Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
The macro world is perfect for abstracts as it is composed of things that are mostly invisible without the help of camera lenses. What is your reaction to this one?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
A tiny spider, Songaraneus ejusmodi, weaves webs that produce other-worldly effects when viewed and caught in the right light at the right time of day. Here the web strands and the spider itself were underexposed and mostly out of focus. Post-processing accentuates the shapes and colors.
Technical Details
D500 + 105macro + Raynox250 1/2500 f3.2 ISO 160
Adjusted tones with Auto, Whites, Blacks and Vibrance in LR. Cropped. In PS adjusted Highlights and Shadows and some sharpening with Noiseware.
Specific Feedback
All suggestions welcome.
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:
The picture caught my eye while I was looking for birds. I have made a few attempts at cobwebs as well, but never with such a striking image as a result. I recently read a review where the photographer used artificial light. Since NPN nicely blurs your info, let me ask you if you did the same? If not, I am even more interested in your story and tech details. Your composition is spot on and the range of colours you got in the blurred threads is impressive. Nice job. Looking forward to more.
Thank you for your reaction @xavier1. I always shoot the spiders in natural light, without flash, juggling with the focus in manual. The sun is at an acute angle in the background, about 2 hours after rising, shedding the right light to produce this effect. This tiny species weaves horizontal webs low in the tree, and then sits on top and in the middle, so it’s ideal for these shots. (Please click on the blurred text for further tech details).
Mike, it really is about the light, which is the most important factor. You worked it at the optimum time to bring out the reflective colors, then moving to out of focus created an other-worldly effect. Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t have time to check this one out until now and I can only exclaim about how extraordinary these web shots are! I think this might be my favorite so far – congratulations on the EP!
