2019 P52 - 3nd Qtr - Sandy(Skitterbug)

Hi Bruce - and yes, I started from the RAW file and did PP all over again! So you are seeing what I consider a better edit all the way around for that photo. (grin) While it still isn't what I wanted to capture, at least I think it may be acceptable now - but I'll leave it for others to decide since that's why I'm here - to learn! <yep>

Thanks for looking and commenting! :)

That edit to the flower image looks better to me. There is a single main subject now. But I would clone out that little bit of leaf protruding from the bottom right corner.

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

That edit to the flower image looks better to me. There is a single main subject now. But I would clone out that little bit of leaf protruding from the bottom right corner.

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Yes - that leaf has to go! Here's the result! And again thanks for your help! :)

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...HrBZgSK-X2.jpg

Week 30 - I've been reviewing my images and liked this one. It works for week 30 since it was taken on July 23. :)

It ended up being in the middle of the day so I did my best to avoid it being overly bright. I also used smudging to help blend over the whiter background images of flowers that were at the bottom of the image and that are now non-existent.... :) I wanted the main focus to be the caterpillar.

Also, I've been experimenting with the USM and masking in general. I'm hoping that I haven't overdone sharpening but I liked the way it looked after I finished. Comments are always helpful!

I believe it is a Monarch in its childhood stage. <chuckle>

Settings used f/22 - ISO100 - 1/100s

Hungry Caterpillar

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...pLW9BnK-X2.jpg

Week 31 - still working on the use of the USM in Affinity Photo. Using masks and the explanations that are given for how to use them always seemed complicated to me. I do understand a bit more about how they are supposed to work but applying them and then narrowing down the selection areas, etc. (sharpening one spot only.... ) is still a learning process for me.

Lately we've had some butterfly activity in our flowers. The insects aren't in perfect condition but still it is fun to try and capture a decent image of them.

This one is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. I probably should have kicked up the speed a bit because of the windy conditions and of course butterflies never sit still for very long.
Settings: f.5.6 - 1/100s - ISO100

Slurping pollen from a cone flower!

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...6zXH572-X2.jpg

The caterpillar looks good to me.

Your butterfly is OK but with a rather wide aperture the left wing tip is starting to get soft. They are certainly difficult subjects and you do have a nicely symmetrical camera angle there. Increasing the Iso would have allowed for some more focus depth and a slightly faster shutter speed. I would guess that F8 to F11 and a shutter around 1/200 would have been ideal. But, so often, I have picked up my camera for a quick shot without realising that I had changed my settings for the previous subject and hadn't reset them. About 90% of my butterfly shots are ditched.

Week 30-31, nicely composed.

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

The caterpillar looks good to me.

Your butterfly is OK but with a rather wide aperture the left wing tip is starting to get soft. They are certainly difficult subjects and you do have a nicely symmetrical camera angle there. Increasing the Iso would have allowed for some more focus depth and a slightly faster shutter speed. I would guess that F8 to F11 and a shutter around 1/200 would have been ideal. But, so often, I have picked up my camera for a quick shot without realising that I had changed my settings for the previous subject and hadn't reset them. About 90% of my butterfly shots are ditched.

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Hi Geoff - I think if I'd had the speed increased and of course the rest of the settings of the camera corresponding to the conditions, I wouldn't have had the "softer" spot. Butterflies don't give much luxury for contemplative thinking. It is either grab and go or forget about it because within a few minutes, butterflies move along. I was pleased to have this one turn out as it did. Like you, I have many more attempted images that end up in the rubbish bin.

There is a place on the 7D Mark II that allows preset for camera settings. Now that I am more comfortable with my camera, I may set that up for "butterflies". Thanks for commenting! :)

Hi John and Bruce too - Thank you for looking at my efforts and commenting! :)

So lovely images, Sandy :)

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Originally Posted by Wavelength

So lovely images, Sandy :)

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Thank you very much for commenting Nandakumar! I appreciate it! :)

Week 32 - I couldn't bin this image even though the tail ought to have been a bit more sharp. Also, the cardinal was a good distance away so capturing him stretched the limits. But the possibility of using him for a greeting card is there so I did an edit and came up with the following results.

The camera settings: ISO160 - f/8 - 1/200s. Used 100-400 lens without the extender.

Rust and nature blending nicely together!

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...XnN44NZ-X2.jpg

Week 32, nice effort. If this were used for a greeting card would it be just an image or would you also add words to the composition and if you did add words where would the message best be positioned?

Wonderful!!!!

It seems strange that the tail is a bit soft compared with the metal work nearby. Possibly, with a shutter speed of 1/200 it may be subject movement blur? Either way, it doesn't really make any difference to this good scene.

It's a good image Sandy, but I do wonder about the exposure and white balance.

We have a lot of cardinals that live near our house and their colouration is deeper, more saturated and less yellow. More like this...

https://i66.tinypic.com/169gpcj.jpg

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Originally Posted by Geoff F

It seems strange that the tail is a bit soft compared with the metal work nearby. Possibly, with a shutter speed of 1/200 it may be subject movement blur? Either way, it doesn't really make any difference to this good scene.

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My guess is Geoff's correct about the minor motion blur in the tail. When I initially saw your comparatively low shutter speed I thought you were pushing your luck but everything turned out sharp except for the tail. With birds, there's always the perpetual tug of war between wanting a low ISO, a high shutter speed, .....

We don't get cardinals out here so I'm curious about your response to Manfred's colour comments.

A good photo that could well work on a greeting card.

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Originally Posted by Manfred M

It's a good image Sandy, but I do wonder about the exposure and white balance.

We have a lot of cardinals that live near our house and their colouration is deeper, more saturated and less yellow. More like this...

https://i66.tinypic.com/169gpcj.jpg

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Manfred, If you take a close look at a cardinal at this time of the year, you will probably find it closer to Sandy's version. The same goes for the green of the background, Your version would be accurate at spring time when they are much "flashier".

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Originally Posted by Round Tuit

Manfred, If you take a close look at a cardinal at this time of the year, you will probably find it closer to Sandy's version. The same goes for the green of the background, Your version would be accurate at spring time when they are much "flashier".

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I'll have another look Andre, but everything about the image looks too yellow, even the rusty wire. Most of what I did was pull down the exposure around 20% in luminosity blending mode. I did boost the red channel a touch.

If I disable the red channel adjustment and just pull down the exposure (luminosity blend mode so as to not affect the saturation), I get this.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...644b8acf_b.jpg

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Originally Posted by Shadowman

Week 32, nice effort. If this were used for a greeting card would it be just an image or would you also add words to the composition and if you did add words where would the message best be positioned?

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Hi John - Interesting question because I haven't ever put any greeting on an image. I generally use the image alone and then add the sentiment under the image or present it by itself on the front with the sentiment on the inside of the card. You've given me something to consider..... <grin> Thanks!