Following on from John's post, here's a Common Blue in habitat.
Canon 7D with Tokina 35mm macro, f20, 1/200, ISO 400, full frame.
I must admit, I do like this style of shot. It requires a very different technique to more 'traditional' macro shots, but is deceptively difficult. It took a lot of perseverance and a large number of deleted images to get this one. I am pleased with this image but I'll be interested to hear the views of others.
Posted by David Sewell on July 13, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Wonderful detail on the subject, Matt, but I think I would have preferred it in portrait format even if it did show less of the habitat as a result.
David
Posted by Neil Burton on July 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM
I do like that, mouse eye view.
Posted by Nick Mckeown on July 13, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Sorry Matt, this doesn't work for me as the butterfly is quite large in frame and the vegetation is competing with it and like David I think a portrait format might have been preferable. As you say this type of photography is really difficult to get right and is why I tend to shy away from it, too much trial and error!
Nick.
Posted by Barry Southon on July 13, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Matt
"Superb" and the large version just pops such quality. A book of these top quality illustrations for each species would be a total delight, and yet some will differ.
many thanks for the comments David, Neil and Nick, please keep them coming.
I won't try to defend or explain the image (it's a bit like having to explain your own jokes ) though I did try some in portrait but for me they didn't do what I was trying to achieve i.e. show a wide view of an insect within its habitat. I suppose you could say that the intention was for the background to compete with the subject, otherwise I'd be back to taking a standard clean-background macro which is what I was trying to avoid. Anyway, this sounds like I'm being defensive, but I'm not, honest
It does go to show just how subjective photography is as this is probably one of my favourite images from the summer so far. Though it is of course helpful for me to know if my opinion is at odds with everyone else's.
edit: thanks Barry, our posts overlapped.
Matt
Posted by Nick Mckeown on July 13, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Matt, we all have our own tastes and if we didn't there would only be cheese and onion crisps!
Nick.
Posted by David Taylor on July 13, 2012 at 1:56 PM
I find this a delight and indicative of the hard work and thought that goes in to the production of an image like this. My only criticism, and purely subjective, is the lack sharpness in the BG foliage. I would love to see as much detail in the BG foliage as in the subject.
Perhaps image overlay would be a solution? The large image is well worth a look.
Hi Matt, this is a 'quintessential' English summer image, the colours, setting and subject all work to convey the theme of Summer, now can we have some too. Cracking!
Discussion
16 repliesCanon 7D with Tokina 35mm macro, f20, 1/200, ISO 400, full frame.
I must admit, I do like this style of shot. It requires a very different technique to more 'traditional' macro shots, but is deceptively difficult. It took a lot of perseverance and a large number of deleted images to get this one. I am pleased with this image but I'll be interested to hear the views of others.
A new post on my blog discusses this and similar images.
Matt
David
Nick.
"Superb" and the large version just pops such quality. A book of these top quality illustrations for each species would be a total delight, and yet some will differ.
I won't try to defend or explain the image (it's a bit like having to explain your own jokes
It does go to show just how subjective photography is as this is probably one of my favourite images from the summer so far. Though it is of course helpful for me to know if my opinion is at odds with everyone else's.
edit: thanks Barry, our posts overlapped.
Matt
Nick.
Perhaps image overlay would be a solution? The large image is well worth a look.
I,ll make my mind up soon
Cheers
JR
Oscar
TFS
Steve
Works for me Matt, I really like it. When you have finished with the blue sky perhaps you would let me have some
David
Dave
Matt