The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
These little gold dust geckos were so colorful climbing around the bromeliad (Aechmea blanchetiana) borders at the Dole Plantation on Oahu last week. There were dozens of them. They actually blended in pretty well except when they were moving around. I took these while sitting on the train waiting for the passengers to load.
Specific Feedback
I know these are very bright, but they are actually very bright in full sunlight. I had to try to reduce the saturation a bit in post processing. I really like the bright green against all of the bright red, orange and golds of the bromeliads. Kind of Christmassy looking, Mele Kalikimaka. Too bright still? Crops? Composition? Thanks.
Technical Details
Canon R6Mii, f7.1, 1/1250s, iso 100, -2 ev, 100-500 lens at 500 mm. Cropped to about 40% of original.
Same specs on second image except iso 800 with no exposure variation (ev).
Critique Template
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I love the composition that Kris has made of your original photo. This way the background doesn’t distract from this beautiful gecko. Is it me or is the eye not entirely in focus? Definitely not too colorful for me, I love it!
Grt, Ingrid.
Thank you @Kris_Smith and @Ingrid_Vekemans. Ingrid, I think you are right. The eye is just a touch soft. The next image in line captures a very sharp clear eye, but the rest of the body focus faded too much. I need to figure out how to do focus stacking.
Hi Ed
Actually, if you have a set of photos of the same gecko but with the focus slightly different on each photo, you could try to merge them. In Lightroom you would select them, go to Photo, then Photo Merge, then Panorama and then let Lightroom do its thing.
Now, there are MUCH better programs for stacking, and someone here is going to tell you which ones , because I never really do it, but I do see the advantage in this case. The eye has to be in focus but it’s a shame you then don’t have that beautiful body paint in focus. Increasing the depth of field would have made the background too disturbing. If you don’t have enough photos for a good stack, then my preference would be the original as posted.
Excellent advice @Ingrid_Vekemans. Thank you. I only have two with this pose and same size. I will see what I can do with the photo merge program I have. Thank you very much.
Welllll… my program didn’t work on the photomerge, but I did run this through Topaz sharpen and just sharpened the area around the eye in the first image. I think it is a bit better than the original post.
Ed, I just love these little guys! Your re-post is much sharper, (nice!) and the colours and pose great.
Geckos love grape jelly, so swipe a couple little packs of the grape jelly from breakfast restaurants, and lay it out. The geckos will come and lap at it like cats.
I hope you guys are having a wonderful time!
, because I never really do it, but I do see the advantage in this case. The eye has to be in focus but it’s a shame you then don’t have that beautiful body paint in focus. Increasing the depth of field would have made the background too disturbing. If you don’t have enough photos for a good stack, then my preference would be the original as posted.