The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
Marmalade hoverfly. Trying to capture a bit of a story. Not sure about crop (rather heavily cropped already).
Loved the colours and the way the ?probosis of the fly is just touching the stamen?
Feedback Requested
Want the image to convey something special/unusual rather than just a good macro with a bit of Wow detail factor. I’m trying to build a series that is as much about the colours in nature as much as the wonderful detail macro lenses can provide nowadays.
Might revisit some of the salons but have been a bit disappointed in the past as their selection criteria do tend to select a lot of similar images and I want mine to be a bit different.
Huw: This is a great look at this little guy. Focus on the eye is perfect and those tiny bits of pollen being sharp brings our eye right to the POF. I’m one who still appreciates shallow DOF single capture images and this is a good one. Very nicely done. >=))>
Oh wow, I really like this, Huw! Those eyes are really sharp. These little guys are so tiny so for you to get in that close face on with a 100 mm lens is truly amazing. Glad he stayed put for you and you were able to get this shot. I like the composition as well. I also am a fan of single shots (I haven’t even started doing stacking yet). Nicely done!
Thanks @Bill_Fach and @Shirley_Freeman, I have photo-stacked in the past but with fast moving critters it’s difficult. I have a Godox 860iii now so SHOULD be able to get a fast stack of 10 or so images hand held - but so far I am at the very bottom of a steep learning curve!
Excellent job nailing the focus, Huw. I really like the colors in this and I think it fits well with your idea of focusing on colors in nature. The problem I’ve had with the built-in focus stacking is that I often have to use manual focus to get the proper initial starting point for the stack, then switch back to AF for the stack itself. By that time, the critter’s gone.
