The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was at the Botanical Gardens Monday with a couple of photographer friends. It was so good to be back out shooting macro. We had a nice “cool” day compared to lately and what we are about to have again, so we took advantage of it. I didn’t realize the Robber fly had a bee in his grasp when I clicked off the shot, but when I viewed it on the back of my camera I realized it.
Specific Feedback
I cropped this vertical from a horizonal shot. Does the composition work? Any improvements you might be able to suggest would be nice. Thank you for viewing and commenting. I appreciate your time.
Technical Details
Canon R5, manual controls except auto ISO. Canon 70-200 mm f2.8 at f7.1 and ISO 250, HH. Minor adjustments in LR and the crop.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Excellent, Shirley. The composition works nicely for me. All the flowers coming off the right side of the stem make the lean to the right work very well. There’s a relatively bright out of focus stem just to the right and parallel to the lower part of the stem that draws my eye a bit. You might consider blending it in a bit.
It almost looks to me like there are bits of a third insect sticking out from behind the flower, though it might be parts of the bee.
Excellent shot of this robber fly with a hymenopterous snack. The crop works fine, but am wondering whether you could crop even more to get the robber fly bigger in the frame? A nice natural history shot and the spent salvia blooms add to the comp…Jim
Really nice ! I like it as is - fine detail, colours, and subject - but I also wonder if a tighter crop might showcase the 'fly even more.
There does seem to be a remnant of something to the right of the bee that might be cloned out.
Fine image!
So glad you’re getting out with the camera even though you’re probably still having a tough go without Ken. Composition nailed with this one! Sad to see a little bee victim, but nature is unsentimental for sure. Crispy details and great angle. Some judicial cloning and/or cropping could strengthen this image even further. Quite interesting and dramatic.
Shirley, this is an excellent catch that tells an important nature story. The details in both the fly and it’s prey look very good. I think your framing/crop looks good also. Definitely good to see you shooting and posting.
Super detail on this freaky-looking fly and his meal. The shapes of the flowers somehow work so well with the fly – nature’s camouflage? If you have the patience, this is one where it might work well to select the very sharp subject and do some careful 50% opacity cloning on a few areas of the BG.
Shirley: Looks like you haven’t lost your touch. Robbers are pretty fierce and I’m glad they’re no bigger than they are. I like this very much as is and don’t have any suggestions. Really good work and even better having you more fully on board. >=))>
