The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
While finishing with dinner on our deck, I noticed a large black blob on our brick wall near our kitchen window. I got up to investigate and discovered that a large daring jumping spider captured a bigger leaf footed bug for dinner. Jenny suggested that I get my macro rig out to get some pictures of the event. I tried various angles, camera and flash settings before deciding to mount everything on a tripod. After 100’s of shots, she decided that she had enough of being a subject in a nature documentary and moved to a more secure location.
Feedback Requested
I’d love to have the spider and prey on a better perch, but decided not to try to move her. How do you like this comp? I also removed a small band of gray mortar at the top and some white spots on the surface of the brick, which I thought were distracting elements. Also, do you think that this image needs a little more punch? I feel the overall colors seem flat. Thank you for looking,
Technical Details
Camera: NIKON Z 9
Lens: 200mm f/4D
Focal length: 200mm
Shutter speed: 1/2s
Aperture: f/29
ISO: 320
Tripod, Flash with big Diffuser set at 0.0ev
Jim, the subject matter (spider and prey) look great, with the eyes of the spider and the antennae of the bug standing out well. Without your description of where they were, I probably wouldn’t have recognized the substrate as brick. I do wonder about a bit more space on the right and bottom, but don’t know what is there.
Jim, this is quite a catch for both of you. I agree with @Mark_Seaver about the eyes and antennae. Love the orange tips on the antennae. I would have never guessed that was brick either. Yes, maybe a bit more room on the right too if you have it.
You could do a few things to improve the punch - a mask targeting mid-tones and add some contrast there. Dehaze might do it, especially on the back of the prey. If you don’t want it on the spider, you could mask her out, leaving her a bit lighter than everything else. Could be tricky getting the tips of the antennae isolated, but making them stand out more could be a nice touch. Glad she gave you some time before getting fed up. It’s a terrific catch and I love her green jaws.
Jim: That’s a pretty terrific capture of the behavior and I’m pretty much OK with it as is. The brick is fine and I like the comp. The spider eyes and mouth parts are so well rendered. Great opportunity, great result. >=))>
Thank you @Mark_Seaver , @Shirley_Freeman , @Kris_Smith , and @Bill_Fach for your critiques and comments. This was one of the largest jumping spiders I have seen in Michigan. While on an insect collecting trip in Texas, I ran into an even larger one and wish that I had my macro gear as it was a view full of bright green chelicerae and spider eyes.
