# Cellstract **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, abstract, black-and-white, macro-close-up\ **Created:** [August 27, 2026, 6:11am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078 "2026-08-27T06:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 6:11am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/1 "2026-08-27T06:11:24Z")
![2026BEST-08-25-17.11-cropborder](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/8/08edf81b3e7f8fcf5810bc1a8337fe4531044ae8.jpeg) **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 + Technical ### About This Image There were a multitude of crop options here; in the end I went for this. I am in awe of how evolution has led to such design. In this small section alone, you can see cells with 3,4,5,6 and 7 sides. (And, yes, it is what you think it is). ### Feedback Requested I also like this when rotated 90deg to the right. What do you think about the rotation? ### Technical Details Camera: OM-1 Focal length: 60mm Shutter speed: 1/160s Aperture: f/3.5 ISO: 400 16mm extension tube +TC X 2 + 60mm macro lens + Raynox 250 close-up lens (in that order). Godox 126 LED light attached to hotshoe. Equipment and subject in a white box. Stacking in Zerene. In PS, initial cropping, removed bits and pieces of junk, converted to B and W, adjusted tonalities so membranes appeared white. Final cropping and choice of rotation. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 8:54am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/2 "2026-08-27T08:54:42Z")
This is minimalist and lovely Mike Full marks for imagination and implementation > I also like this when rotated 90deg to the right. Me Too, or 90 left It would also work well as a square crop if you can find one you like Very Clever love it! No suggestions Huw ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 11:49am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/3 "2026-08-27T11:49:37Z")
Mike, the magnification and minimalist approach has worked very well here. In addition to all the different numbers of cell sides, I’m wondering about the tiny “prickles” on so many of the diagonals. Dragonflies are notorious scientifically for their ability to maneuver and their wing design plays a major role in that. I like the upward reaching sense in this as presented, other rotations would have their own sense of motion. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/4 "2026-08-27T12:12:06Z")
Emerging from a deep ChatGPT rabbit-hole on your intuition about the “prickles”, I was told that: “researchers suggest that groups of these sensors” (which is what the bristles are) “could tell the nervous system where the airflow is separating from the wing, where little vortices are developing, and potentially even help monitor the development of the leading-edge vortex during each wingbeat”. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/5 "2026-08-27T12:13:26Z")
Thanks Huw - a square crop is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Cameron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ian_cameron/32/583_2.png) [@Ian\_Cameron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ian_Cameron)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/6 "2026-08-27T13:58:47Z")
I love it, really creative and very eyecatching and I very much like the square crop and the pattern of various multi sided wing cells within. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/7 "2026-08-27T14:38:00Z")
Mike: A great concept executed to perfection. I don’t think the crop or orientation matters much here. The random window panes are a feast for exploration. Most excellent. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/8 "2026-08-27T14:55:37Z")
Good one, Mike. You saw the possibilities and took advantage of them. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/9 "2026-08-27T19:33:02Z")
Mike, I like the veins that radiate out from the lower lh corner. The BW treatment is perfect for the image and I I have no nits for you. Awesome…Jim ---
**Author:** ![Marylynne\_Diggs](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/marylynne_diggs/32/87403_2.png) [@Marylynne\_Diggs](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Marylynne_Diggs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/10 "2026-08-27T20:52:18Z")
Fantastic, Mike. As presented, rotated any direction, and square. It’s beautiful. ML ---
**Author:** ![Bonnie\_Lampley](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bonnie_lampley/32/4825_2.png) [@Bonnie\_Lampley](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bonnie_Lampley)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/11 "2026-08-27T21:11:09Z")
Great abstract, Mike. I don’t do insects, so I didn’t recognize it as a dragonfly wing. I love the little spiky things. It’s so interesting what they are - thanks for looking that up! ---
**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:** [August 27, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/12 "2026-08-27T21:21:17Z")
> [@Mike\_Friel](#): > > researchers suggest that groups of these sensors” (which is what the bristles are) “could tell the nervous system where the airflow is separating from the wing, where little vortices are developing, and potentially even help monitor the development of the leading-edge vortex during each wingbeat”. So just like the tell tails we had on the jib and mainsail when we were learning to sail 😮 ---
**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:** [August 28, 2026, 6:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/13 "2026-08-28T06:35:11Z")
Thanks @Huw_Thomas @Ian_Cameron @Marylynne_Diggs @Bill_Fach @Don_Peters @Bonnie_Lampley @Jim_Zablotny@Mark\_Seaver. I also liked the feeling of motion upwards. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/14 "2026-08-28T22:07:06Z")
Way, way late coming to this one, Mike, but it’s a gorgeous abstract and an interesting scientific close-up simultaneously. This is also the sort of thing you’d see in the decor of a very modern building. Kudos on pulling it off so beautifully. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/15 "2026-08-28T22:36:58Z")
Thank you @Dennis_Plank ! ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:14am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/16 "2026-08-30T05:14:04Z")
Mike, What a fantastic image! Great call on the b&w. I love the graphic and geometries… (so many sides!) 🙂 Not being a macro or insect guy… I didn’t recognize this as wings. But no matter, this is excellent. As far as a rotation goes, CC works beautifully for me. I like the heavier lines on the bottom. Of course the lines are dynamic going verticle. Oh, and great idea putting the black stroke around the edges - ties everything together. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2026, 8:46am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/17 "2026-08-30T08:46:21Z")
Thanks @Lon_Overacker - yes, CC is another good choice. I included the black border as I thought some of us prefer the Light or Auto BG options on this site - I’m glad it works for you. I’m wondering if this is more effective as an abstract if it is not immediately recognizable; I think that’s quite likely. Nothing like a bit of mystery! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/18 "2026-08-30T12:39:24Z")
---
**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:** [August 31, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/19 "2026-08-31T00:54:42Z")
Thank you for the EP! ---
**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:** [August 31, 2026, 9:06am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/cellstract/52078/20 "2026-08-31T09:06:57Z")
Congrats on the EP Mike