# Awakening **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** plant-life, intimate, weekly-challenge, macro-close-up\ **Created:** [October 5, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480 "2026-10-05T01:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/1 "2026-10-05T01:28:05Z")
![Original - 144A3907-3.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/3/d37565f1eedd4d3ba862c97126cbf631df24abf9.jpeg) ### Weekly Challenge The Space Between 10/4/26 - 10/10/26 **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic / Expressive ### About This Image I crossed the little creek at the bottom of my paddock early in the morning and perched myself ( and telephoto lens) in the middle of a scrubby clearing waiting for the wrens to appear. The air was cool and just dewy enough to slow the insects down. This little butterfly caught my attention. Not bejewelled like some I’ve seen, but nice enough. And, like @Huw_Thomas , just trying to catch a little insect, doing little insect things in the big world. ### Feedback Requested Any and all comments are welcome and appreciated. ### Technical Details Camera: 5D4 Lens: 150-600 Sigma Sport Focal length: 600mm Shutter speed: 1/2500 Aperture: 6.3 ISO: 1000 Tripod Full frame. Shadows and Highlights adjusted in ACR. Insect masked and blacks lifted and a little vibrance added. In PS, Topaz NR. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/2 "2026-10-05T01:39:43Z")
Glenys, a great moment to experience, a sleeping butterfly (I guess) with lovely matching surroundings. The antennae are surely bejewelled. Forgive my 2 suggestions. Clone out the oof reed on the right and change the ratio, perhaps to square, reducing the amount of space on the left. I’d say the first suggestion is much more important, as the negative space on the left is very much a matter of taste. What a super find! ---
**Author:** ![andy5](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/andy5/32/89619_2.png) [@andy5](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/andy5)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/3 "2026-10-05T03:02:57Z")
I really enjoy the glistening dew on the antennae and slightly open wings, the vignetted monochromatic background frames the subject really nicely. I think if you can accomplish a crop to exclude the out of focus reed that would improve it ---
**Author:** ![Ted\_Forman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ted_forman/32/23367_2.png) [@Ted\_Forman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ted_Forman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/4 "2026-10-05T03:46:32Z")
What a lovely quiet little scene you’ve captured here Glenys. And a wise use of negative space on the left side of the frame, which gives on a greater sense of how these small creatures exist in a big world. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/5 "2026-10-05T04:13:28Z")
Oh! Thank you @Ted_Forman ! I was beginning to think my artistic interpretation of “the space between” had been misread. Thank you @Mike_Friel ! I realise there is a lot of negative space. I might have cropped differently but for the WC. I rather liked the OOF reed. Another attempt at artistic, rather than technical. Thank you @andy5 and welcome! NPN is such a great place to be. Images are always wonderful and the contributors more so. I look forward to seeing your posts. Like @Mike_Friel you feel the image could be cropped differently. I’ll have a look at that. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/6 "2026-10-05T07:11:26Z")
Oh yes, I’d forgotten about the WC theme, Glenys. So pls ignore that suggestion!! ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 8:22am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/7 "2026-10-05T08:22:41Z")
Here you go Glenys …with a bit of Ma thrown in? lovely pic, with a bit more space Regards Huw Processing example based on the original image: ![processing example](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/4/b/4bbaff498700fbeed687191de5ec0e1b30725b4b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Horst\_Hellwig](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/horst_hellwig/32/89777_2.png) [@Horst\_Hellwig](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Horst_Hellwig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/8 "2026-10-05T10:35:54Z")
Great shot, @Glenys_Passier ! If @Huw_Thomas wouldn’t have done it already - I’d have suggested exactly that. Small fragile insect in a big but cozy world. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/9 "2026-10-05T14:55:21Z")
