The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Large milkweed bugs are adorned with warning coloration to keep learned predators at bay. One of the more colorful insects found on common milkweed found from late summer through fall. Why not stack? Well breezy conditions and these bugs move constantly prevents success with multiple images for stacking. For my macro work, exposures are done with mostly natural light with softened diffused flash for subtle shadows and highlights. I discovered that the Z9’s TTL settings of -1.3ev produce the best supplemental lighting over manual focus settings.
Specific Feedback
I left the debris that is protruding over one of the mesothoracic femora. Would you have edited it out? How do you feel about the comp and lighting?
Technical Details
Z9 105mm f2.8 Micro (1/200 sec at f22, ISO 1250) Levels, DeNoise, Crop for Comp, Shadows & Highlights, Brightness & Contrast, Microcontrast enhancement.
Critique Template
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Stacking on moving bugs would be a real trick, Jim, so stopping down is a good alternative and you got the focus right where it needs to be. I don’t see any need to clean it up further. A fine job on this one.
He is definitely marked in loud colors to warn any predator that he is not to be messed with, Jim. Nice sharpness on him, especially the eyes. Well done.
I love it! Especially because I chased one around a milkweed pod earlier this year - around and around and around. I never did get even a cell phone shot of it. Apparently it wasn’t confident in that protective coloration and preferred to hide.
I don’t mind the debris - these guys lead messy lives sometimes.
Jim: We have a lot of milkweed and usually in the spring we have a fair number of these guys that can be a real tease. I like all of your decisions on this capture. I’m still at heart a single capture guy so anytime I see such a well executed shot I get a warm fuzzy feeling . Well done. >=))>
Jim, I find the quality outstanding. You can see every speck of dust. Thank you also for your insight into your working method. I also find stacking difficult with some insects.
. Well done. >=))>