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Here is my effort for the critique buddy macro challenge.
I have tried to do something a bit different to my usual stuff, even though the flowers outside were tempting me!
Then I found that my stick insects did not all die in the winter as I had thought, so I got some golden privet from the garden and set this up on a windowsill (dark green card behind) The stick insect bizarrely kept hiding from the lens but I was quite pleased with the composition on this one even though it's not the whole body.
Anyway all comments and critiques will be read with appreciation, and I'd be pleased with title suggestions too - mine is far too boring 
thanks merille
| Camera: | Nikon D300  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | 150 macro |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | stick insect |
| Username: | 
blackbird |
| Uploaded: | 25 Jun 2009 - 7:22 PM |
| Tags: | Close-up / macro, Pets / captive animals |
| VS Mode Rating |
102 (100% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | 17 |
| Group Event: | Critique Buddies June 2009 - 3 |
Comments
Having to get used to giving crits, so forgive me if I talk a load of rot.
I think the shot is well balanced and the lighting picks up the main subject very well, aided by the plain dark background. The part leaf at the bottom conceals that end of the insect, so the fact that the whole insect is not in shot really doesn't matter. Bearing in mind this was a set up shot I may have been inclined to have moved the top leaves back to get some depth, but a very minor point on an excellent image.
Sandra
I really like the simple colours and composition in this - the green and yellow against the black background work well. The leaves at the top left don't add anything for me and destroy the simplicity which I liked. I tried cloning them out and rotating it very slightly to the left which gave much more interesting lines in the diagonal but that was just personal choice.
I guess that comes down to what you're trying to do here - do you want to show the insect in some surroundings or as an abstract pattern - if the former then keep the top leaves in, if the latter then get rid of them.
Having said that - I really like it either way and would have been proud to have taken it.
hth
Gaz
PS like the presentation of the frame and black setting as well
I really like your framing and composition here. You have used just enough leaves to give a sense of he insects surroundings . The black background works superbly also.
The backlighting is very nice also, it really makes the leaves and insect stand out from the backdrop. The angle of the bottom left leaf helps to draw the viewers attention o the insect.
You have also managed to keeep good detail in the shaded areas of the images created by the backlighting... Did you use a reflector to bounce the light back?
Lovely colours too.
Not really anything to improve on in my view, perhaps a little crop to bring the right hand side of the frame behind the insect closer (this would create a taller / thinner image also, mimicking the insects shape and posture).
A relly nice image, well taken.
Paul
Hi Merille
In contrast to Gaz, I personally like the top leaves, but that's because my alternative title would be "exploring the gap" as my first impression was of the long feeler(?) searching where to go next.
Excellent detail and I love the brightly lit leaves and the contrast against the background.
My only suggestion might be a bit random, but what about using a landscape format instead - rotate left and then maybe mirroring it too?
Tim
Great light and colours. I'll leave the constructive criticism to the experts.
I really like position of the stick insect, and the colours of the privet are a great balance. Lighting is excellent, both for the main subject and the background.
The composition is good for the insect and the bottom leaves.
I'm not so keen on the top leaves, they seem a bit neither here nor there, and the top one distracts slightly due to it's brightness.
It's still an image I would ahve been more than happy to have taken.
Cheers,
Les.
wow u had to be pationt to get that that is soooooooooo amzoing
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