Tree top macro

[Luenny]

Hi all,
First time posting in macros section. These are pics from my trip to tree top. C&C welcome.

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4.

[Luenny]

Some more pictures.

5.


6. A bit shallow DOF (unintentional) but I like the effect.


7.

[Luenny]

Oh, by the way, can someone feedback to me if these are too dark? I posted on another forum and I got some feedback that it's too dark but it looks fine to me. I just wanted to know if I should lower my monitor's brightness or not. Thanks.

[Visi0n]

yup, looks a bit dark to me too..

[Luenny]

Thanks for the feedback Vision, will keep that in mind next time I adjust the curves and levels.

Other than this, anybody has any feedback on how to improve on my photography skills? Oh, these shots are not cropped. Should I crop them to make them look nicer? If yes, which one should I crop and how to crop them? Thanks.

[zac08]

Sorry for not making any comments before as I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of shots here, didn't know where to start.

Anyway, some pointers would be to check the exposure of both the camera and the fill flash used. So far, it seems like most of them are dark and slightly under.

As for cropping, each person would have their own idea on how to do it to show off the image to the best. I would suggest you try different aspects, ratios as well as different crops to test if it helps the image stand out more.

Take for example, #4. If you think the inclusion of the seed is a good thing, why not consider removing it and concentrating totally on the insect only. That will give the picture a different punch and contrast.

[falconite]

Luenny Bro... Way cool!!

Hmm.. dunno what to say at well. They are nice and zac did indicate something of good reference. The seed did indeed distract...

What is your regular F-stop for the pics? Maybe a smaller aparture can help???

[DeSwitch]

It does appear a bit dark on my LCD monitor. A bigger sized photo would be better for us to see more details.


#4, that thing on the foreground is the sheded skin (exoskeleton of the insects right? Dont look like a seed to me.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by DeSwitch It does appear a bit dark on my LCD monitor. A bigger sized photo would be better for us to see more details. #4, that thing on the foreground is the sheded skin (exoskeleton of the insects right? Dont look like a seed to me.

Not sure, it looks like one of those wind-blown seeds to me...

[tchuanye]

I too find it a bit dark.

I crop my photos for better composition, as when I take the pics, my main focus is to get the eyes focused! Esp if the insect is on the move. Of course some are opposed to cropping....but to each his own.

For composition, you must decide what you want to show the viewer? The colours? skin? eyes? Draw attention to it, and remove other distractions.
E.g. #4..whats the focus? The leafhopper or the seed? for the last damselfly shot, the white blotch on the leaf distracts, and if possible to be cloned off.

[Luenny]

Originally Posted by zac08 Anyway, some pointers would be to check the exposure of both the camera and the fill flash used. So far, it seems like most of them are dark and slightly under. As for cropping, each person would have their own idea on how to do it to show off the image to the best. I would suggest you try different aspects, ratios as well as different crops to test if it helps the image stand out more. Take for example, #4. If you think the inclusion of the seed is a good thing, why not consider removing it and concentrating totally on the insect only. That will give the picture a different punch and contrast.

Hi Michael,
Will keep the exposure in mind. Actually they are set to be a bit darker because I am shooting at the forest and the environment is a bit dark. That's why I set exposure to be on the minus side and when I PP them, I didn't set them to be too bright. I guess sub-consciously I am still thinking of the environment I took them it. I'll try to remember the next time I shoot and PP. Thanks.

[Luenny]

Originally Posted by falconite Luenny Bro... Way cool!! Hmm.. dunno what to say at well. They are nice and zac did indicate something of good reference. The seed did indeed distract... What is your regular F-stop for the pics? Maybe a smaller aparture can help???

Hi Gerald,
Thanks for the comments. Yeah, that one's distracting, even my wife says so. Oh, I didn't crop any of this photos (maybe I should have crop them before posting huh?)

F-stop? I think somewhere around 11-22? The shot of the grasshopper front was set to somewhere around f5.6 because the previous shot was from the side and I wanted to blur the background. Forgot to set it back before shooting again.

[Luenny]

Originally Posted by DeSwitch It does appear a bit dark on my LCD monitor. A bigger sized photo would be better for us to see more details. #4, that thing on the foreground is the sheded skin (exoskeleton of the insects right? Dont look like a seed to me.

Hi DeSwitch,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, a bit dark. I need to tune it better next time. #4 thing I believe it's a dried flower (if my memory serves me correctly). Yeah, I think it's a bit distracting too now that I look at it again. Oh, by the way, you have some nice photos at your flickr site. Cool!

[Luenny]

Originally Posted by tchuanye I too find it a bit dark. I crop my photos for better composition, as when I take the pics, my main focus is to get the eyes focused! Esp if the insect is on the move. Of course some are opposed to cropping....but to each his own. For composition, you must decide what you want to show the viewer? The colours? skin? eyes? Draw attention to it, and remove other distractions. E.g. #4..whats the focus? The leafhopper or the seed? for the last damselfly shot, the white blotch on the leaf distracts, and if possible to be cloned off.

Hi tchuanye,
Thanks for the comment. As for cropping, yeah, I have not crop those photos. I guess that's why they don't turn out that nice. Hard to get up close with them without them running off. As for the damselfly shot, I really do not know how to clone it off. I try cloning it off once but it doesn't look natural. Ok, maybe I should get some of my graphic designer friends to teach me how to use photoshop properly.

The thing about me shooting is that I remember all this when I'm at my desk typing at the keyboard and staring at the computer. But when I'm out in the field, I got too exicted I forgot what it's all about and started shooting and shooting. And the fact that I try to cover too many subjects at a time also means that I have to constantly rush off to shoot other subjects. I guess it's time I slow down and look at 1 subject at a time and think carefully before I shoot.

Thank you and others again for your advice. Greatly appreciated.

[falconite]

Originally Posted by Luenny Hi tchuanye, Thanks for the comment. As for cropping, yeah, I have not crop those photos. I guess that's why they don't turn out that nice. Hard to get up close with them without them running off. As for the damselfly shot, I really do not know how to clone it off. I try cloning it off once but it doesn't look natural. Ok, maybe I should get some of my graphic designer friends to teach me how to use photoshop properly. The thing about me shooting is that I remember all this when I'm at my desk typing at the keyboard and staring at the computer. But when I'm out in the field, I got too exicted I forgot what it's all about and started shooting and shooting. And the fact that I try to cover too many subjects at a time also means that I have to constantly rush off to shoot other subjects. I guess it's time I slow down and look at 1 subject at a time and think carefully before I shoot. Thank you and others again for your advice. Greatly appreciated.

Bro, we all are...

the urge is always there when the place is thriving with insects.... wahaaa... guess we really have to focus to capture just one right (before moving to another..) Cheers...