Spiders Den

[Steve Atkins]

Found an intricate spiders web leading into some sort of hole/den between some tree roots the other day. Took several shots the other day and this was my preferred one.



At the time i had a bit of trouble trying to focus it correctly, and so ended up with the foreground on the right being way out of focus. Now i look at it i dont think its that bad, but suggestions for the next time i attempt a shot like this and how i could frame it better are what im looking for.

EXIF:

ISO: 400
Aperture: f10
Shutter Speed: 1/50
Focal Length: 55mm
Mode: Manual Exposure

Canon EOS 550d
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

[farmographer]

it may look better in b&w and I would be interested in your other shots as well....

[Steve Atkins]

I shall play around with it a bit, see what it comes out like! Which other shots do you suggest?

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Steve Atkins

Found an intricate spiders web leading into some sort of hole/den between some tree roots the other day. Took several shots the other day and this was my preferred one.

EXIF:

ISO: 400
Aperture: f10
Shutter Speed: 1/50
Focal Length: 55mm
Mode: Manual Exposure

Canon EOS 550d
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

I admire your grit, Steve. I'm scared of spiders. They give me the creeps. I'd have been worried about what might have come out of that hole while I was focusing or something.

[CarlyG]

A few suggestions for improving this shot:

-Overall, the lighting could've been a bit better. There are pieces in the foreground that are overexposed, and overall the colors don't stand out too well. Getting good lighting can be tricky during outdoor shots, because you pretty much have to work with what nature gives you. I would recommend messing around with shutter speed/aperture/ISO settings on your camera to try and get the best look.

-There isn't really a well defined focal point, and the background is a bit crowded. Crowded backgrounds are hard to avoid sometimes, but they can be easily solved by being blurred. I think it would look best with the parts of the web closest to the camera in focus, and the background blurry, which would give a main focal point that draws the eye and a background that isn't full of distractions.

Anywho, that's just my two cents. It is quite an interesting subject matter, and a very good angle choice. I think one of the best parts of being a photographer is sticking your nose into places people would never think to look.

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by CarlyG

A few suggestions for improving this shot:

-Overall, the lighting could've been a bit better. There are pieces in the foreground that are overexposed, and overall the colors don't stand out too well. Getting good lighting can be tricky during outdoor shots, because you pretty much have to work with what nature gives you. I would recommend messing around with shutter speed/aperture/ISO settings on your camera to try and get the best look.

-There isn't really a well defined focal point, and the background is a bit crowded. Crowded backgrounds are hard to avoid sometimes, but they can be easily solved by being blurred. I think it would look best with the parts of the web closest to the camera in focus, and the background blurry, which would give a main focal point that draws the eye and a background that isn't full of distractions.

Anywho, that's just my two cents. It is quite an interesting subject matter, and a very good angle choice. I think one of the best parts of being a photographer is sticking your nose into places people would never think to look.

Thanks, CarlyG. That is an excellent analysis and one I hope I can recall next time I find myself in a similar situation.