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Pond Skater-Gerris lacustris

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Jeroen Stel on September 4, 2009 at 5:58 AM
Pond Skater-Gerris lacustris
Hi Guys,

When i have little time to go out and photograph as happens too often when being a parent to a one year old i tend to stay close to home and photograph at the nature reserve behind my home. Two days ago i did the same and tried to get some shots of these lovely little critters..

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

Canon Eos 1D Mark 3
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: F 9
Exposure mode: M
Exposure compensation: -2/3
Flash:yes, twin flash + diffusers
Flash exposure compensation: -2
Metering mode: Evaluative
Drive mode: AI Focus
ISO: 200
Lens: Sigma 150mm F2.8
Focal length:195 mm incl. crop factor
AF mode: Auto Focus
Handheld
Levels/Curves/USM/Contrast/Saturation/Noise Ninja/Homemade mix-Sharpening
Bibble Pro/Adobe Photoshop CS 4

_________________
Good things come to those who wait...
Golden rule in Nature & Wildlife Photography

www.jeroenstel.com
http://jeroenstel.blogspot.com/
Posted by Andy Astbury on September 4, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Back on the LSD are we Jeroen :biggrin: :biggrin: :jump: :jump:

Brave image :wavey:
Posted by David Taylor on September 4, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Is that reflection or pollution? :smile: :wink: Whatever it is, a very striking image.

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by Brett Lewis on September 4, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Hi Jeroen,

This doesn't work for me at all..! Firstly the subject appears to be soft or lacking in DOF, can't decide which and maybe both. The BG colour really is quite garish and how did you arrive at it? I think Andy is right, a Very Brave Image indeed..! :biggrin:

Brett :toast: :toast:
Posted by Matt Cole on September 4, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I quite like it. :smile: I assume the backgroud is artificial so is always going to divide opinion. But I've done a few like this myself and quite like a bit of experimentation of this type.

I would also like to see some with more natural backgrounds. Did you take this in a tank or other sort of container? I'd be interested to know your set-up.

Matt :toast:
Posted by Jeroen Stel on September 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM
As i was urinating in a stream this little fellow came by and.... :wink: :biggrin: :jump:
Nope...you are right it was shot in a greenish tank in the backyard. The flash turned the green into yellow and the rest is history...
Wether people like set-ups like this will always be subjective but Brett is right there should have been a tad more DOF.

Thanks fro the comments!

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel
Posted by David Kjaer on September 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Certainly a striking image - not sure about the yellow BG :confused:

David :toast:
Posted by Tom Smit on September 5, 2009 at 3:53 AM
Hi Jeroen, I do like the animal, but I'm not sure about the BG. I think it's worth trying to get different colors from a green tank. I mihgt goint to play with it.
:toast: :toast:
Posted by Maggie Campbell on September 5, 2009 at 6:14 PM
I'd like some of whatever you are taking Jeroen :biggrin: :jump: :wink:
Posted by Justin on September 6, 2009 at 2:00 AM
Not for me I'm afraid Jeroen. The insect is great but the water colour looks just too unnatural and completely over-powering.
Posted by Sandra Hendrikse on September 6, 2009 at 7:08 AM
I like the shot but I don't like the yellow background. It is just too unnatural.
Posted by Drew Mellowship on September 8, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Now i know it is a pond skater but you know how advertising companies seem to get the subject in a image wrong well I think this would work really well for something like the NHS advertising against mosquito bites !

Very striking & different but I'm unsure of it myself.

Drew :smile: