Hornets Nest

[Stagecoach]

I found this one today but it's in a position where to reach it I have had to balance a stepladder precariously and this is as close as I can possibly get.

Unfortunately it overexposed by 1.5 stops because I had left my camera set on spot metering from my normal matrix which gives good results but consider the recovery acceptable. The image I like because the chance of getting all the guys looking at you, their heads illuminated evenly and in focus with that DoF is pure luck, or could it be a warning

I have produced a square crop but is this too tight? Any other suggestions for enhancing this one would be welcome also. The SOOC is included.

1/320th, f11, ISO200, Spot metering and flash in TTL.




Normally I would try and get in closer but it's impossible so I see the only option is to just work with the whole nest.

Grahame

[ShaneS]

Grahame;

I prefer the first due to the tighter crop and I must say that you did get them all looking at you and they look like one angry determined lot! My only suggestion is to get rid of the backside of the hornet at the junction of the branch...I can't help looking Not sure about the oof focus one on the bottom left though?

You are braver than I to get as close as you did!

[Stagecoach]

Hi Shane,

Of course you prefer the 1st one in the same way that there's no question that I do

I had not spotted the offending rear view, that will be no problem.

Grahame

[IzzieK]

I prefer the first one too, Grahame...I did not notice anything at all except the beauty of how you had taken this shot until Shane mentioned it. No 2? eeehhh...not too much...close crop is better.

[Bobobird]

Great shots Grahame.

You have obviously not heard of my tangle with a Japanese Giant Hornet.... But maybe your guys are friendlier. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_giant_hornet

[Stagecoach]

I prefer the first one too, Grahame...I did not notice anything at all except the beauty of how you had taken this shot until Shane mentioned it. No 2? eeehhh...not too much...close crop is better.

Hi Isabel, No 2 was just an example of the SOOC, to see what it was cropped from and if it needed more room No 2 is what it had available

It may have beauty but that is very much luck with a group of them, I enjoy doing individuals more.

Grahame

[teokf]

Grahame, the tighter crop not only looks better, you have also toned down the exposure thus makes it pleasing to the eyes. Amazing with f/11 you got all of them in focus. Getting all of them in focus does require a bit of luck, but without the necessary skills and know-how, it would not make a difference.

[Stagecoach]

Great shots Grahame.

You have obviously not heard of my tangle with a Japanese Giant Hornet.... But maybe your guys are friendlier. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_giant_hornet

Hi Bobo,

That looks a pretty evil one that got you. One of these stung me on my attempt at another nest a few months back, gee it was three days before the swollen hand went down.

Just made the ultimate auto night time assistant, one of those LED lights that you put on your head fixed to the top of the flash

Grahame

[Bobobird]

3 days you are lucky. It took 6 weeks for the itching to subside. The scab that filled the "hole" came off many times but it was not quite healed until recently. Now I have a .25 inch wide "depression" in the elbow area.

[deetheturk]

Hi Grahame,

First of all great shots,no.1,as you say yourself is best,next your very brave or not right in the head

If there's one bug I hate it's Hornets,like Bobo and yourself,I got a nasty sting from the one's round here

Cheers David

[Shadowman]

Very nice, first one for me as well.

[Stagecoach]

David, John,

Thanks for the comments. And just to show it was either luck or a warning.................

1/250, f22, ISO200, Matrix metering, Flash TTL. Whilst they were playing follow the leader tonight.


Cleaned up, cloned the rear end out that offended Shane and the worst highlights.


Grahame

[bnnrcn]

Congratulations

[MichaelClark]

Great shot ! amazing picture ..

[Sergio M.]

Excellent pics, Grahame. Nice bit of Macgyvering with the head lamp.

Sergio

[Stagecoach]

Binnur, Michael and Sergio,

Thank you for commenting, I'm pleased they have been appreciated.

Grahame

[AndrewMcD]

Quite astonishing. The finished product is a testament to not only your skill and daring as a photographer but your talent for post process work.
Andrew

[ClaudioG]

Awesome awesome awesome.. that is one insect i stil have not seen here in South Africa, gotta say..im not sure if we even have em, they look alien like, swarm like. Very cool, very awesome, very much worth the risk you went through.

[IzzieK]

Don't wish for it Claudio --- they are downright nasty!

Awesome awesome awesome.. that is one insect i stil have not seen here in South Africa, gotta say..im not sure if we even have em, they look alien like, swarm like. Very cool, very awesome, very much worth the risk you went through.

[jamn4ex]

I just stay away from hornets.

Great shots I really like your end results.