Keith Au
May 2023 - Dry wasp in lightbox
Original
About the Image(s)
This is a retry of photographing a dead wasp. From our discussions last month, we thought we could try to shoot from different angles, hoping to make it not looking so dead.
This time I put it in a lightbox with good lighting. I chose a green mat as the background. Problem was, I tried only a couple different positions and elevations, and then its tail came off.
The outcome is not up to what I hoped for. Due to time constraint (I am leaving for a 3-week trip in a couple days), I was not able to shoot other macro shots,
or selecting something else from my stock. Hence this is the only image I can submit for this month.. My apologies.
Any suggestions / ideas are welcome.
Nikon D750 105mm/f2.8 macro lens, 1/10s f/13 iso@100 on tripod.
Post-processing: Cropping and minor exposure modification using ACR.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
Yes, dead insects can be quite fragile. They also take on unnatural shapes I find even when whole, but a dead wasp is usually better than a live one in my books.
You have had to crop in a lot, I would suggest getting closer next time.
There are lots of specular highlights on the wings. This is a common problem with winged insects. I've found that using a polarising filter helps but doesn't resolve it fully. I can see that you didn't have time to retouch it to remove these.
I hope you're having a good trip! Posted: 05/16/2023 15:33:09
You have had to crop in a lot, I would suggest getting closer next time.
There are lots of specular highlights on the wings. This is a common problem with winged insects. I've found that using a polarising filter helps but doesn't resolve it fully. I can see that you didn't have time to retouch it to remove these.
I hope you're having a good trip! Posted: 05/16/2023 15:33:09
Thanks, Stuart. You are exactly right.. I was running out of time.. getting ready for the trip while trying to submit my image in-time for this month.
Yeah, it's my oversight of the wing reflection.. should have remove it. Thanks for pointing it out.
I am back from my Alaska trip.. saw the tallest mountain in N. America (Denali Mountain) - from within the Denali National park. Posted: 05/27/2023 23:08:39
Yeah, it's my oversight of the wing reflection.. should have remove it. Thanks for pointing it out.
I am back from my Alaska trip.. saw the tallest mountain in N. America (Denali Mountain) - from within the Denali National park. Posted: 05/27/2023 23:08:39
Interesting that with a tripod and at f13, it is so soft. By going back to the original, I am going to venture that it is cropped too much. I think the poor little bugger should RIP at this point...he has given you all he can. I have a bunch of live wasps I can donate, lol! I hope you are going somewhere relaxing and fun. Anything live is always harder to shoot in Macro (even when it's dead!), but you are to be commended on experimenting with this one. That's how we learn! Posted: 05/16/2023 20:52:36
Yes, Carol. I did learn a lot from this photographing exercise of dead bug. It's not much easier than shooting a live one.. :) This poor wasp has died without its whole body... :( Posted: 05/27/2023 23:13:23
Hi Keith, I also wondered why the image wasn't sharper given the tripod and aperture. I have also been experimenting with bugs and it quite challenging. I think it is harder to photograph dead bugs because the eyes always make images of bugs more interesting -but the trade off is that then they are alive and move around. Enjoy your trip. Posted: 05/23/2023 16:50:30
Agreed, Gloria. It's very tough getting a good mage of a dead bug. I think I was shooting too close, or cropped too much (as Carol suggested).. The dof is so shallow after cropping, esp blurring the background. On the whole, I was not happy with this image... It's good that my Alaska trip was great.. saw some wildlife too. Posted: 05/27/2023 23:17:17
(Group 0)
For any insects, the head - and eyes especially - are essential. It's rather hard to get a good shot when you're rushing, so set aside more time. I also suggest you get a set of insect pins - size 0 - to help you position your subjects for the best effect. Posted: 05/27/2023 11:50:46
Good point, Tom. I was extremely soft and easy while moving the wasp around.. However, its body was just too dry.. probably using a pin to stabilize it would cut it into pieces. Well, the outcome was still ending up splitting up the body parts.. It was just a rush job.. My apologies to all.. Hope I will do better next month. Appreciate the encouragement from everyone. Posted: 05/27/2023 23:23:33
Keith- I don't have much to add to all the above comments, and would agree that it is time for this guy to RIP. Very hard to position dead bugs, and get them on a good background, and ..... everything that you have discovered with trying this. A valiant try. Posted: 05/29/2023 14:26:45
Keith, I actually think there was more to see in your April wasp, more wing exposed and April seemed more focused. I guess we all wanted to see head first. just saw tom said pin down also. but a good project. Posted: 05/29/2023 21:49:53
Keith, I actually think there was more to see in your April wasp, more wing exposed and April seemed more focused. I guess we all wanted to see head first. just saw tom said pin down also. but a good project. Posted: 05/29/2023 21:49:53