Steve says photograph some more critters [Archive]

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wazza

02-04-2005, 13:15

So if I was to show this one, I got lower as steve suggested and yes it makes a far better photo.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/wayland2770/N001.jpg

02-04-2005, 13:37

Wazza - it's a nice shot, and you got lower. It's just a shame there's not enough lizard in too much frame - he looks a bit lost there.

I know you're limited by lens length, but you have a powerful tool at your disposal in that you can crop the image and lose a lot of that background. You could argue about how to crop this all day, and you have a few choices, but I've just done an obvious tighten up job which has put his body and neck on 3rds.

http://www.tomkinson.org/albums/Ced-Jan/lizard.jpg

I've sharpened it slightly, but it's such a small pixelly image, there's not much to be done. You seem to be reducing the pics smaller than you need to really? Whenever you reduce an image in size it loses a little resolution and benefits from a bit of a sharpen up,

What you need to do Wazza is stop considering your shots as the finished article when they come out of the camera, and start having a good look at how you can improve composition, colour, etc.. The camera is just the first stage in the process, and you have so many choices you can make after that.

I'm gonna grab the camera, stop talking about it and get out and try to do it, which is much harder. :lol:

wazza

02-04-2005, 13:43

Thanks CT that is a big help, by cropping it makes the lizard more of THE SUBJECT.

I guess the same applies to this one, but when i look at this it was not the subject "The FLY" but the whole pic it is a small thing in a big place and thought the background would be ok to leave in, what do you think.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/wayland2770/fly.jpg

02-04-2005, 13:51

I can see what you're trying to do Wazza. It's not very sharp though, but photographing critters this small is demanding work and you really need a true macro lens - not the 'Macro' setting on your zoom (if you have one) which is handy for getting closer but nowhere near true macro which would enable you to get a life size image of that fly on your sensor, but now we're back to money again! :cry:

Not one of your best shots mate IMHO, but the mere fact you tried shows there's a photographer in there trying to get out. 8)

Going out..... NOW! :lol:

02-04-2005, 13:59

wazza

02-04-2005, 14:02

I'm trying CT, it must be good for you to post twice though.

Fly's dont normally hang around long enough for you to get the best shots do they

lolyton

02-04-2005, 14:50

I can't imagine fly's are the easiest things to photograph (think most pro's would use a dead one or a model of one). But i kinda like something about the fly shot. Think it must be the strong diagonal there is in the image, just a shame it is entirely bleached out. If there was some detail in the white and a little sharper then i think you'd be getting somewhere with it.

The first shot i like, wildlife is not my strongest part in photography (still trying to work out if i do have a strong part) but IMO i don't think there is much wrong with it at all. I prefer what CT has done with it, and if you added the slightest little bit of saturation and just darkened the shadows just ever so slightly it would be just about right to me!

Steve

02-04-2005, 14:54

I'm trying CT, it must be good for you to post twice though.

Fly's dont normally hang around long enough for you to get the best shots do they

And in that statement you have discovered why some aspects of photography are so demanding. Some professionals have been doing this for years, specialising in a certain type of photography. It is unreasonable of us to expect to match or better them just a short while after picking up a camera but some of the fun is trying. The rewards are also more satisfying when we do manage to get that one stunning shot.

As much as CT says that talking the picture is just a part of the process (and I do agree) you really have to get the best possible picture to start with. You can usually improve a great picture and make it excellent during post processing but if you start with a bad image you will never get a great result, your fly shot here is a testament to that unfortunately. Spending some time looking at what makes a good shot then actively trying to use those things learned while taking pictures yourself will bring your photography on in leaps and bounds. Don’t copy but learn from and adapt other peoples styles and skill.

Matt

02-04-2005, 15:22

I prefer the original Lizard shot. It shows the lizard on its habitat and its isolated well against the background.
It may need a slight crop but only half of the last lump of rock on the right.

This is one of the better shots in your album wazza, well done.