The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This species (seen recently in Thailand) prefers to land quite high up in the trees. Finally, we were able pull the branch down a little to get close enough for a shot. I really like the patterning and colors of this butterfly. It’s about 2.5 cm from top to bottom.
Specific Feedback
Do any bright patches need more muting?
Technical Details
D500 + 105mm macro + TC 1.4 1/100 f7.1 ISO 2000
Cropped by about 60% - LR treatment of Blacks and Whites and lowering of highlights in the leaf. Denoise, then final tonal touches in PS.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Some parts of the image look waxy as though the noise reduction went way too far. I would go back to the raw file and run the noise reduction with a lower setting to restore some of those details. Also run your noise reduction before cropping which serves to provide more pixels for the algorithm. I like the comp, and the colors of the butterfly are very nice. The pattern on the wings is very interesting and draws the eye to the subject. Well done for a very tough and elusive subject…Jim
Hi Mike. Beautiful shot of this butterfly. I would mute the green patches over the head and for some reason the gray patch in the upper left really draws my eye.
Mike, what a beautiful butterfly. Nice capture of it. Love it’s pose for you. Looks like you have got some good advice. That gray patch @Dennis_Plank mentioned was bothering me as well.
Lovely look at this butterfly!! Good thoughts about NR above. After that, and before cropping so you have more source material, I’d select the wings to protect them and inverse and do a lot of low-opacity cloning on all the bright spots in the upper half.
@Ed_Williams@Dennis_Plank@Diane_Miller@Shirley_Freeman@Balan_Vinod@Jim_Zablotny - Thank you for the good suggestions. This was definitely one of those shots where I just had to get the subject - but later wished I’d caught it much better to save myself a lot of processing! Anyway, I’ve posted a rework above - am still not overjoyed with the result, but the memory of seeing the butterfly overrides all.
I like the rework, Mike. Yes, sometimes just getting a shot off of an unusual or skittish subject is first and foremost. I have to remember then to move around or whatever is required to get a better shot. I find I am too caught up in the moment sometimes.
SO much better!! I would soften the dark to light transition left of the butterfly a bit more. So nice to get a good shot of an elusive subject and be able to fix a problematic BG!
Mike: The repost does look good but I’ll be a bit contrary because I actually prefer the original BG less the gray area. I would be tempted to try to somewhat duplicate the green bokeh in that area. The capture of the butterfly itself is excellent. >=))>
