The photographer is looking for deeper feedback connected to their intent, creative direction, and specific questions.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
I chose the title as I saw an angel fish when I looked closely.
Why This Image?
I have always been attracted by how the scales on a butterfly’s wings present the illusion of a unified canvas. As one looks closer, the unity proves to be deceptive, but all the more interesting for it.
What I’m Trying to Express or Explore
I like to explore the multitude of abstract images a striking wing can present to the viewer. This one also suggested to me Icarus flying too close to the sun. Am I getting too close to the beauty of the wing and thereby debasing it? Maybe. But I can’t resist it.
Where Feedback Would Help Most
The composition was constrained by the wing pattern itself; ideally I would like more space around the angel.
I’d like to know if anyone was initially unsure about what they were looking at (biologically).
As for the ex-butterfly (Mimathyma schrenckii), I found this solitary wing on the ground, in a spot where insect-eating birds frequently hunt.
Technical Details
Camera: OM-1
Lens: 60mm macro + 2X teleconverter +16mm ext.tube + Raynox 250
Shutter speed: 1/2s
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 400
Lighting: Godox LED light on hot shoe of camera, inside a white box with wing attached to end.
36 shots (differential 1) stacked in Zerene
Tone adjustments in LR, minor Denoise. In PS, Shadows/Highlights and some bits removed with Spot Healing Brush.
If anything I’d like more of it - appreciate crop was governed by what the birds had left!
Expertly and appropriately post processed.
What next?? Moving the idea onwards - some oblique light catching some iridescence perhaps? The light you have used doesn’t really show the 3D nature or overlap - maybe this would introduce some nice shadows
Maybe try UV light ( from adaptalux) emphasising any bioluminescence ? dont know if there is any…
Its a great abstract - hope you don’t mind the suggestions
Mike, your efforts to get in close have paid of well here. While the angelfish pattern is clear, I find the shape, textures and translucency of the scales the most interesting, when looking at the large view. Because of that, I’d be tempted to rotate this so those scales are “standing up”.
Mike: Oh this is fine! As one who tries to get in really close on butterfly wings I knew that was the subject immediately but I would venture the general public and even many photogs would be puzzled. If you rotate it 90° CW it might look more like a rocket. You certainly put in a lot of effort with the capture and processing and were rewarded with a fantastic result. >=))>
Mike, I was one of those who didn’t realize at first look what I was looking at. Pretty neat getting in so close on the subject. Definitely a nice abstract.
I like this one a lot. I’m amazed that there is only a single scale missing from the section of wing photographed. Orange, yellow, and blues is a good color combo that promotes vibrance. I like the transition from to cool to warm portions of the colors in the presentation. No nits and excellent as presented…Jim
An outstanding job of getting in very close and I love the lighting you used in this one, Mike. Given the photographer, and having seen close-ups of this nature, I knew what it was, but the detail and luminosity of the scales is just awesome.
Many thanks @Huw_Thomas@Mark_Seaver@Bill_Fach@Jim_Zablotny@Shirley_Freeman@Dennis_Plank for the kind and useful comments. Huw, suggestions are what it’s all about for me. I hope one day to find a wing of the common enough Tropical Fritillary, and if it’s fresh follow your ideas for catching some iridescence. Interesting thought too about UV light, have never tried it. Also rotations are both good ideas here. Will play around with them. Maybe I should experiment more with making this sort of shot more abstract - blurring perhaps - and not so literal. Just for context, here’s the original hindwing (about 3.5cm):
