The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I’ve started to release all the caterpillar Monarchs seen in earlier pics. I have been getting 6 to 8 chrysalis popping open everyday. I don’t have enough tags for all of them, close to sixty. Next year I will order more. I just hope some of them make it all the way. In the first pic the Monarch has her antenna’s pointed forward like she is ready to go. In the second pic, she didn’t want to leave my wife’s finger. Both females.
Specific Feedback
Any and all camera setup and techniques welcome. I think the second pic is to saturated.
Technical Details
I took these with my NEW, … wait for it … CANON R5, Mark II. ,100mm MACRO w/polarized filter. I’ve got a lot to learn, but it sure is nice. I look forward to getting some of that learning from you guys out their.
Critique Template
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Skip, this is a very nice pair of images, with an interesting story.
I took part in a monarch-tagging project here a couple years ago, and learned a lot.
Your pano crop in the first image was a good choice, with the shape of the butterfly echoed by the long right leaf. It’s a little tight in the frame, though, imo. Some of the brighter areas could be burned down a bit.
The second image had some very harsh light that may not be salvageable, but still a nice image
Very nice images, John, particularly the first. As you noted, the second is a bit oversaturated and the red under the finger looks rather odd. However,it’s still a good documentary image and a little playing with the saturation and exposure in post processing should make it better. It doesn’t look like anything is blown.
Since you’re new to mirrorless, three things to make life a whole lot easier are to turn on the overexposure indicator (whatever Canon calls it), set up your viewfinder to display the histogram, and enable focus peaking indication which in manual focus mode is a real blessing.
@SandyR-B , Thanks for the comments. I like the first one too. I did crop it a little. I was wanting to show the tag. I can make it bigger. I’ll try to fix it in PS. I had a hard time trying to get that second pic. I know it needs a lot of help. I’ll take it out if I can.
@Dennis_Plank, Thanks Dennis. I seem to have a bad habit of oversaturation. I try to make a better shot and … I’ll go back and try again on the second one.
Thanks so much for the set-up advice. I’ve been reading a lot about the camera, and I have set up AF and a couple other things. I will look into the things you have suggested, especially the overexposure indicator.
This is looking much better, John. Over saturation is one of those things that every photographer has to watch out for. It’s very easy to get carried away with it.
Great documentary images, and congrats on the new camera! If I can finish wearing out my Mk I, I’ll get one! Focus peaking (as far as I know) only works for M exposure and isn’t very sensitive IMHO. But the AF is deadly – even on my now-old one. Learn to use it! Back Button focus is a wonderful tool.
Saturation on the top image is just right, a bit overdone on the second one and a bit under on the last one. Try reducing just red sat in the raw conversion – with the Color Mixer if you use LR/ACR. Tweak brightness and hue also as needed.
Thanks @Dennis_Plank@SandyR-B@Diane_Miller , It is really easy to get carried away. Practice and Time. Diane I will try reducing just the red. I don’t have LR or ACR.
Diane, I have enough images, from egg to first flight that I should make a documentary. I just might. I need to work on getting some good pic’s first.
I’m excited about the new camera. I will still use my Canon 5D sr, about 10 years old. With this new camera the viewfinder follows my eye direction. It’s a game changer. AF is everything. I will slowly learn. I’ll check out Back Button.
Thanks again everyone!
These are great John, especially the first one. Cool documentation of the conservation effort. I applaud you for taking the plunge with the new camera. I know you won’t be sorry.
I can’t account for everything in the frame, color-wise, but the redo is far too pale to be a proper Monarch. It’s almost as if it was anemic. I literally have hundreds of these flitting about my garden.
@Mark_Seaver , I tried to find out if I will get notified or not but I can’t get an answer, so I think not. I do know that people get paid like $5.00 each to find the ones with a tag. At least I know, I tried and did my part to help.
@Chris_Calohan , Yes the second shot was a mistake to post. Hundreds? … Then maybe you should be helping the cause by tagging them. Do you live on a milkweed farm? Or do you live in Mexico where they migrate ?
I have lots of milkweed along with firebush, zinnia, marigolds, Mexican sunflowers, cosmos, bottlebrush and Spanish needle. Hundreds might have been a bit of an exaggeration but on any given day I see bunches of them, along with the Gulf Fritillaries, Long-tailed Skippers, Sulphurs and others I’ve yet to ID. This is the first year of building a butterfly/bee garden and so far a great success. I have no idea as to how to catch one and put a tag on its wing. Any suggestions?
Congratulations on your new R5 Mk I. I know I have enjoyed the Mk I very much, so I am sure you will enjoy the Mk II. Any time I get new equipment it is a learning curve, but worth it ones you do learn it as you then are able to get the most out of it in the field.
It sounds like you had a bumper crop of Monarch this year. Hopefully they will make it to their destination.
Thank you Shirley. @Shirley_Freeman As a matter of fact, I’ve been reading the manual all morning. There’s a lot to learn. Baby steps slowly.
I’ve had about 60 monarchs this year. I too hope some of them make it. It’s hard to believe that a butterfly that is so small and delicate is able to fly thousands of miles.
,100mm MACRO w/polarized filter. I’ve got a lot to learn, but it sure is nice. I look forward to getting some of that learning from you guys out their.
