Stuart Ord
March 2025 - Ladybird
Original
About the Image(s)
Being cold outside, any critters I managed to find n the garden yesterday were very slow. I found a ladybird, and thought about making it a model. I decided to take it indoors, but it warmed up and became quite lively! Not easy to grab a shot of, andcthe light indoors wasn't good. So I could only get single frames, and make do with a set of imperfect camera settngs
I had to keep capturing it with the jar that I'd brought it in as it seemed determined to walk off the board. When I moved it, it sometimes ended up upside down, and after frantic leg waving it used its wings to get back upright, which remained open for a few seconds. Hence I thought I'd post a second shot of that.
OM Systems OM-1, 90mm OMS 90mm macro lens, 1/250 sec at f8, ISO 1600. I lightened its body in Affinity 2, then smoothed the noise using Topaz DeNoise AI.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted
Margaret West
I like the open wings but unfortunately that photo does not have a sharp face. The one you posted came out nice. I might try to lighten the face a tad and I would clone out the ring around the back side of his body. Posted: 03/06/2025 19:02:55
Thanks Margaret. Points all accepted! I was shooting a moving target all the time, so these were the best of about 40 frames, then I thought I owed it some peace. The ring is just its rear body being very out of focus, I think. It tended to leave its rear wings out for a second or so after folding its front wings, so maybe those are part of the blurry part. Posted: 03/07/2025 04:09:53
A challenging subject, indeed! I've never seen a ladybug with it's wings open. I love that second image! Can Topaz be used to sharpen the face in the second image? As for the first posted image, I'm impressed you were able to get the focus you did on a moving subject using a 90mm macro. I might tone down the glare of the yellow light on it's back and shoulders. Then i'd slightly bring up the blacks. Posted: 03/08/2025 10:49:50
Yes, I hadn't bothered much with that image, so with your encouragement I've processed it a bit more and then run it through Topaz denoise with the sharpen setting as well as the denoise setting set quite high. Posted: 03/10/2025 11:57:57
I can identify with chasing a subject either because it is moving or the wind is moving it. wow - thanks for the other photo - I did not know ladybugs took that form with wing open like that. the ladybug is a good subject for macro - can fit the whole bug in. closed wing- I can't find a good focused point and it looks like it is moving... next time for focus. highlights on one side to fix. thinking of angles - next time if you change the angle can you get at least 1 leg on the other side. face and body set up look good. even though it is so small it calls out for some stacking or just a super focused face if the body is soft focus for non stack / outside handheld shooting. the open wing is the winner photo. Posted: 03/22/2025 19:26:44
I think you did a great job on this! Taking pictures of ladybugs is not easy. Even though it appears to have an uneven haze over it, the features sill come through clearly. And it is a true macro. So for r not having a cooperative subject or focus stacking, I think it's an admirable achievement. Posted: 03/09/2025 22:08:14
Thanks! Had I been shooting on film, I don't think I'd have got these images, as I took a couple of hundred shots in the 10-15 minutes or so. Scatter-gun approach! Posted: 03/20/2025 20:23:40
Stuart, I agree with others - quite a result given the difficult subject. I really like the second version of the open wings image - it is more interesting to me. On the initial image you presented, I found the face very interesting - looks to me like a mini skull. Posted: 03/17/2025 10:07:03
Thanks, Gloria. Yes, the details revealed by macro are the reason why it fascinates me. Whilst I'm not much of a bug-shooter, pictures like these encourage me to do more. I was outside today with my camera, but found nothing interesting. But summer is coming. Posted: 03/20/2025 20:22:12
(Groups 0 & 53)
This is a test message, Stuart. Please send me a message to webmaster@psadigital.org if you receive any notifications about this. Posted: 03/26/2025 18:58:55