Inspiring Photo: Black Beauty #10139833

Black Beauty

Uploaded: May 10, 2010 15:58:46

Description

1/320 f3.5 ISO 200 100mm Macro

Exif: F Number: 3.5, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/320 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 100.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 40D

Comments

Jeff E Jensen May 10, 2010

Fantastic Mike! I love that you can count the hairs on his back. #1267473

Jeanine M. Bailey May 11, 2010

Beautiful details Mike!! I like the square crop!! #8603529

Michael Kelly May 11, 2010

Thank you Jeff and Bean, most appreciated. #8604700

Ellen H. Robertson May 11, 2010

Outstanding.

Your detail is always so amazing. How do you do this time after time??

Love the reds and black. #8604710

Michael Kelly May 11, 2010

Ellen I don't know for sure. I have had a camera in my hand for so long I guess it just comes naturally. This shot is hand held and I always press the camera tight to my face and stay very calm even holding my breath a lot of the time when I shoot. Of course a good lens helps and I have been very pleased with the Canon 100mm macro. When you get it in focus with no movement it is very sharp. #8604828

Dale Hardin May 11, 2010

Superb capture Mike. Especially for a hand held shot. Also very difficult to expose properly because of the high contrast but you did an excellent job.

As with most macros, the DOF is very narrow and shooting flat plane is imperative to getting that perfect shot. I notice that the best focus is on the antennae and it falls off on the wings which is to be understood with the offset POV.

If you really wanted to go to the trouble, removing the upper background would do a lot to make this image really pop. I wouldn't go to the trouble on this particular shot though because of the lower background. Removing it would look weird and leaving it with the other removed would make the previous effort unsatisfying. #8605495

Anthony L. Mancuso May 12, 2010

Nice one Mike I agree with the comments of the others...I do think the Dales suggestion has merit, but rather than removing the bg, I think simply darkening the large ouf of focus leaves in the bg would do the trick. #8607828

Michael Kelly May 13, 2010

Thank you Dale and Tony. I think both of your ideas might improve this a bit, but I am not sure this one is worth that much effort. While I like it I don't think it has that something extra that make it worth a bunch of editing that may improve it slightly, but still will not put it to the next level. I have been so short on time I think I will just move on rather than spend more time on this one. #8609088

Joan E. Hoffman May 13, 2010

WOW! Tried so hard in Texas last year to get a great shot... you'd think that having one of the national butterfly parks nearby would give you an edge, but never even came close to this quality! BRAVO Mike! #8610351

Kathleen Nealon May 14, 2010

I ditto the WOW! I think this shot is awesome.

One of your comments really struck me: "I don't think it has that something extra that makes it worth a bunch of editing that may improve it slightly, but still will not put it to the next level."

That is an excellent way to work. Sometimes I start editing and spend 2 hours or more on an image that really doesn't get all that much better. Now, I'll first ask myself if it has that something extra that merits the work. Will it go to the next level?

Thank you so much for that insight. #8611530

Debbie E. Payne May 14, 2010

All your butterfly shots are just wonderful. I get too HOT in our Pavillion, start sweating and can't get much of anything after the first few minutes.

I also liked your comment about not spending time on something that isn't so special. I have a LOT of those images that are just so-so and am a packrat and should go through my files with a ruthlessness and free up TONS of megabites! #8611718

Michael Kelly May 14, 2010

Thank you Joan, Kathe, and Debbie. I so appreciate your comments and support for this beauty.

I find that I try to give my best shots the most time. I may not always judge the "best" accurately - one of the problems of separating yourself from your own work. IF I think a shot is praiseworthy, I will try and get the very best out of it no matter how long it takes. Many shots get a basic work flow treatment and unless something pops up as a real insight that will dramatically improve the shot that is all the time I will put into it.

By the way Debbie don't get too carried away deleting shots unless they are focus or blur issues as I have found that some shots that did not make my A list at one time can move there with newer tools or skills. I often go back and try again with some when there is a new release of CS - like when I get CS5 or when I learn a new technique. #8611738

Ellen H. Robertson May 15, 2010

That comment about spending time on shots that won't go to another level is great advice, as is not deleting everything. We are always learning new stuff and new stuff is always coming out. I bought an inexpensive external hard drive and I put all my so so shots there.

#8613132

Michael Kelly May 15, 2010

Thanks Ellen. I probably save too much, but once you delete them you can never go back. Storage is getting so cheap now that it is not a big cost to hang on to most of our shots. #8613251

Jeff E Jensen June 07, 2010

Congrats on the finalist Mike! #8672184

Dale Hardin June 07, 2010

Congrats Mike!! #8674724

Anthony L. Mancuso June 07, 2010

Congrats on the excellent finalist Mike! #8675028

Debbie E. Payne June 07, 2010

Congratulations, Mike. She is beautiful. (She, he...whatever.) Silver becomes it, too! Of course, so would Gold. Good luck over the next couple of days. #8675758

Michael Kelly June 07, 2010

Thank you Jeff, Dale, Tony, and Debbie. This one just shows that I am not a very good judge of my own shots. I thought this was my worst entry of the month and was not worthy of further editing. #8675781

Aimee C. Eisaman June 09, 2010

Yes I said the same thing about my sp that got a finalist last month. I must say that this is a finalist worthy entry in my eyes....very beautiful! Great detail and an awesome diagonal comp. I do know it is aggitation when you know you had more worthy images entered that didn't make it though. Just to let you know this is a lime butterfly..... Click Here for more information on it if you like. :~) #8681896

Michael Kelly June 09, 2010

Thanks so much Aimee. I followed your link to learn about this butterfly. Thank you very much for that. I took this in a live exhibit at the Smithsonian and did not remember it's name. #8682999

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

You &

Love It!

Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Michael Kelly.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer. Contact photographer via gallery
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.

My Profile

My Photo Shows

My Photos

My BetterPholio

My Messages

My Courses

Description

Comments

Get Constructive Critiques

Did You Know?