Glenys: Oh this is marvelous! Terrific comp with the crossing stem and reed. The only thing that distracts me a tiny bit is the OOF area at the top of the reed, I can’t figure if that is motion blur or something else. I made it disappear for your consideration. The rendering of the seed head and the butterfly is simply brilliant. Most excellent.\>=))\> ![Glenys](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/f/f/ff8de8b26c189bdfd3e2c302bde99e7fdc204da5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/10 "2026-10-05T15:33:47Z")
What beautiful light and tones in this image, Glennie. I missed that this was part of the theme and had to take it into PS to play with my own crop ideas, so for what it’s worth: ![Glenys-144A3907-3 copy](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/5/e/5e5f66d17e4b31f7e121e7924cf88cc57970cfdf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/11 "2026-10-05T17:41:12Z")
Andy’s crop suggestion works. I like the results of your post processing and the artistic quality is ideal. A wonderful shot. Now where are those wrens?..Jim ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/12 "2026-10-05T22:02:03Z")
@Mike_Friel ! No need to ignore your suggestion. It’s always welcomed and most seem to like the image cropped. Thankyou @Huw_Thomas ! Ah, yes. A little structural silence. Love the added space. @Horst_Hellwig , Thank you. @Bill_Fach Thank you for taking the time to play. The OOF grass stem is an unfurling leaf blade. There could be a bit of motion blur there as well. @Dennis_Plank , Thank you for taking the time. It’s really nice to have an image that can throw up more than one crop idea. I like your take on it for sure. Thank you @Jim_Zablotny . The wrens came. I’m sure they will make an appearance here in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/13 "2026-10-07T16:15:10Z")
Glenys, this is a lovely look at this butterfly, where both it’s perch and the BF match beautifully with the background. I think your positioning in the frame is perfect. I would clone out the big stem, to make the view even more dreamy. ---
**Author:** ![Elizabeth\_Thompson](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/elizabeth_thompson/32/82795_2.png) [@Elizabeth\_Thompson](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Elizabeth_Thompson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/14 "2026-10-11T22:43:41Z")
Hi Glenys, It’s fun to see other people’s comments before making my own. First of all, nice work receiving what nature gave you when it wasn’t a wren! This is lovely, and as others have said the glistening antennae (and also the glistening grass head) are beautiful. Several people said to crop the OOF reed, and you explained your choice to leave it. Yes, it is a matter of taste, and yes, I like it too! I do like what Huw did, adding a bit more space. That is a nice effect. Beautiful image! ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/15 "2026-10-11T23:52:55Z")
Thank you @Elizabeth_Thompson ! Aren’t we lucky we don’t all think the same. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/16 "2026-10-12T01:33:12Z")
I’m late again but have to add how much I love this! For me, the OOF stem is just right – it provides a little environment, suitably minimal. And it emphasizes that the tiny butterfly is possibly weighting down its grass stem. And whatever the OOF thing is near its top, it works to add some mystery. I wouldn’t change a thing!! ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/17 "2026-10-12T02:14:32Z")
Thank you @Diane_Miller ! The activity on the site seems to be moving so fast lately. I’ve missed so many. Maybe I’m getting slower. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/awakening/52480/18 "2026-11-03T11:57:22Z")
## Visual Notes [Crop] Counters the center/right-weighted balance of the original Glenys, since nobody has presented a crop alternative close to what I’m seeing, I’ll share this. I love the complementary colors and the clean background you achieved here. I think the minimalism really works well with it all, but I think you need to push the minimalism further by eliminating that vertical stalk completely. It’s mainly just adding a very distracting line and dragging everything to the right… when based on the leaning angle of the perch, this whole scene is set up to direct our eye to the left. The other issue that vertical line creates is that it leaves you with a frame that has stuff going on in the middle and in the right half… and nothing in the left. Nothing wrong with empty space—especially lovely clean tones like this—as long as you have good balance. So I’ve tried to suggest a crop that not only eliminates the distracting shape, but places the point of focus more toward the right third, thus giving the eye some extra room to then wander and explore in that creamy field afterward. Hope this line of thinking makes sense. ![visual notes](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/a/7/a799a68c45f4bdcd00862a0d2c1cc3ea840d3541.jpeg)