Bee critical... - DPChallenge Forums

07/14/2004 06:29:20 PM · #1

I've waited a long time for a good bee shot. This one finally came together with the bee posing for me on the edge of a bush full of yellow flowers where I could get a splash of color from some flowers underneath.

Please take a look and tell me what you think. How is the exposure, how are the colors, the sharpness, etc.

Thanks!

07/14/2004 06:33:41 PM · #2

was the IS on?

not a bad shot but seems a bit on the soft side.
the bee didn't immediatly pop out at me - though the over all colors did

07/14/2004 06:39:47 PM · #3

Yes, the IS was on... I didn't need it, given the shutter speed. But I often leave it on just to steady my own hands when I'm shooting at 300mm.

At 300mm and f/6.3 that lens has really shallow depth of field. About the only thing in focus was the bee and the flower he was on. There was one other piece of a flower down below which also ended up being in focus (it must have been about the same distance as the bee). So I selected it and gaussian blurred it so that it would not distract from the bee.

Spanish_Grease

Olympus C-4000Z

07/14/2004 06:45:04 PM · #4

Nice pun.

The picture is good, the background you've used is wonderful, bright colors and all, but it overwelms the image a bit. The subject of the photo is the bee on the flower, but my eyes are distracted by the background. Best way to fix that is just a closer crop, or better yet, zoom in closer.

I think the focus is perfect though, shallow depth of field, with clear focus on the bee and flower.

Overall, it's a great picture, but with a few adjustments it could be a fantastic picture!

Lee

Message edited by author 2004-07-14 18:46:05.

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II

07/14/2004 06:48:45 PM · #5

I've seen a couple of "lens rating" web sites talked about recently here on DPC. The two sites that I looked at both rated my lens at a lower value than I had expected. Perhaps this has to do with the softness of the photo? (this isn't the first photo where I expected sharper details than what I found)

pearcer

Canon EOS-20D

07/14/2004 06:56:58 PM · #6

Nice shot! The colours are a little bit strong in comparason to the bee but all in all well done. Pitty he didn't smile....lol

07/14/2004 07:50:55 PM · #7

i'm comparing it to my even cheaper lense - and think it delivers sharper at the f:6.3 300mm range than this photo shows.

my june free study photo is sharper ( i think )- and taken under the same circumstances - with a steady 10mph wind. my questioning however is only on this one photo.

that's why i was asking though.

Originally posted by dwterry:

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

07/14/2004 07:52:46 PM · #8

i'll add that mine at long range - even with a tripod is so-so at best.
not why i bought it though ;}

canon 75-300mm f:4-5.6 III - $200 US

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

07/14/2004 08:02:09 PM · #9

Your bee looks very good considering the distance. I got some fairly good bee macros by just being patient and hovering over a flower blossom.
The bee eventually accommodated and posed prettily in front of the lens.

07/14/2004 09:22:51 PM · #10

I like your idea ElGordo.. I did try it but ran out of patience. I ended up chasing the bees back and forth and, of course, having to refocus and recompose the shot a multitude of times.

I'd kinda like to get a true macro lens and try again. I'd really like to get in closer. As it was, I was just barely far enough away that I could get a focus lock. (that could be another possible reason for the softness)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/14/2004 09:50:47 PM · #11

try AV mode
ie: set the DOF, check the shutter on meter reading, and use the exposure compensation if you know the meter is wrong. boost the ISO if the shutter is too slow.

set the focus point to the center point only ( you can lock and move the camera ) set the focus to auto, and it won't let you shoot if the focus isn't locked.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/14/2004 09:50:56 PM · #12

I think the shot is great- possibly a top 20 in a typical free study. The brilliant contrasting colors are wonderful, and the DOF and composition are right where they should be. The sharpness might be masked by the color of the yellow bee blending into the flowers. I'd suggest two tweaks- crop a little more off the bottom and right side, and try dodging the bee or at least desaturating the yellow on it to help separate the bee from the flowers. Working on the bee's contrast might help, too.

I don't think you need a macro lens for this. Your DOF is limited enough with the lens you have. I shot this one handheld with a non-stabilized lens at 200mm:

07/15/2004 01:39:42 AM · #13

Thanks for all the replies.

I've made a few adjustments, tell me if this works better. The main changes are a tighter cropping and I lightened the color just a bit.

07/15/2004 01:44:59 AM · #14

By the way, I almost aways shoot in Av mode, unless I have a specific reason for wanting to set the shutter speed myself, then I go Tv or Manual. And if I want continuous focus, then I go to Sports mode. Those are about the only modes I ever use.

I just wish there was a continuous focus mode outside of sports mode. Then I would never use sports mode.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/15/2004 08:12:17 AM · #15

sports mode forces ISO of 400 or 800...

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/15/2004 08:34:51 AM · #16

Originally posted by dwterry:

I've made a few adjustments, tell me if this works better.

I think you cropped too much off the top and left. I like seeing the complete flower. Otherwise, much better!

Message edited by author 2004-07-15 08:35:23.