Dragonfly - distracting backgroud?

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

08/15/2005 08:20:52 PM · #1

Posted this on the Ranodm Photo thread but it saw only three views and no comments. so ....

This is a new shot from my Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR. Had to crop it down a bit but it still remained pretty sharp. Do you think the busy background ruins it?

vtruan

Nikon D5100

08/15/2005 08:23:53 PM · #2

Maybe to distracting to sell or for a show, but as a natural history of the insect its very good. It shows the wetland habitat and is very sharp and colors appear to be very natural. So, I like it.

alfresco

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/15/2005 08:26:02 PM · #3

Left comments. Overall I like the photo, but wouldn't mind a less-busy background. As per vtruan comment, I agree; it all depends on what you have in mind for the photo.

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/15/2005 08:29:16 PM · #4

maybe you can try a selective desat. might help bring the attention to the dragon instead of the background. nice capture, though! :)

08/15/2005 08:36:59 PM · #5

Originally posted by sher9204:

maybe you can try a selective desat. might help bring the attention to the dragon instead of the background. nice capture, though! :)

I wouldn't change color schemes on a wildlife shot. Great for an art shot, but messing with colors on a nature shot is frowned upon.

08/15/2005 08:39:06 PM · #6

I was hoping to use the photo for notecards. If I had thought of it at the time I would have gone for more DOF, maybe F2.8 instead of F8. I was just walking around and had the camera set on apperture priority at F8. Maybe I'll try a selective desat as I have yet to use it.

Thanks.

Message edited by author 2005-08-15 20:39:30.

08/15/2005 08:41:08 PM · #7

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by sher9204:
maybe you can try a selective desat. might help bring the attention to the dragon instead of the background. nice capture, though! :)

I wouldn't change color schemes on a wildlife shot. Great for an art shot, but messing with colors on a nature shot is frowned upon.

Yup, that was my only fear as how I could do a desat without upsetting the colors of the dragonfly. These are the first ones I have seen around here this color.

08/15/2005 08:45:02 PM · #8

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

2.8 won't work. Keep it at or around f/8, f/11 and try to reframe your shot before you press the shutter button to better isolate the subject from the background next time.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/15/2005 08:50:55 PM · #9

Thanks. I might go back over to that pond and give it a try.

JayWalk

Canon EOS-6D

08/15/2005 08:51:15 PM · #10

Well I'm a sucker for selective desat and since the main subject in your pic is made up of only blue, I think this pic works well with it. I did a quick 5 minute adjustment in PS and came up with this. There is actually a lot I think you can do if you want to limit the focus of the background... I went with the blur.

Actually now that I look at it, I think I would keep a bit of the red in the wings since they kinda blend into the background now.

Message edited by author 2005-08-15 20:53:31.

08/15/2005 08:55:06 PM · #11

Pretty cool. Thanks Jason. it could work for a general purpose notecard but I do some to donate to our local Audubon chapter for their auction and they would have to be "correct" color wise. I might still play around with it just because I need the practice. But for an actual authentic nature shot I think I will try and reshoot, getting the Dragonfly isolated over the water with less reeds. If I'm lucky.

But desat is interesting and I will ahve to learn it sonner or later.

Message edited by author 2005-08-15 20:56:42.

Jaimeson

Nikon D40

08/15/2005 08:56:20 PM · #12

I like both the original and the edits by JayWalk. The desat version really pops out at you though! Great job to both of you!

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

08/15/2005 09:02:19 PM · #13

Originally posted by JayWalk:

Like I said if you are doing an art photo that's fine, but this type of image does not lend itself well to that type of treatment. This is no longer a depiction of the original dragonfly. Not only have you changed the insectâ��s characteristics to a point beyond now being able to correctly ID the insect properly, but you now have a drab gray (still busy) unnatural looking background.

I think it would be better to just go back and try to do it again if possible. That way you will have all the bright vibrant colors of nature to help frame the beautiful dragonfly.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

08/15/2005 09:19:45 PM · #14

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

Yep. Try shallower DOF.

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

08/15/2005 09:28:08 PM · #15

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

Originally posted by jbsmithana:
Posted this on the Ranodm Photo thread but it saw only three views and no comments. so ....

This is a new shot from my Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR. Had to crop it down a bit but it still remained pretty sharp. Do you think the busy background ruins it?

Yep. Try shallower DOF.

He can't go shallower and still hope to keep the dragonfly as crisp as it is. The way it is now you can see the hairs on its neck.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

08/15/2005 10:15:36 PM · #16

An option:

Can't get rid of it, so soften it, desaturate and tone it.
?

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

08/15/2005 10:16:25 PM · #17

Originally posted by BradP:

An option:

Can't get rid of it, so soften it, desaturate and tone it.
?

Very cool.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

08/16/2005 12:49:01 AM · #18

Thanks Brad. The photoshop thing still scares me if I get to far out there. But I'm learning.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/16/2005 12:53:04 AM · #19

Great job Brad........as usual. Very nicely done.

Ray