Introducing myself: Bee collecting water

Images of undisturbed subjects in their natural environment. All subject types.

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Lou Jost
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Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 7:03 am
Location: Ecuador
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Post by Lou Jost »

Thanks for looking at the blog! I look forward to more Mexican bugs in action from you. Long ago I worked in Chiapas on its special birds (eg Azure-rumped Tanager). Mexico is extremely diverse, I hope you are enjoying it.

Dalantech
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Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:57 am

Post by Dalantech »

Hey Ivan,
That image is a heck of a lot better than my first attempt -well done! I like how you've timed the proboscis so that it's visible in the drop.

If I had any advice I'd say maybe get your flash / diffuser closer to the subject to get better diffusion. Could also use a bigger diffuser, but that's not always practical. Also getting those two light sources close together, one acting as a key and the other as a fill, will give you a single specular highlight (as well as better shadow control). Here's an example.

Don't worry about your "keeper rate" -the higher your standards the lower it will be, especially when shooting active subjects. I've become one with the universe and the delete key on my keyboard.

Welcome to the addiction -see you at the support meetings ;)

IvanG
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Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:34 am
Location: Mexico
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Post by IvanG »

Hello Dalantech, thanks for your comment and tips. I can see you're very much a bee specialist, those are some great images on your on-line galleries.

I get your point about a single specular highlight. I like to use a backlight to bring out the little hairs on insects, although the situation here did not allow me to place it as far behind the subject (off to the left) as I would have liked, hence the additional specular highlight. But I agree, a single highlight would make the image feel more natural.

I too relish deleting failed images, helps free up disk space!

MA meetings, huh? It gets that bad... LOL.

IvanG
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:34 am
Location: Mexico
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Post by IvanG »

Lou Jost wrote:Thanks for looking at the blog! I look forward to more Mexican bugs in action from you. Long ago I worked in Chiapas on its special birds (eg Azure-rumped Tanager). Mexico is extremely diverse, I hope you are enjoying it.
More bugs will be coming, thanks Lou. I'm in the Yucatan Peninsula, love it here. Believe it or not I have yet to visit Chiapas, but it's very much on my list.

Dalantech
Posts: 694
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:57 am

Post by Dalantech »

IvanG wrote:Hello Dalantech, thanks for your comment and tips. I can see you're very much a bee specialist, those are some great images on your on-line galleries.
Thanks!
IvanG wrote: ... But I agree, a single highlight would make the image feel more natural.
I wouldn't worry about making your images "natural" cause that term is just too subjective. The goal is to allow the viewer to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the photo -won't happen if they get hung up on something like the specular highlights, background, etc.
IvanG wrote: MA meetings, huh? It gets that bad... LOL.
Only two types of people rock back and forth on their knees -macro shooters and the mentally unstable ;)

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