Black Scarab that looks green because of the leaves reflected in her shell

[JBW]

[Shadowman]

Cool capture, consider adding a bit of contrast.

[JBW]

Cool capture, consider adding a bit of contrast.

I tried it but my skills are such that the bit was a bit much. Perhaps someone with subtler skills....

[Stagecoach]

Very good Brian. You are lucky to capture one of these with so few blown highlights.

It looks to warm to me, I would drop the WB. By doing this you will partially neutralise the foliage so it's not competing so much with the critter.



Grahame

[JBW]

Very good Brian. You are lucky to capture one of these with so few blown highlights.

It looks to warm to me, I would drop the WB. By doing this you will partially neutralise the foliage so it's not competing so much with the critter.



Grahame

I'll give that a try.

[Shadowman]

I tried it but my skills are such that the bit was a bit much. Perhaps someone with subtler skills....

The difference is subtle, I increased exposure +0.65, contrast and clarity 25, then used Viveza Structure filter on just the beetle. Edit is just for comparison, I can remove if you want.

[JBW]

The difference is subtle, I increased exposure +0.65, contrast and clarity 25, then used Viveza Structure filter on just the beetle. Edit is just for comparison, I can remove if you want.

don't be silly. How will I ever get better unless I see what others can do. Part of my problem is that without Gimp (it doesn't work well with Sony Express) I have no way to isolate various parts of a shot.

[Shadowman]

don't be silly. How will I ever get better unless I see what others can do. Part of my problem is that without Gimp (it doesn't work well with Sony Express) I have no way to isolate various parts of a shot.

In Gimp you can use the Free Select tool, it is a bit difficult to work with but an available option. I did a quick select of a subject and then used the Levels adjustment and it only applied the effect to what was within the Free Select outline.

[Adzman808]

I had a quick play with your image in C1, I hope you don't mind...

I really like the colour and lightness of the background, so I didn't want to change that!

Ergo, I've tried a local adjustment to just the beetle!

[ionian]

Fantastic shot, and some good suggestions above for really bringing out the beetle with contrast. My only other suggestion would be to look at using light to help focus the eye. Maybe an inverted radial filter lowering the exposure away from the beetle would be worth playing with in PP.

[Wavelength]

Very nice image and excellent edit by Adam

[bnnrcn]

A good one Brian

[JBW]

I had a quick play with your image in C1, I hope you don't mind...

I really like the colour and lightness of the background, so I didn't want to change that!

Ergo, I've tried a local adjustment to just the beetle!

The only thing I mind is how my better my shot looks now. Obviously i have a ways to go yet. but that is why I like this group... I learn.

[JBW]

with everybody taking such an interest I had to go back and try again. I hope you all think it an improvement.