Squash Flower Dew and Beetle

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

DSC02102 copy 4XNB.jpg
DSC02102 copy 4XNB.jpg2020Ă—1448 392 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

A nice surprise on my early-morning garden skulking. We often have heavy dew in the mornings when the evening fog rolls in here on the southern Oregon coast.
This was a rare use of a monopod for me. It was still very cold, so the beetle did not move a bit.
I pulled up a chair and took about 600 shots of the flower as the dew drops very slowly dripped. I was elated to see the tiny lower drip when I opened the image on the computer.
For perspective, this tiny beetle is about 1/8 inch

Specific Feedback

I debated leaving more room at the top, but there was an irksome weed there that would have been difficult to remove. I think this particular crop showcases the beetle and drip. THoughts and suggestions welcome, as always

Technical Details

Sony A1
90 mm macro
F22
1/125
ISO 8000 (thank you Topaz AI NR)
manual

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

Very cool, Sandy. I love the perceptually huge drops on the upper edge of the blossom and the little bug down below. It makes for a compelling composition.

3

Nice image Sandy. The dewdrops are huge. The details are great with the water droplet, the striped cucumber beetle, even down to the fine hairs and fibers in the blossom.

4

Holy cow!! The crop works fine for me. I was engrossed in the big drops and then I saw the drop on the beetle – WOW! And then the one just dripping – triple points! The colors, texture, BG and beetle are not bad, either… :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

5

Sandy: Cool bug, dew, a dripping drop and marvelous colors. What’s not to like? Fantastic image. :+1: :+1:>=))>

6

A really nice find and capture, Sandy. Dialing up the aperture really helped get the bug and drops in focus. Well done.

7

Shirley - so glad to see you back! But please take the time you need to recuperate and heal. I use F22 often - seems to be the sweet spot for macro with my stuff.
Thanks to you and Bill for the EP!

1 Like
8

@SandyR-B, what a cool image! I love the beetle. One-eighth inch. Amazing. And that dew drop on its back really does “top it off”!

9

I missed this awesome shot. The beetle is a chrysomelid and many are pests on cucurbits. But for now the beetle and dewdrops are the stars of the show. I would have given this one an EP too because it is darn good. Well done and congrats on the EP…Jim