First damsel :)

Critiques [Translate]

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• Juyona (15565)
• [2008-02-25 12:38]

Hola amigo,
buen disparo,
buen camuflage y tonos,
agradable iluminación...
saludos Horia.

•  
• eqshannon (27919)
• [2008-02-25 13:24]

Congrats Horia...expanding your horizons..I think this is the first time, at least in my memoery, that I have seen one of these with its wings folded thus! Very unique pose and makes it an interesting yet quite studiable image and creation...
bob

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• kebapci (405)
• [2008-02-25 13:36]

Seems like a cryptic mantis. Congradulatons for the find and the documentary photo. TFS

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• waylim (924)
• [2008-02-25 19:50]

Horia,
Nice Diagonal composition, natural color. I can’t really tell what the fussy near the eyes and its back.
It’s not your best but still good. The first is never perfect  you know that. I have seen better from you, but I enjoyed it very much and learn more about the species. I love catching dragon flies and other bugs when I was little. There are not many here in the city. Tfs.
Way

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• crs (3543)
• [2008-02-25 20:48]

Buna Horia,

Felicitari pentru "deschiderea sezonului". Interesanta pozitia libelulei, probabil datorata temperaturii relativ scazute. Imi place lumina din fotografie precum si tonurile calde.

Toate cele bune,
Cristian

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• gannu (14691)
• [2008-02-25 22:13]

Hello
Very nice shot goes very well with the subject. The POV is good and also the notes.
ganesh

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• Jamesp (16522)
• [2008-02-25 22:35]

Hi Horia

Very good POV with great diagonals - the damselfy is almost an incidental! Wonderful detail and well handled exposure.

TFS

James

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• Heaven (6058)
• [2008-02-25 23:17]
• [+]

Hi Horia!

Congratulations for your first Damsel of the year. It's interesting to read your notes and I can imagine your excitement. You say that this si not a great shot, and this time I agree with you. The blurred branch where the Damsel is on is too important and attracts the eye too much. The fact that it is blurred normally would not incomode, but due to its dimension it does. I further have some doubts about the sharpness of the insect, too. It's not as rich of details as usually.

The picture nevertheless pleases because of the basic idea of the composition and especially because of the unity of the color tones. And, of course, your Damsel is just a beauty.

Kind regards

Markus

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• cicindela (8635)
• [2008-02-26 0:32]
• [+]

Yes! Really the first one! So it is time for "searching"! :)
It is really nice to see this picture. I hope very soon you will show us many other insect photos (I also hope to see this species very soon near Lodz! :>)
On the other hand I have to add that this time not everything is perfect as for me, unfortunatelly... It is seen that the sun was very strong when you were taking this photo, and some part of twig are too "white". Also the damselfly is party in the shadow...
Summaring, today huge plus especially for the "first Odonata this year", a little smaller for the technique :)
All the best my Friend!
Radek

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• marcellr (3514)
• [2008-02-26 2:58]

Ciao Horia,
complimenti per questa bella immagine di S. fusca.
Ottima messa a fuoco, colori naturali, luminosità ben diffusa, sfondo omogeneo e perfetta inquadratura.
Bravo,
Marcello

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• sandpiper2 (14115)
• [2008-02-26 4:00]

Hi Horia

Great cryptic samsel shot. There can't be to many species that over winter in such a cool climate.
Good sharpness and details. Nice warm tones and the damsel stands out well against the OOF background.

Chris

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• rousettus (12797)
• [2008-02-26 5:18]

hello Horia
Congratulations on first of year. Great macro with diagonal composition, good lighting, sharp focus. TFS, well done
Ahmet

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• jazdzurka (1043)
• [2008-02-26 5:19]

Hi Horia
Nice to see your first damesfly. It seems that spring came to our countries (last Sunday I saw the first beetle of the year).
Nice oblique composition and uniform colours. I agree with the critique of Heaven, but that is still a very good photograph.
I wish you many interesting shots this year
Ania

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• joey (24727)
• [2008-02-26 7:15]
• [+]

Wow what an unusual Damselfly!
Almost looks like a twig!
Very big congratulations for getting the first Damsel of the year!
Excellent diagonal composition and a good POV.
Nice colours and lighting.
Superb DOF.
Reasonable sharpness and great clarity.
Superb work my friend.
I know have a Sigma 180mm + 1.4x teleconverter so hopefully I'll be getting some better macros than last year!

