The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by moriadelacroix:
Wow - amazing, this is my absolute favorite from this challenge, in fact this is being added to my favorites! I cannot express words for this image. I love it! So incredibly intriguing and thought provoking! Wonderful!!!

ETA:
I am back to add more to my comment. I just love coming back to look at this, The eyes draw you in. It is just so intriguing! Wonderful photo!!! Just wanted to reiterate how much I love this!

The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by jmritz:
Profound beautiful work.

The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by vawendy:
fascinating! 8

The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by bspurgeon:
Intense.

On The Edge
by rooum

Comment by spiritualspatula:
I have an entry that experienced a similar fate-
The Doc pointed out something in his comment that is worth noting and applies to your shot, as well.
As for my comments on this, I think you did well, but it's more just (as Louis noted) about the level the bar is set at here for these types of shots. The saturation is fine, colors vibrant but not insane. I'm unsure of if darkening the leaf a bit would improve or detract- on the one hand, the bright leaf makes the damselfly stand out better, but it also makes it more of a prominent element ( Yo_Spiff was correct about the suborder ID on this- the easiest way to separate members of Odonata into dragonfly and damselfly is if they can fold their wings rearward).
Well done, but the voting crowd demands immaculate photos for macro.

ETA: It is surprising how close that lens focuses... the same is true of my 28-70. I've found mine takes VERY well to a 36mm extension ring, as well. Gives you 1:2 through a bit over 1:1 and is very useful. Just some food for thought.

Message edited by author 2011-06-08 21:35:00.

On The Edge
by rooum

Comment by Louis:
In response to your request for comment, I have a feeling that successful insect macros need to be razor sharp, so sharp that your eyes bleed a bit, and also truly macro. I would personally categorize this as a close-up. It seems to me that the best macros rely on the gear (reversed lenses on telephotos and so on) and the technical post-processing (focus stacking).

The saturation is good in my view, not overly done. There are some truly horrendous jobs of saturation out there, and this isn't one of them. This actually feels restrained to me for the subject matter.

This is okay, but not fantastic, as far as bug macros go.

The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by posthumous:
compelling image.

Posthumous Art Gallery

On The Edge
by rooum

Comment by Yo_Spiff:
Looks like you and I switched around our styles a bit this time. I never would have figured this for yours. Got an 8 from me.

BTW, it's actually a damselfly. I also thought these were dragonflies until someone pointed out the difference.

Message edited by author 2011-06-08 00:19:09.

The Autumn Keeper
by rooum

Comment by mitalapo:
Never seen anything like this here or elsewhere (lucky me). Anyways, I somehow like how half vivid this is.

On The Edge
by rooum

Comment by Yo_Spiff:
Hey, that's my title! I want Royalties. 25% of your net votes will keep me from having to resort to legal measures.