Blue Bug

[gnomeskull]

I took this earlier in the summer but I just edited to make the bug stand out more. I didn't want to make it pure B&W in the background because that actually made the details in the leaves stand out more. So I went with a B&W layer at 80% opacity for the background. Your thoughts?

[eduisfine]

Is that the bug's real colour? If it is, it's amazing.
Seening as it's such a "narrow" insect, I would have gone for a tighter crop. But that's just me....

[gnomeskull]

Yep that's it's real colour. That's why I like it so much. All I did was take away the green glow that was reflected in the bottom of its eyes from the leaves. When I lightened the background colours it didn't look right with glowing green eyes.

I see what you mean about cropping it... the bug takes up a very small percentage of the photo, as it is. Thanks for the input!

[jiminyClickit]

gnomeskull, Welcome

Good choice to partially desaturate b/g. If you took middle third, and top 2/3 of that, it would feature damsel fly in a portrait orientation worthy of it. Good work.

[brianfarrell]

Nice shot - of a male Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)

Very skittish animals - you've done very well to get this close

[PLouie]

I suggest you go with a vertical frame for this shot because of the mostly vertical subject.

[gnomeskull]

Here it is with a vertical crop, much closer in on the fly. I just wish I could have gotten it a little sharper focus.

[gnomeskull]

Also, if you don't agree with my cropping, feel free to show me how YOU would have done it. Your input is appreciated! Thanks!

[fromBrandon]

I just think that having the background so desaturated makes the bug's color seem fake. My first thought when I look at it is, It looks like he colored the bug. So, I'm not sure...maybe you could bring the background color back a little bit?

[brianfarrell]

Originally Posted by gnomeskull

Also, if you don't agree with my cropping, feel free to show me how YOU would have done it. Your input is appreciated! Thanks!

I'd like to see it rotated so the damsel was on the diagonal and then crop it - so you've got at least two ways to go there - both portrait and landscape formats...