A Glider for Howard

Critiques [Translate]

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• earthtraveler (3517)
• [2008-03-27 20:38]

Hi Loot,
Superb image of this Glider and a fine dedication to Howard.
The sharp golden details of the insect are really beautiful. Excellent work with the POV/pose and composition. Lovely BG bokeh as well. Well done! tfs Richard

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• pankajbajpai (13572)
• [2008-03-27 20:45]

hello loot,
what a fine capture, the glitter looks so beautiful here, i am sure howard will be delighted with this capture, i liked the pov, the sharpness and the precise dof you have got for this picture,
well done as usual in your perfect style,
tfs & regards
pankaj

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• ellis49 (28669)
• [2008-03-27 20:48]

Hi Loot,
this is a great dedication to our friend Howard, he is a great
photographer and have been a good inspiration for this site.
This is a very good picture with great sharpness and details.
Well composed with great DOF, the whole insect even the wings are in focus nd the insect standout nicely against the BG.
A great note as usual.
Beautiful wok. my friend.

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• Gert-Paassen (4307)
• [2008-03-27 23:20]

Hi Loot,

Good macro, fine picture.
Beautiful colors and an great BG.
Good note's too.
A pity that the wing right above unsharp are.
All with all great photo.

Regards Gert

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• Miss_Piggy (2979)
• [2008-03-27 23:33]

Hallo Loot
When I saw the end result of your dragonfly posting dedicated to Howard, I was amazed about the stunning golden colour of this insect. This photo has all the right things at the right places. I don't think it is necessary to elaborate on the focus, sharpness, depth of field, point of view, exposure, pose, composition or anything else I did not make note of here, because it is all just right.

What I would like to mention is, that I think Fernando Ortega had this specific dragonfly in mind when he wrote the words for one of my personal favourite songs called "DRAGONFLY"

Come a little closer, dragonfly
Settle down with me a little while
I'm turning off the phone and enterprise
I could use your company, all right

Hey, hey dragonfly
I'd like to stare into your big bug eyes
Get a closer look at your fine wings
Think about some fleeting, pretty things
Hey, hey, hey dragonfly

Come a little closer, dragonfly
Little sapphire slipping through the sky
Between the skaters and the fishing lines
My, my, my dragonfly

Hey, hey dragonfly
I'd like to stare into your big bug eyes
Get a closer look at your fine wings
Think about some fleeting, pretty things
Hey, hey, hey dragonfly
Hey, hey, hey dragonfly

Come a little closer, dragonfly
I love the quiet air you occupy
I'm sitting down right here, right now, alone
To hear the river lapping at the stone

Hey, hey dragonfly
I'd like to stare into your big bug eyes
Get a closer look at your fine wings
Think about some fleeting, pretty things
Hey, hey, hey dragonfly
Hey, hey, hey dragonfly

Hey, hey, dragonfly
I'd like to ride with you tonight
Take in your show, take up your life
Dragonfly, I really like your style

Thanks for sharing this very delightful image. Like always your excellent photographic talent are displayed in this photo. Enjoy your day and love you lots!
Anna

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• Argus (22101)
• [2008-03-27 23:44]

Hello Loot,
A great find from the wealth of your archives and a fine dedication to our TN friend Howard, a master photographer who thankfully still graces us with his fine images.
This is superlative in every way, the sharpness, composition and POV taken shows this wandering glider in way to feast the eyes!
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Ivan

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• rcrick (3410)
• [2008-03-28 0:11]

Dear Loot,
What a stunning image, the detail and colours are just amazing, excellent composition, really nice work all the best Cheers Rick :)

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• jcoowanitwong (11461)
• [2008-03-28 0:12]

Hi Loot,
Beautiful pose and shot taken at nice pov. The background is nicely blurred to stand out the glider. There are similar libellulids in my area. TFS this wonderful image.

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• Juyona (13031)
• [2008-03-28 1:11]

Hola Loot,
hermosa captura y dedicatoria...
agradable ambiente y foco magnífico,
saludos amigo.

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• bobcat08 (1333)
• [2008-03-28 1:16]

Hello Loot,

Wow....what a clarity. I think this is a great dedication to our friend Howard. Amazing Looks a like 3D. Super fine details. You can see even the back of his head in details. Colors a natural. The compo is fine with the diagonal line of that grass (reed ?)Thanks for sharing this beauty. Have a nice day and TFS BOB

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• Ena (2327)
• [2008-03-28 1:49]

Hi Loot,
Beautiful shot!
Lovely composition!
Good DOF/POV!
Regards
Ena

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• ramthakur (24045)
• [2008-03-28 1:51]

Delightful capture of this golden coloured Skimmer, Loot.
Even though you sound modest about your macro skills in the past, this is an outstanding capture with superb DOF, fascinating colours and extraordinary sharpness.
Thanks for sharing the image.
I also enjoyed reading your note.
Ram

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• Amadeo (2586)
• [2008-03-28 2:09]

Buena composición, nitida y con buena luz, buen macro. Un saludo

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• haraprasan (12111)
• [2008-03-28 2:52]

