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Mantidae
Mantidae
Jovan


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Macro VI (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
Location: Backyard
Date: Oct 13, 2007
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Animals, Macro
Date Uploaded: Oct 14, 2007

 I wasn't really planning on participating in this challenge since I don't have a macro lens. However, I just happened to stumble across this guy climbing around on our window ledge and thought I'd give it a shot.

First I tried using my 50mm f/1.8 but it doesn't focus close enough. So, I thought I'd try using my old 28-80mm from my N65. I knew it focused close but I didn't realize it'd focus as close as it did. What really amazed me though was how sharp this lens is. Holding it, it feels like a cheap, plastic lens that's about to fall apart...but it really does give nice results.

This was shot at 80mm with all natural lighting. I didn't have to use a reflector or flash.

Anyway, for PP:

- Opened in RAW to adjust white balance
- Heavy cropping to focus in on the subject
- Used Shadow/Highlight tool at low settings
- Cloned out a tiny part of his leg that I found distracting
- Curves
- Hue (made the yellows a little bit greener)
- Saturation (increased reds & yellows slightly)
- Created a feathered selection and added a little Gaussian
blur to enhance the bokeh
- Created another feathered selection and blurred the black
area in the bottom left
- Cropped to 640x561
- Sharpened again (slightly)
- Added thin black border
- Save for Web

Statistics
Place: 17 out of 248
Avg (all users): 6.5278
Avg (commenters): 7.3333
Avg (participants): 6.5068
Avg (non-participants): 6.5493
Views since voting: 1752
Views during voting: 278
Votes: 144
Comments: 10
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 10/28/2007 07:14:35 PM
Nice effort.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/21/2007 09:35:12 PM
awesome...nicely done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2007 03:43:47 PM
These insects never fail to fascinate me - it must be so bizarre coming across one! This photo is really well framed, and I particular the diagonals formed by the antennae. legs and head.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 04:05:44 PM
Nice expression.......I think, very nice focus and great dof
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 03:43:52 AM
I would have liked this more if the whole creature was in focus
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 10:41:24 PM
Would be a lot better if the whole bug were in focus. Lighting is tough up around F45, I know, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 10:07:49 PM
It's a great shot, but the crop feels a little too tight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:12:01 PM
What an appealing face :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:05:08 PM
I'm having the hardest time with this challenge, another awesome picture 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:49:22 PM
Now, he's just downright cute! He looks like his is so posing for you. And I think I even see eyelashes on that sucker! FanTASTIC job!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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