The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
While hunting for interesting critters to photograph, I noticed what looked like one of our yellowjacket species perched on a leaf. Initially, I did not want to take the shot, but ended up taking one photo. While looking at the photo, I realized that this was a darn good mimic of a yellowjacket wasp. So I took a few more shots before it flew off in search of nectar. The darkened forelegs are held out like wasp antennae which further enhances the wasp like appearance of this hover fly.
Specific Feedback
There was a few sticks, leaves, and other distracting elements on the RH side, which I blurred with a Gaussian blur filter and masking layer. I’m not very good at this type of edit and if anyone can give me some pointers on cleaning up the shadow on the leaf’s edge. I may have to do some additional selection work to blend everything together.
Technical Details
Z9 105mm f2.8 Micro + 1.4x TC (1/160 sec at f22, ISO 1600+ -1.3ev Fill) Levels, Masking tool and Gaussian blur for RH side of the image.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
Jim, having had more than one “run in” with Yellowjackets, I fully understand your initial reluctance to get in close and photograph. My “old fashioned” approach to adjusting the leaf shadow would be to extend the darker area using a 30% clone brush. The details in the head and back are excellent.
Great angle and capture, Jim. If it is easy enough, removing the white just below one of the legs. I have been attacked by these before. Awesome color and details.
Jim, this guy had me fooled too. I never would have guessed a hoverfly. His markings really make him look like one that you wouldn’t want to mess with. I’m not the best one for editing photos like some on here so I will let them give you ideas. It looks fine to me. I agree with @Dean_Salman about the white spot as I think you could just clone it out fairly easy.
This is an amazingly good imitation of a yellowjacket, Jim. I’ll bet not much messes with it. Nicely seen and very well photographed. The white spot didn’t bother me, but it would certainly be easy to clean up.
Here’s what I did: Grab the Quick Selection tool and make its brush fairly large – about the size of one of the eyes – and swipe around the BG until it is selected. If the selection goes too far, hold Opt/Alt and deselect parts.
The leaf edge will be a hard line. Soften with Select > Modify > Feather. 5 px worked well.
Hit the Q key to go to Quick Mask mode and see what you painted. If you have the QM default set, the masked areas will be red.
If you didn’t get the protruding leg, grab the Brush tool, set it to “black”, 100% and make the brush small and paint over the leg. Also touch up the leaf edge as needed. It’s better to have the masked areas reach a little outside the leaf because the changes to the BG will be minor and not noticeable.
Q to go back to the selection and clone away at the remaining areas in the BG. I used a 30% opacity brush to retain some of the subtle detail.
Cmd-D to deselect.
While I was at it, I removed the white spot and extended the leg that looked cut off at the leaf edge.
