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Green Darner + redo

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 8, 2016228 views6 comments

Common Green Darner, I think. Please correct if I'm wrong. Thanks. :)

10/8/2016 – 9:02:14 AM
Canon EOS 7D EF400mm f/5.6L USM
1/500 sec; f/9; ISO 640
Manual; Spot metering
LR5, PS6, Topaz DeNoise, Topaz Detail

I wanted the dragonfly to show up and have half a chance to be sharp (other than the wings), hence the settings I used.

I could lighten the background a little or a lot, but the more I lighten it the more it interferes with the dragonfly and the less the dragonfly stands out.

What would you advise?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 8, 2016 at 10:30 PM

Fine in flight capture, Barbara. Most impressive, particularly because you captured it head on. You have a lot of wing blur, but the body is nice and sharp for in-flight, so well done. I like your choice of shooting at f9. The DF stands out pretty well from the bg. I would not lighten the bg but you might try selectively dodging/lightening the DF's head and eyes. devil

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 8, 2016 at 11:49 PM

Great job catching this df in flight. The sharpness of the head is great and I like how the blurred wings show some fine colors. Having tried off an on all summer for some df's in flight shots, I know how challenging this is and you've done very well here. I agree with Scott that there's no reason to brighten the background, but that some selective dodging of the head would be a nice touch.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 9, 2016 at 12:13 AM

Thank you, Scott and Mark. I haven't done that much dodging or burning, but is this what you were thinking about, or is it enough or too much?

P.S. Well, now that I've posted the photo, even though they look different side by side in Photoshop they don't look very different here. I guess that means I should do more dodging? I just didn't want to do too much.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 10, 2016 at 12:16 AM

Barbara, the best dodging and burning results are subtle. In this case, the head/face of the df are distinctly easier to see while still being clearly in shadow. While it's challenging to see the changes if you look at the original and then at the repost, by clicking on the first image, you get a lightbox version with an arrow that lets you switch back and forth directly. When doing that, the touch of extra brightness in the face and eyes shows nicely.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 10, 2016 at 9:10 AM

Thank you for that information, Mark! That will help with my redos immensely!

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on October 13, 2016 at 12:19 AM

Great in flight shot Barbara. I too have tried and failed miserably. The head and body are nice and sharp and I do like your retouch on the head.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments