Desert Flower Life

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

20240422-Bees-flowers-5437-.jpg
20240422-Bees-flowers-5437-.jpg2000×1600 342 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

These flowers are in the backyard which helps because these small bees are very fast. Not sure it they are bees.

Specific Feedback

Hash light is always a problem. This was around 2:30 in the day under high clouds. Suggestions welcome. Is the plant on the upper right corner a distraction

Technical Details

r6m2, rf100-500 363mm 1/1000 f/25. HH

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2

Looks like a bee to me, Dean, but I’m not an expert. I do understand how quick these little guys can be. Recently I was also trying to photograph bees on cactus flowers, not very successfully! The detail in the bee, along with the lighting, looks great to me. The lighting does not feel too strong for that time of day. As for the plant in the URC, I didn’t focus on it initially, however, if it is bothersome to you as the artist, you can always crop a bit losing the URC distraction, or do some dodging to mute the corner or even cloning could work. Lots of choices to play with. Still a great capture!

3

Dean, you are right, harsh light is always a problem, but in this image whatever you did seems to have helped it. The flower and the bee seem to be aglow. Nice details in both of them. As for the URC, now I wonder if you just use a bit of vignette to darken the corners just a touch, if that might help. Just a thought. It really isn’t that much of a distraction. I think where it is so close to the corner may be what makes it feel like it would be better if it wasn’t there. It must be nice having something like this right in your back yard!

4

Beautiful selective focus on this, Dean. The line of buds leading to the flower with the bee in it is just great. The upper right corner doesn’t bother me at all, though I do see a couple of small orangish blobs right along the top of the frame that you might think about removing. The light certainly doesn’t look harsh in this, but to my eye, the image has a slightly muted feel, like it could use a bit more pop-maybe a boost to the midtone contrast?

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5

Nice image of the bee and the cactus buds and flower Dean. I really like all those little spiny/fuzzy tufts on the cactus pads. Nice detail in the bee, the flower and the buds where it needs to be. The URC did draw my attention a bit, so I think @Shirley_Freeman’s idea of selectively darkening it would help. I also agree with @Dennis_Plank that this could use just a touch of a boost in contrast.

6

Nice image, Dean. I’d give another vote for a boost in contrast, maybe selectively on the flower and bee only. If you use Lightroom, this would be easy with the Selective Adjustment tool, or even a Radial Mask.

7

Dean: Terrific comp with the buds leading to the flower and the bee is a nice bonus. The vignette idea sounds best to me to deal with that URC but it’s really not much of a factor IMO. Well done. >=))>