Cheers mate,

Joe

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• Mana (18518)
• [2008-02-26 11:28]

Hi Horia,
Excellent shot of this Damselfly with immaculate sharpness. Superb lighting and you have captured a fine pose, almost camouflaged against that branch. You really have a good eye to see it at the first place. Wonderful diagonal composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

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• nglen (32146)
• [2008-02-26 13:02]
• [+]

Hi Horia. Well done for seeing this one. the first of many i am sure. Is this very early for you. good detail and colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

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• gracious (13068)
• [2008-02-26 16:16]

Hello Horia,
This is a real good close up to me!
Very good sharpness achieved with perfect exposure and focus here!
well done, Horia
greeting
Tony

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• vanderschelden (30145)
• [2008-02-27 7:15]

Hello Horia,
Well composed image. Once again:-))
I like the brownish BG.
TFS
Annick

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• Patleboss (5948)
• [2008-02-27 14:22]
• [+]

Hello Horia,
Congratulation for this splendid macro shot of this first damsel
Is n't it early in Romania ???
great shot indeed, perfect focus and lovely natural colours,
cheer my friend,
Pat

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• NinaM (6594)
• [2008-02-27 17:18]

Ho, no way we would find one now here in Quebec, and the lake unfreezes at the end of May ;-* But I am very happy for YOU, congratulations for your first catch, it is a beauty. It is so long, I have never seen one like it here. Here, we have the big big blue ones, I shall try to capture them in the Park, they are about 6 inches long, too big!!!

Thanks Horia, it is always nice to read your notes and comments. Bye bye!

Francine

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• Argus (34987)
• [2008-02-29 7:20]

Hello Horia,
I'm very impressed that you could already photograph a damselfly at the end of February, You caught this female S. fusca in a fine pose with good focusing and sharpness. We have to wait at least another month before we can see this species, that is rare in SE Sweden.
But this is an encouraging photo, a sign that we don't have to wait too long and I thank you for that!
Best wishes, Ivan

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• EOSF1 (23469)
• [2008-02-29 9:05]

Hello Horia, very simple composition but very effective. The details of that macro are very sharp and you've done a very good exposure. I love the light and the beautiful background, thanks!

Mario

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• clnaef (6814)
• [2008-03-01 0:56]

Bonjour,
Voilà un posture inhabituelle. Bonne idée.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

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• uleko (2789)
• [2008-03-01 6:07]

Hello Horia,
I've missed your little Damselfly nicely camouflaged along the wood! Great capture of this over-wintering species that I've never seen! Fine details and colours and a lovely soft background. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

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• arfer (0)
• [2008-03-04 8:38]

Hello Horia

A beautiful capture of this damselfly.
We still have 1m of snow on the ground and more to come here.
The focus is sharp with excellent clarity.
The shot is well exposed.
You have captured excellent details.
I like the diagonal look of the shot.
TFS

Rob

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• hester (11638)
• [2008-03-05 9:24]

Hi Horia

Lovely to see them back again and your Canon 400D and the sigma lens worked well for you here. Wonderful low POV and perfect DOF. The light is lovely here as well

TFS

Karan

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• Alex99 (18533)
• [2008-03-05 11:12]
• [+]

Hi Horia.
I agree with Markus. Some blurriness of the thick branch is distractive a bit. However, what can we do in such cases? I use ISO 400 and smaller aperture value. Because exposure time is long you would increase shooting distance (and by this way to increase the DOF too and then use a crop). In future it will effective use of monopod (I mean ET 1/200 at FL-300 mm). But all this is theory. Practice is a very nice, sharp and perfectly detailed image of damselfly which is composed and framed excellently too. My compliments and best wishes.
Alexei.