The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The 8-spotted forester moth is a brightly patterned day flying noctuid moth native to the midwestern and eastern parts of North America. I have been waiting years to capture these fast flying little moths that never sit still until yesterday. I went out to the Duck Pond and noticed this one perched on a bract of dogwood flower buds. I shot over a hundred handheld shots and my flash controllers battery ran out of juice. Sprinted back up to the house and reloaded with a fresh battery. The moth never moved and I shot away. Then, I thought that my tripod might be useful so I sprinted back to the house and retrieved the tripod. This shot was in the final minutes and the sun came out and the little moth decided to fly away. Success at last!
Specific Feedback
This moth is between about 1/2 and 3/4’s of an inch in length. This image is close to life-size, but I wanted to leave plenty of space around the subject . How do you like the comp and the results of my post-processing?
Technical Details
Z9 200mm f4 Micro (1/400 sec at f25, ISO 2500+ fill flashs at -.7 and -1.3ev) DeNoise, Levels, Shadows & Highlights, Brightness & Contrast, Full Frame…Jim
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Jim: It’s gratifying to check off a bucket list subject. I love your account of the encounter. Shooting close to home offers some unique opportunities that you were able to take advantage of. Good effort extremely well rewarded. >=))>
Very cool, Jim. I love the composition and your processing looks fine to my eye. Focus is right where it needs to be. Congratulations on finally getting this critter.
Your fill flash is working very well, Jim. Nice details and color of this interesting moth. I don’t think I have ever seen one of theses. So glad you were able to get such a great shot of him after waiting years to capture him.
Wow, this is terrific!! Isn’t it great when a longtime nemesis finally cooperates?
This is exceptional in detail, colours, BG and pose, with the antennae proboscis and legs all visible.
Just a couple small suggestions: That diagonal leaf is awkward, but it DOES balance that space well. Better gone?
I think the bottom leaf edge should be complete, and not cut off. Just a tiny bit more room would do it.
Excellent capture, and perfect fill light.
What an interesting moth. Head like a badger, legs like mops. I love your story too. I’m surprised that f25 didn’t quite get complete focus on the rear end - maybe you got a little bit too close, instead of staying a bit further back and then cropping more. But it’s a super shot!
Woo hoo! Fantastic opportunity and execution. I’ve probably never seen one of these and so it’s a real treat with all that fluffiness and color. The little ones can be exceptionally attractive. Seems like it’s just waiting for those buds to open, but really it was probably temperature. Your work and persistence paid off big time. Congrats.
Thank you @Bill_Fach , @Dennis_Plank , @Shirley_Freeman , @Sandy_Richards-Brown , @Mike_Friel , @Kris_Smith , and @Diane_Miller . It was gratifying capturing this guy as they never sit still. Because of nearby agricultural areas near us, insect diversity is quite low due to all ag chemicals so its good to see some insect diversity still hanging on. @Mike_Friel , the DOF is very small for this lens at close to 1:1 so I went for the head and leading edge of the wing to be at maximum sharpness. The insect is about 6mm in diameter at the apices of the wings so that upper corner of the wings is slightly OOF. You are correct in that I could have been slightly further away, but I did not want to compromise the micro-details of the insect…Jim
