The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Friday at the dragonfly pond didn’t yield nearly as many as the previous visit, but I did catch a couple of these guys hovering for a few seconds.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
The SS is hard to read – it was 1/1500 sec. I was on a monopod which is a little clumsy but fits in tight spaces and can be moved easily.
In LR I opened Shadows and increased exposure a little. Into PS for Topaz Denoise (Low Light mode) and to add a subtle (I hope) gradient in the LR to balance the natural one in the UL. The focus was lucky – the tip of the abdomen was soft in most of the frames. (I was in electronic shutter with 20 fps burst mode.) I had decent DOF because it wasn’t close – this is cropped to 17% of the original pixels.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Wow, Diane! I love the blues of the DF and the sky matching so well. These guys aren’t easy to photograph in flight, at least not for me, so hats off to you. Well done!
Diane: I am just green with envy. A good flight shot has eluded me and is on my bucket list. I was at the Mercer Arboretum yesterday and came across a few hovering dragons but the BG was busy and the AF couldn’t lock on the critters. Just a great capture and a testimony to the incredible capabilities of good imaging systems in the hands of an expert. Many kudos!>=))>
Thanks, @Dennis_Plank, @Ed_Williams, @Shirley_Freeman and @Bill_Fach! Trying to shoot these guys does inconvenience a lot of electrons. You can’t even see them unless you are pre-focused pretty close, but if you can keep a blur in the frame, focus is surprisingly good at locking on. Having any detail in the BG reduces the odds tremendously. Back button focus helps, as does eye-AF, which now seems to be pretty trained on bug shapes.
Great fun - although extremely frustrating sometimes - to get these guys in flight.
This is exceptional, with the fine detail, clean BG, and perfect POF.
A little early for the dragon flies and damsels here, but they are high on my list…
Just saw this and can’t pull way…so good ! I’ve never had such a close look at a dragonfly . What a high tech design and polished look you captured. Love the tuck formation details. Gradient to match looks excellent first look I thought why a vignette second look I bet its to match UR , then read your ask. Thanks for the write up advice too and good work with the monopod. It takes a good touch and you’ve got it.
Thanks, @SandyR-B, @Mike_Friel and @Stephen_Stanton! I’m a little late getting back on this one… I suspect it’s now too late here, but I should have another look. Last time out, about a week ago, was a total bust.
with envy. A good flight shot has eluded me and is on my bucket list. I was at the Mercer Arboretum yesterday and came across a few hovering dragons but the BG was busy and the AF couldn’t lock on the critters. Just a great capture and a testimony to the incredible capabilities of good imaging systems in the hands of an expert. Many kudos!>=))>