The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Having a look through the macro category got me out the door with my rig, so thanks for that peeps.
Being that it’s not really warm out in the early part of the day this time of year, insects are often pretty chill - literally. I found a bee, an assassin bug nymph, a crab spider and this wasp. They were pretty easy to get up to and I even braved getting in this wasp’s face. And what a face! I didn’t realize how pretty their eyes could be. I also liked the similarity of the colors to the wasp in the foliage (Bloodroot leaves).
Specific Feedback
Nothing in particular since I think it looks fairly good, but any ideas for shooting differently or processing better are always welcome. Decided to use a bit of fill flash to keep my shutter speed reasonable and the ISO low.
Technical Details
Handheld w/TTL shoe flash on +1/3 EV (I think…it was just basically a touch of fill light)
Lr for a biggish crop and masking to improve the presence of the wasp against the background. Used the built in denoise with some sharpening. Dialed down the saturation in the foliage and upped it in the wasp as well as mid tones, saturation and exposure slightly. Tried blurring the bg in Lr, but gave up since I didn’t like the results and I’m too lazy to bring it into Ps.
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Kris, this is a great “in your face” look at this wasp. Early in the morning and on cool days, they do seem reasonably approachable…something not recommended when they’re nice and warm!!! I’ve even had a few who didn’t seem to care about me and my gear getting up close. Around here the Bloodroot leaves are totally gone by early July. You’ve got excellent dof on its face, eyes and that right antennae. I wouldn’t think of trying wasp macro with a 45 mm lens…
Kris, an excellent macro - your flash added zip to those colors and kept down your ISO well. I love the curl on the antennae, and the eye is very attractive. My only suggestion would be to crop some (maybe 20%) from along the top. The BG foliage, while really suitable in color, tends to my eye to overpower the subject a little. Top marks for courage here!
Veeeery nice! Totally enough DOF with great detail and color. Like @Mike_Friel, I find the BG competes a little. A graduated burn from the top would fix that, or a crop. Maybe also crop or tone down the lighter area in the LL corner. It’s pretty but that’s the problem…
You’re in a great location for some seasonal stuff – get with it! I need relief from ambient brown.
Looks pretty good and this is an authentic bald-faced hornet. Newly emerged queens are now looking for places to spend the winter. The flash is nice and subtle and the boundaries of the highlights in the eyes are nice and soft. DOF is ideal as well. Portions of the BG do compete with the subject and you can try Diane’s suggestions if you so desire. I would even try a tighter crop as the wasp is nice and sharp. Get out now before the first frost…Jim
Thanks @Mark_Seaver, @Mike_Friel, @Diane_Miller & @Jim_Zablotny - what’s even more amazing is that prior to a few years ago, I wouldn’t get within 10 feet of such a creature. They literally made me scream and kind of freak out. But one day I decided to get over it and started to get closer to them, let them buzz around me and just stay calm. Nothing happened. I think their ornery reputation is deserved, but might be in defense of nests, which I’m not usually near. Two years ago we discovered an old nest literally on the underside of the handrail of the deck steps. We’d gone up and down dozens of times over the season and never knew. I guess close quarters live and let live can happen.
I put a tighter crop in the OP. I thik it’s better - thanks for the encouragement.
And on another note - the top of this critter is yellow and striped (bah, didn’t get a shot from that angle) so I’m not 100% on the Bald Face ID, although I’m no expert. We have both Baldies and regular Paper wasps around though.
Oh yeah!! The tighter crop works for me – the critter is now 3D – and I backed away from the screen a little bit! If I tried to shoot one of these, I’d go for my 1000 mm macro.
Crop view provided me with more characters. The back of the wasp is brown not black so it is highly likely to be a queen European hornet. The new version is very good and much better than the original post…Jim
Wow, Kris, this is quite a shot. The update is even better. I like that you are shooting slightly upward at him, making him seem even more fierce to me. Love the colors and details are great.
A very nice shot, Kris. I really like the in-your-face look and I like the tighter crop. I do find my eyes still drawn by the brighter yellow in the upper left and lower left corners. Nothing a touch of work with the local adjustment brush in LR wouldn’t handle in about 5 seconds.
Kris: Well I’m really late to this party but the good thing is that I get to see the finished product and all the comments that got you there. I do think the crop is an improvement on an already fine effort and like @Mark_Seaver and @Diane_Miller I applaud you being able to get so close with a 45mm lens although when I first noted your lens choice my first reaction was, “Fools rush in” . Glad you did. Most excellent. >=))>
Thanks again @Jim_Zablotny, @Diane_Miller and also @Shirley_Freeman, @Dennis_Plank & @Bill_Fach - yeah the lens is not long, but I really had zero fear of this beauty. It was cool outside and there was nothing to fear from me or protect from the hornet’s perspective. Wish I’d gotten an above view for better ID aspects, but there it is.
. Glad you did. Most excellent. >=))>