The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Meadowhawks show up in late July and are a common feature of the dragonfly diversity in autumn. This one was very cooperative and was able to shade the bright sunlight from the subject to allow the diffused flash to light the subject.
Specific Feedback
BG is a bit too busy for my taste, but dragonfly landing spots are never chosen for the BG. The overall contrast may have increased and made stronger patterns in the BG. How do you feel about this?
Technical Details
Z9 105mm Micro with +2 Diopter (1/320 sec at f22, ISO 1600, fill flash with giant diffuser) Levels, DeNoise, reduction of saturation of green and yellow, Topaz Stabilize for some motion blurring…Jim
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Jim, any harbingers of autumn are most welcome, it’s so hot! Here I’d just clone out a couple of dust spots and that small piece of wing (?) below its abdomen. I’m OK with the BG, as it’s typical df habitat.. Good shot!
Great! Vibrant colours and detail is fine. I’m very ok with the BG, but you could selectively mute the BG yellows to darken the BG a bit if you wanted. The perch is interesting too.
Nice catch!
What a gorgeous DF!! Perfect perch, pose, focus, detail and lighting! I would subdue the BG – the accuracy of the latest subject selections would probably make that easy. A blur or 50% opacity cloning would be fun to try here. I love the effect of inversing the selection and darkening the BG just a bit and letting the masked wings be lighter, but in this case I wouldn’t want to detract from the gorgeous body by darkening the BG.
Jim: I’m at a loss as to what could make this better. Great subject, great perch and a fine BG. Interesting use of the diopter. I had a set at one time but have no clue what happened to them. I’m not familiar with Nikon lenses so did you mean 105mm? Regardless of the lens used this is a superbly crafted image. >=))>
Thank you @Mike_Friel , @Sandy_Richards-Brown , @Diane_Miller , @Dennis_Plank , and @Bill_Fach for your comments and critiques. @Mike_Friel , I managed to miss a few dust spots and I just need to clean the sensor on the Z9. @Bill_Fach , I edited the equipment used and it now reads 105mm. I have a few more shots of this species with some softer BG’s and different poses…Jim
Hi Jim, beautiful composition and lovely shot. You got great detail in the dragonfly’s body but for me the bg is a little distraction. Maybe a focus bracket shot would get more details in the wings and blur the background a little more.
Thank you for the Kudos ( @Diane_Miller and @Sandy_Richards-Brown ) the EP (@NPN_Editor , and @tony1 for the critique. @tony1 , unfortunately there was 10 mph gusts blowing and focus stacking was out of the picture due to lots of movement. When conditions are suitable, yes focus stacking can get sharp subjects with ideal BG’s. …Jim