Hi Loot,
A nice capture of this wandering glider. This is also a common species found here. You have captured it very well with sharp details also technical a good macro shot. A very nice dedication for Howard. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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• SkyF (8113)
• [2008-03-28 4:30]

Hi Loot,
a stunning shot, those colors alone are very eye catching. Takes a while until those gliders settle down and are ready for a photo session. Mind you they never sit to long, so it's not to easy to capture one as perfectly as you did.
The POV is fabulous, nice seeing the glider hand on to the grass. Great diagonal line that adds to the composition.
The light worked well for you and brought out many detail and the vibrancy of the colors.
TFS..Sky

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• marhowie (34439)
• [2008-03-28 4:45]

Hi Loot and thank you for this dedication. I'm glad I could help you a bit on your journey. Very nice DOF from head to tail.
An excellent composition/POV with great detail seen in your glider.
Well managed exposure, color, and the subject stands out from this BG, nice & soft..Hey, that sounds like toilet tissue doesn't it! ;}}
Have a great weekend mf,
Howard

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• albert (699)
• [2008-03-28 6:15]

Hello Loot,
Nice composition,well exposed and sharp picture but missing a bit of DOF on the front wings
Kind regards
Albert

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• Aaltjie (0)
• [2008-03-28 6:38]

Hallo Loot
Now this is what I call sheer magic. A dragonfly made out of gold, or am my eyes playing games with me? I don’t think I have ever seen such true colour gold on any living creature, except on women’s hands, ears and neck of course. No I am serious. If somebody would have told or explained to me about the colour of this insect, I don’t think I would have believed them. This is photography at its very best. This is really beautiful and I love the glittering in the wings, which you have managed to capture with excellent sharpness. It looks like a shimmering jewel, and it is truly gorgeous. Bravo on this perfectly presented photo.
Warmest regards
Aaltjie
Please pardon me for the following, but if I was able to post photo’s I would of have loved to dedicate this specific one to all the couples out there that is close to or already had their golden wedding anniversary. 50 years is a long time and worth all the gold in the world.

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• Proframe (4052)
• [2008-03-28 7:38]

Hi Loot,

Technically perfect and very, very beautiful.
Love the most wonderful colors, color contrast, clarity and the diagonall lines of the reed and wings.
Great macro image and excellent note!!!
Superb work again Loot. TFS!!!

Best regards and have a nice weekend,

Harry

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• nglen (19630)
• [2008-03-28 10:58]

Hello Loot. This is a first class close up of the beautiful looking Dragonfly. The detail is spot on.You have capture the golden color so well with good light. i like the pose on the grass with a fine DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

Have a good weekend.

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• Alex99 (14369)
• [2008-03-28 11:42]

Hi Loot.
Touching and so interesting note supplements this brilliant close-up picture of wonderful scene. DOF is great despite the large aperture value. You managed to fill up in focus all insect and stem. BG is fantastic. Its blurriness and colorfulness are superb. Color palette of the image at whole, details and sharpness of dragonfly are excellent too. Bravo and best wishes.
Alexei.

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• PeterZ (7437)
• [2008-03-28 13:53]

Hello Loot,
What a perfection! Fantastic clear, vivid and contrasting colours. Perfect sharpness, POV, DOF, BG, composition............ A Masterpiece!
Have a good weekend,
Peter

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• maurydv (3834)
• [2008-03-28 14:42]

Splendida immagine, "perfetta" sotto ogni aspetto POV, DOF, composizione, dettagli e soprattutto magnifici colori. Graziee complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

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• joey (18595)
• [2008-03-29 7:23]

Wow! What a beautiful dragonfly Loot!
The colours on its abdomen are really vivid and rich.
Excellent composition and POV.
Sharp and crisp with great detail in the wings especially.
Though the DOF is a bit shallow, you've still blurred the BG superbly and all the vital parts of the D-fly are tack-sharp.
Nice dedication to Howard :-)
Well done my friend,
Joe

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• uleko (22494)
• [2008-03-30 5:42]

Hello Loot,
This is a splendid view of this beautiful Glider in lovely golden colours. Very fine sharp details and amazing colours of the eyes too! It looks beautiful balancing on that very fine grass against the soft background.
An excellent composition too.
A very fine dedication for Howard too!
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

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• soccer (1749)
• [2008-03-31 3:27]

Loot,

Amother one of your quality pics that you have posted here. A very detailed and sharp pic indeed. The composition combined with your very sharp detail of the subject against an OOF BG is excellent. I like your lighting, POV and DOF here too.
TFS,
Sheriff

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• Dyker (170)
• [2008-04-01 16:15]

Hello Loot
Mmmm, a perfect composition to showcase this dragonfly in all its splendour. The brilliant golden colours of the species came out very well in the photo and you show us great details of the insect. As you mentioned that this was one of your earlier macro photos and that you still did not realise the "criticality" of the depth of field when working at this closeness, but after all I think you still did a great job of it with good focus where it matters most. The distant background is well stripped of any detail and blurred out. Overall a very nice macro of this dragonfly.
Greetngs
AC

