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Pollen Bath II – COMMENTS?

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 16, 2008587 views14 comments

Monday’s similar post (Pollen Bath) was not a big hit, so I thought I would try to post another shot of a different sweat bee on a chicory flower, in the hope of finding out why there are no comments on the previous one. The lack of comment only leaves me to believe that the image is dull, or that it is so technically flawed that people are too polite to mention it.
QUESTION: I was intrigued by the stamens of this flower, so I left them in on the left side, even though it makes the bee facing out of the frame. Should I have cropped off some of the left side?

LOOKING FOR COMMENTS:
I realize that this is a slow time for comments in this gallery, because I just commented on a couple of other fine images that also had zero comments. We are all busy, but if you have time to post an image, it would be nice if you could comment on at least a few of the others in the gallery. I think one of the reasons why many of us post here is to learn from each other. So PLEASE tell me what you think of the photograph, even if it is just a comment on what could be improved, or if you find the subject uninteresting or presented poorly.
Canon 20D
Sigma 150 macro
f/16 @ 1/100 sec.
Monopod

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 16, 2008 at 6:22 PM

Wayne, I've never posted in this gallery, but it doesn't stop me from looking now and then. This image is excellent with beautiful color, great detail, and lots of interest. I prefer it to the previous image, which, while good, was taken under harsher light and didn't have as nice of color. The only nit here is, as you noted, the direction the bee is facing, but I would not crop the image.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on October 16, 2008 at 6:40 PM

Wayne, the color, composition, and detail to this image are all outstanding. Wonderful light on the subject too.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on October 16, 2008 at 9:04 PM

Wayne, I tend to click "all photos" and comment on those in any forum that appeal to me, no matter where I might be posting. Due to some computer problems, I haven't been in the forum as much as I'd like and missed your last post. I flagged this one today because I liked the thumbnail and wasn't disappointed when the full size image appeared. The detail you captured is amazing, especially on the bee. Your DOF appears to be spot on. I also love the contrasting green BG with the purple flower petals. I think your crop is just fine as I like the detailed stamens. As for which way the bee is facing, well - it's darn hard to get those little critters exactly where you want them. Sometimes you just have to make do! Excellent work

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on October 17, 2008 at 1:46 AM

Thanks so much for your comments, and please accept my apologies for the scolding tone of my request for comments. My doctor has me on an insanely high dose of steroids (necessary to survive Chemo) and it makes me cranky, hyper, and plain nuts.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on October 17, 2008 at 2:04 AM

Thanks for the commenting reminder, Wayne. I think we all get busy and forget to comment on images belonging to others.

The flower petals are great in their detail as is the bee.

IMO, the center of the flower is distracting but not sure what you can do with it. Possible select the color and tone it down, maybe blur it. I don't know if that would work or not ... It's your call.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on October 17, 2008 at 5:53 AM

Pollen bath is a nice theme Wayne, I think you did very well on that theme here. If this one is a full frame image then I think a little more closer crop may highlight that theme further by bringing out pollen bath clearly. Interesting color scheme here, wish had the bee a little above on the petal.

Coming to commenting I do agree with you, often we are interested in posting and not commenting. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being able to spare enough time. I have been trying to take my posting-commenting ratio beyond (present) 1:5 or 1:6 but unable to spare time as much as I wish to. Wish I could do full time photography than being a week end warrior :) I am sure several of us are in the same boat.

Thanks for bringing this topic !

Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments

Comment posted by William Brozy on October 18, 2008 at 11:09 AM

It's about time someone else scolded the crowd... I gave up on that a while ago. Even w/o the insanely high dose of steroids I get cranky on this forum at times as well; no hard feelings...

The image - overall I cannot nit. Nice detail in the little bee - although it looks much more like a wasp. I'd be tempted to mellow the yellow. It looks good at this end Wayne. Nicly captured!

Registered on November 9, 2003, 559 Posts, 2929 Comments

Comment posted by huseyin Yilmaz on October 19, 2008 at 3:56 AM

Hi as a macro photo lover, I really impressed.
Always small details atracts my attension. in this photography insect is just inside of the sharpness limits. also the others. and another important think is the colors. in the tumbnail image it is the color that atracted me at first.

regards.

Registered on October 19, 2008, 3 Posts, 5 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on October 19, 2008 at 7:32 AM

You are completely right about the numbers of comments in this forum! For some reason the images are viewed quite well, but comments are poor. I always try to give some comments if I post an image, but somehow this forum doesn't come alive.
About your image: I like it a lot! The sharpness, the colors, the light, everything is great. For the comp I would have liked the bee a bit more to the left indeed.

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on October 21, 2008 at 6:55 AM

Happy to see you get the EP Wayne, really not into bees, or bugs, but you did catch some very nice detail and color. On the other subject, I completely agree, and I could really get into this, but i wont. If I find others with very few comments or no comments, I will always leave something to give others a little encouragement, and if someone leaves a comment on me I'll search the whole forum and make sure that I reciprocate on them. They took the time for me and I'll definitely take the time for them. I think there are people on this site that think they're all of that and don't have to make a comment. Before I get in trouble I'm going to shut up. Patty & I are always thinking about you and hoping everything is going well. Again, congrats on EP.
John & Patty

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on October 21, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Wayne..sorry to have missed your other post. I've been taking a rather long break from posting and commenting. I completely agree with you about the lack of comments. There is no excuse for not leaving at the minimum 3 comments for every image posted...I strive to leave 10 comments for every image posted.

As for this image, you'll get no nits from me. Excellent details throughout! Congrats on a well deserved EP!

Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 21, 2008 at 1:15 PM

Wayne, this is magnificent as a photograph (though I am not fond of bugs as a macro subject, I confess!). Technically it's great, as is the comp. I see the bee as facing into the image, btw… Love it that you kept the stamens in on the left, as that is what Bee is after and comes out satisfyingly dusted.

Hmm…, I'll have to go find your previous post now.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 27, 2008 at 4:03 PM

Simply an all-around amazing capture, Wayne. I have no suggestions for improvement, and can only say it sure brings to life the very natural process taking place overall. Congratulations on the EP selection too.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Lynch on October 28, 2008 at 8:41 AM

Congrats on your EP. Well deserved.

Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments