On Your Mark

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

On-Your-Mark-23906A7R3XL.jpg
On-Your-Mark-23906A7R3XL.jpg2000×1354 1.17 MB

On-Your-Mark-2-23906A7R3XL.jpg
On-Your-Mark-2-23906A7R3XL.jpg2000×1178 1.19 MB

A little tighter

On-Your-Mark-3-23906A7R3XL.jpg
On-Your-Mark-3-23906A7R3XL.jpg2000×1528 1.7 MB

Tighter still.

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

We have a nice variety of damselflies as well as dragonflies around our garden but I don’t seem to get as many opportunities or they perch on something lame. caught this little guy on my dawn rounds and thought I would show a progressively tighter view. I was impressed with the details in the tight crop which is a testament to the image quality of a modern sensor and the optical quality of a good lens. All comments welcome. >=))>

Specific Feedback

I’m partial to the tightest crop as it shows off the eye and leg detail. Your choice?

Technical Details

Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II, 2xTC @ 400mm
ISO 400, 1/50 @ f11

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2

HI Bill. A very nice shot. My preference would be for a wider shot still if you have it with the complete wing shadow. Those long early morning shadows of the body and wing on the leaf are very appealing to me and seem to reinforce your title. As you noted, the detail is extremely good. It’s tough to get this kind of detail. Are you using the AF system for these?

In any case, all three are excellent.

3

Dennis: If I’m on the tripod, which I was for this shot, and the subject is stationary I use the manual setting and the magnified view in the viewfinder to get precise focus on the eye. As you may have noticed I’m using the 70-200 a lot more than my old standard 200mm macro simply because the manual focus is so much easier to use and gives me better results. I used to hate using extension tubes with a zoom lens but the AF gets me close and then I can refine. :+1: :+1: for technology!

4

Thanks, Bill. Interesting. I have the new 70-200 f/4 “macro” but for precise work I still prefer the old 180 mm because it has more delicate manual focus adjustments (particularly handy for stacking).

5

I wish Sony would come out with a 180-200 macro for the E mount. Using a converter with the A mount Minolta 200 works but there are none of the focus features available. My 200 is over 20 years old with probably close to 75K shots taken with it over the years. It’s a little cranky and stiff, somewhat like its owner.

6

Bill, I missed this one this morning when I was viewing. Wonderful details in this little guy. I see what @Dennis_Plank is saying though about the long shadow. Pretty cool. A nice find and a nice capture, especially manually focused.