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• betsie (0)
• [2008-04-03 0:37]

Hi Loot
Hoekom het jy so lank geneem om hierdie foto te plaas? Ek dink dit is een van die bestes wat ek nog gesien het. Die goue kleur en die duidelike "lace" effek van die vlerke is ongelooflik!! Well done!! Ek sien uit na al die fotos wat jy nou gaan neem op jou kort vakansie. Hoop jy en Anna gaan 'n wonderlike tyd saam hê. Julle kan mekaar gerus maar bederf - 27 jaar is ook darm vasbyt en dit verg baie opoffering van albei kante - vra maar vir my, ons is vandag 37 jaar getroud!! So baie geluk - hoop julle het 'n baie lekker "wittebrood" naweek.

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• Rehanna (0)
• [2008-04-03 16:00]

Hello Loot

Die digter praat van, "Die morestond het goud in die mond", maar hierdie ou het alles in sy agterstewe. Praat van die rykdom van die natuur. Dit lyk vir my of hierdie helikopter dit leterlik opgeneem het. Met een woord "pragtig", dit is nou die insek en die foto. Lekker skerp fokus, veral in die area van die lyf, kop en potte asook die gebied van die vlerke naby aan die lyf waar dit 'n uitstekende poging aanwend om as 'n replika van 'n gaas gordyn aangesien te word. Daardie blou en bruin oë is nogal iets eienaardig. Nogmaals 'n puik stukkie werk.

Groete
Rehanna

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• Tobias__Ortmann (661)
• [2008-04-04 6:18]

Hi loot,
what an amazing shot
great details very good colours and very well focused you do so well with taking picture of wildlife
thanks a lot for sharing
best regards Toba

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• jmp (8400)
• [2008-04-06 11:11]

Hi Loot,
This dragonfly looks great with its golden cover and its metallic shine with suits perfectly against the oof green bg.
The diagonal reed gives a dynamic touch to the perfect, attractive composition.
TFS and best regard mf,
Jose Miguel

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• XOTAELE (8)
• [2008-04-07 8:21]

Hola Loot.
Magnífica imagen con una nitidez extraordinaria.
Bellos colores y estupendo bg.
Buen DoF.
Saludos, JL.

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• arfer (0)
• [2008-04-07 21:57]

Hello Loot

An exquisite capture of this glider.The insect looks gilded in gold.
Lovely rich colours ,the yellows contrast well against the lovely green.
Nicely composed on the diagonal blade of grass.
Excellent POV and DOF.
The focus is pin sharp.
TFS
Rob

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• SelenE (11774)
• [2008-04-08 14:40]

Hi Loot,
It's a very nice dedication for Howard. Sharpness, focus, background, lighting and details are lovely. TFS
All the best,
Selen

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• smitha (3421)
• [2008-04-09 22:28]

Hello Loot,
A beautiful dedication to Howard.
Excellent macro shot with very good POv, sharpness and details.Nice vertical composition too. Well saturated colours and contrasts.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

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• dejo (2048)
• [2008-04-10 22:26]

Hello Loot,
great caprure, real gold :)
nice composition & pose captured, beautiful details!
regards, Dejan

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• boreocypriensis (10984)
• [2008-04-14 14:42]

Hi friend Loot,
Superb shot of a dragonfly witt excellent clarity! All are percect! TFS.
Greetings from Cyprus,
Bayram

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• vanderschelden (25735)
• [2008-04-15 2:24]
• [+]

Hello Loot,
Missed this quality photo (I don't like "shot").
The DOF is perfect. Nothing to critique actually.
Perfect.
Congrats
Annick

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• wuta (2034)
• [2008-04-19 10:34]

Hoi Loot , nog een keer ik had deze over het hoofd gezien ,ik mocht het net hebben over libelles , deze is prachtig ,mooi goud en prachtige bg , fantastisch shot , greetings Teunie ,

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• Silvio2006 (22473)
• [2008-04-24 12:50]

Hi Loot, superb dragonfly with splendid colors, wonderful details and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

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• jusninasirun (4726)
• [2008-04-29 17:42]

Hello Loot. Your macro work is brilliant here with excellent optics you are working on. Howard must have been a good mentor for your work. I always find it rather hard to get the sharpness on dragonfly because the wings are wide in full spread for macro work. The shallow depth allowed will lead to strong tendency of losing out the focus on the wings - just like my latest post here :-(. You have captured this dragonfly brilliantly here. At f5.6, the sharpness of the image is flawless. Head abdomen, and tail are in perfect focus. What I like about this shot and Sigma lens is the way the background is being silenced. I can't get the pleasant muted background with my Nikon and always resort to my Sigma for this stunning effect. The diagonal perch is excellent for the crop and very well done. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

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• RII (2690)
• [2008-07-15 12:22]

Hi Loot.

Is a fine capture with vivid colors and contrast, great point of view and pose,fine details, the note is excellent. I wait your critique and comment to my recent picture (agreta).
Thanks....RICARDO.