Stuart Ord
July 2024 - Surprise!
About the Image(s)
We were motorhoming next to Lake Bala in north Wales a couple of weeks ago. There was virtually no wind in the early morning, so I went out on the hunt. I took this photo of a weed, but it was only when I stacked the images that I noticed the fly on the top.
OM Systems OM-1, 90mm macro lens, 1/60sec, f11, ISO 640, a bracket of 8 photos, combined in Helicon Focus 8, then finished in Affinity 2.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Margaret West
Good catch! You might even crop some so the fly is more noticeable. Love the detail and your weed is quite beautiful. Posted: 07/08/2024 11:07:29
Hi Stuart, I agree with Margaret that more cropping would highlight the fly, which looks really sharp. I really like the weed too - the combination of purple, red and burgundy is very pleasing. Posted: 07/08/2024 15:10:44
The fly is my favorite part of the image, and you've gotten it the sharpest. I hope it isn't just my eyesight, but it looks out-of-focus to me in other parts, including a large petal in the forefront that looks very blurry. But I read that you focus-stacked? At f11 with 8 photos in your focus-stacking, I wouldn't expect any blur. At any rate, I do love your background--it really works well for this and complements your subject nicely. The color combination is very pleasant. I'd love to see a tight crop on that fly on a small part of the flower. Posted: 07/09/2024 15:37:55
Stuart, fantastic unexpected result of the fly. I love the overall picture of the weed and the blurred background. It is all up to the author what the main subject the author likes to lead the view to. With the in-focused fly, it is natural to direct our attention to it.. In this case, maybe a tighter cropping to the fly would please most viewers. Very good shot overall. Thanks. Posted: 07/10/2024 14:27:03
Ha! Everyone likes the fly. But it was a photo of the weed!Maybe I should have called it "The King of the Castle", then I couldn't omit the castle. Oh well, here you are.... Posted: 07/10/2024 18:17:22
I like the weed Stuart. I did notice the fly but since it is stacked i like seeing the "hairs" pop out of the weed. I like the blurred background thus can focus on the total weed - but it has competing parts that are all nice to view... purple flower, hairs, green, red leaf parts and of course the fly. with this stacking the fly is only 1/4 parts. Posted: 07/27/2024 17:29:27
I like the weed Stuart. I did notice the fly but since it is stacked i like seeing the "hairs" pop out of the weed. I like the blurred background thus can focus on the total weed - but it has competing parts that are all nice to view... purple flower, hairs, green, red leaf parts and of course the fly. with this stacking the fly is only 1/4 parts. Posted: 07/27/2024 17:29:40