Transeyesby
gaealiComment: ::: Critique Club :::
Good quality nature photography, especially macro, is a pleasure to view.
First Impression - the most important one:
Stunningly clear and interesting. The whole package is strong and draws you as viewer into the image to learn more. Even though I hate bugs, this is a cool photo. I didn't see it as transparent.
Composition:
Normally, one is obliged to point out the thirds rule and suggest that a centred image, as this one is, can be less powerful than on off-centred one. I'm not sure that is the case here since it looks balanced and well composed just as it is. Part of that perception of balance may be because the subject itself has formed a leading line which then determines the point of interest at the head rather well.
Subject:
I don't really see this as a record of transparency, which is probably where it lost most of its voting points. Getting away from the challenge and concentrating on the photograph, it is a powerful and well crafted image of a praying mantis. I could see that as an illustration in a book quite easily.
Technical (Colour and light):
The real power of this image is in its colouring. Image how it would have looked if there'd bee red or yellow flowers behind the mantis. It is the green subject on green background (the same greeens too) which give it such a significant look.
Your lighting, focus and DOF are superb. I'm drawn to the little folds on the lower neck. The 90 deg to the left lighting is just perfect for this. The shine on the foreleg gives us a feeling for the texture of the skin yet the parts in shadow are still quite clear and detailed.
The light catching the eye is just plain spooky. When you look really hard, you can see the transparency of the eye, it's just not expected or believable at first glance - which is a shame.
To get a Ribbon?:
This is a fine bug shot. Bug shots don't get ribbons, they're not meant to. They are there to inform and involve, which is an entirely different brief. As an insect study its a 10. To get closer to a transparency ribbon then I suspect you have to go for the drama and impact of the transparent eye.
I don't know how much is cropped already or how many megapixels you have to work with but a head-only crop would be pretty scary and interesting. It would have serious drama and would meet the challenge in a way that few other submissions did.
Summary:
I didn't 'like' this image when I was voting, I only gave it a 5. I didn't see the transparency of the eye, even though it was in the caption. Without the ability to zoom in and have a look or darken the room, I missed the most important point of it. Since it has come to me for critique and I have had the chance to work with it as an image outside of the challenge as well, I have come to really appreciate it.
You did well
Brett
Message edited by author 2005-11-09 18:03:05. 
Photographer found comment helpful.
