The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I try to maximize DOF and sharpness on my insect macros. This is a very large grasshopper that was perched on a willow branch down by the Duck Pond. I took many photos of her and liked this one the best. The RH side was very busy with OOF branches and light willow leaves so I fuzzed them out with the Gaussian blur filter coupled with a layers mask. The details present are very nice and she made a very nice bug portrait.
Specific Feedback
How do you like this comp? I left the leaves at the bottom RH side for foundation. I may want to darken them slightly.
Technical Details
Z9 105mm f2.8 Micro (1/200 sec at f18, ISO 2500, fill at -1.3ev) Levels, gaussian blur with layer mask for fuzzing out distracting elements on rh side, rubber stamp tool for dust bunny hunting, crop for comp, DeNoise.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
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Technical:
Very nice details in this grasshopper, Jim, from stem to stern. I’m good with the leaves at the bottom. Maybe if I saw them darker I would pick that version, but right now it doesn’t seem to be an issue for me. Nicely done.
Very nice, with the willow showing a good camouflage environment without being distracting. Excellent detail on the grasshopper. The BG cleanup is excellent. A sslight darkening of the leaves in the LR could be good, and also the brightest one at the top edge. I want to keep my eye on that grasshopper!
I haven’t seen a big one since I was a little kid, in the midwest. There only seem to be very small ones out here on the Left Coast. But then, I was a lot smaller then, so maybe there is some relativity involved.
Sweet image of this grasshopper, Jim. As you noted, the detail is wonderful. I do like the composition, including the clump of leaves in the lower right. However, that clump does pull my eye just a bit, so darkening them might be a sound idea.
Jim: Terrific capture of this guy. We have some like this around our house but I haven’t caught one that I could shoot. My only suggestion for the comp is a tighter crop from the top and right. I do think the leaves in the RLC are a net plus that might benefit slightly from some darkening. Nice find and a fine shot. >=))>
I like Bill’s crop as it really zeroes in on the subject, while keeping much of the habitat. We’re getting many grasshoppers now, and the mature ones seem to enjoy basking at a comfortable (for me) height. I also love their clear-cut structural features, which you’ve caught very well here. Excellent match of colors, too.
Jim, the details in the hopper are outstanding. I also like how it blends in with the perch and the contrast with the brighter green background. The leaves in the LRC make a visual stop across the bottom (a bit darker might be good??). I also like seeing how much munching has gone on on the willow leaves…maybe this one or maybe others over the summer.
