Dragonfly - Common Percher

Critiques [Translate]

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• boreocypriensis (12682)
• [2008-02-18 5:19]
• [2]

Hello Gethin

A marvelous shot of this dragonfly with wonderful pose, good colors, sharp details friend!
TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

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• PaulH (10774)
• [2008-02-18 7:10]

Hi Gethin,
well, i think it's a fine first attempt mate, great composition and DOF, the colours are really eye catching too. It's a bit noisy for ISO 400..i have the same camera and found that too sometimes at high speed, nothing that a little PP can't fix though.
Anyway, great work, i'll be keeping my eye out for the fabled 'in flight' shot.
Cheers,
Paul

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• viv (3090)
• [2008-02-18 7:40]

Hello Gethin,
Great first dragonfly posting, sharp and good details.
Greetings
Vivian

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• uleko (23432)
• [2008-02-18 8:38]

Helo Gethin,
This is most impressive as a first dragonfly shot!! I love your POV, it's nicely in focus, details are sharp and colours beautiful. The fine soft green background is great too.
Thanks and cheers, Ulla

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• Dando (3052)
• [2008-02-18 8:59]

Great macro, excellent details and well positioned within the frame. Nice work and TFS.

Dean.

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• horia (12468)
• [2008-02-18 13:50]
• - [workshop] [compare] [+]

Hi Gethin

This is a splendid result for you first dragonfly shot! My compliments to you!
Indeed, you may be right: waiting is a very good strategy in photography :) However, i personally prefer walking and searching for always something new...but maybe that's just the biologist from me speaking :)

Anyway, i really like the result you have here!
It's really terrific in terms of sharpness and DOF, too! The details on your subject are pin-sharp and the marking on its body are clearly visible.
I also like the diagonal composition very much here...very artistic.
However, i don't feel that macros and HDRs mix together and therefore you might have lost a bit of contrast here because of that.
I made a workshop and tried to give it a more natural feel...hope that's ok with you :)
Anyway, outstanding work for a first try...keep going! ;)

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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• JPlumb (2837)
• [2008-02-19 1:45]
• [+]

Hi Gethin, for a first shot of a dragonfly this is excellent. I'm going to have to use some of your tips and go hunting (or waiting for) these guys. I found the shot maybe a tad noisy, but Horia has done a great job in the workshop for you. The colours are very good and you have great sharp detail. I like how I can see all of the individual hairs on that plant, and the great detail on the dragon too.

I was a little intrigued with your HDR approach, taking 3 exposures from a single RAW file. I would have thought you could give yourself the exposure latitude you need within your RAW process. Did you have highlight or shadow areas that were a problem? Just curious.

Thanks, John

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• jusninasirun (5128)
• [2008-02-19 6:39]

Hello Gethin,

You are good not only in identifying insects but a brilliant photographer of these creatures as well.

Nicely perched on this diagonal grass straw and very well lit against a very pleasant green background. The dragonfly is in superb sharpness and details. Wings and body are well exposed for ID which of course you always know them better. I'll have to agree with John about trying out your useful tips.

Well done and best regards,
Jusni

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• rcrick (3696)
• [2008-02-19 21:29]

Hi Gethin,
Just excellent mate, what a great shot, the colours are amazing well framed, superb detail, love it, Cheers Rick :)