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
Who thinks up these names? This one is a cuckoo bee, which lays its eggs in the nests of other bees. I came across it in mid-morning today, resting with the support of its mandibles. It soon flew off.
Feedback Requested
I only managed two acceptable shots, and combined them in Zerene for better sharpness all-round. Is this noticeable?
And would you prefer it if the lower stem were removed?
Amazing detail especially the eyeball
I dont mind the 2nd stem although I suspect the audience will be split on this
You’ve done really well for detail for an in the field shot.
It shows the usual signs of Sharpening - but nothing that offends - and the amount of sharpening is always a difficult balance between too little and too much. I think you did fine.
Beautiful species, and very interesting behavior described regarding the egg-laying (which I didn’t realize bees did). Thank you for sharing.
Like Huw, it also appears to me that you had to do some extra sharpening work. I also think it was a tough exposure, and that perhaps the shadows have been brought up a bit extra to show us detail. You gotta do whatcha gotta do sometimes.
Also, I think you have too much empty space up top. You have a great shape here with the curved branches. Our eye travels up and then down again through the frame. Leaving too much emptiness drags it upward away from the curve.
The lower stem is fine with me, Mike. The combination of the two shots wasn’t noticeable to me, so I think it worked. I’d be tempted to bring down the highlights a bit on the bee and stem. I agree with @Max_Waugh on removing a bit from the top.
