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
A small river at Ban Krang in Kaeng Krachan NP in Thailand provided nourishment to large groups of butterflies. This was taken in March, 2018. The insects came down at traffic crossing points, so drivers were asked to exercise caution when fording the stream. There must be at least 20 species of puddlers in this group. I wonder is it still like this 8 years later?
Feedback Requested
I tried to capture a sense of chaotic but purposeful activity. And I wanted to show the abundance of butterflies at this place and time of year. Did I succeed?
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON D7100
Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1/80s
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 640
Adjusted tonalities a little in LR and PS. Applied Denoise. No cropping.
I think you succeeded! I like the very neutral ground that highlights the butterflies. the diversity of the species is quite amazing. I might be tempted to do a crop of the bottom to just above that brown leaf(?) left of center and about 20% off the right to get rid of the relatively empty patch of ground in the LRC. Great capture!
Wow Mike, that’s really something. You have certainly shown the abundance of butterflies!
I wonder if there is another version with a slight trimming off the RHS, where there are less butterflies. I would also be tempted to clone in a few extra over the dead leaf on the bottom left.
Just gorgeous. What a memorable experience for you. I love the variety and mix of the types of butterflies. I would concur with the suggestions to remove the two brown leaves and crop out some of the empty ground on the right. Just a really special photo.
I’ve heard of this kind of activity along streams in the tropics, Mike. I hope the abundance is still there, but the way the forest are going I’m not confident. I like the abundance of butterflies and their incredible variety. The only thin that bothers me in the image are a few of the ones that are flapping their wings enough to create motion blur that is bright and tends to pull my eye. There are only two or three that do so, and I’d be tempted to see what the remove tool would do to that space. Well seen and a great addition to this week’s challenge.
Thank you @Scott_Fricke@Dennis_Plank@Shirley_Freeman@Glenys_Passier@Chris_Baird. I’ve trimmed a slice off the right side and the LL leaf has gone. This is now a game of Spot the Difference (or Spot the Duplication!). Dennis, I get your concern about the motion blurs. However, I think I’ll leave them in, as they contribute to the feeling of active chaos (as in a flock of birds too).
Mike: @Dennis_Plank beat me to the punch regarding the motion blurs. It seems in every group shot there’s always someone picking their nose or looking in the wrong direction. With this many butterflies I can see how getting them to be still so you could get a good shot was tough. A little cooperation would go a long way! I did play with the Remove tool on the most egregious offenders and was surprised at how well it masked them. This must have been a spectacular scene to see in person and I really envy you the experience and the image. >=))>
I did play with the Remove tool on the most egregious offenders and was surprised at how well it masked them. This must have been a spectacular scene to see in person and I really envy you the experience and the image. >=))>