Strider

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 13, 201145 views9 comments

Taken back in August 2008, this strider on our pond is an ilusive dodge artist and this is, I think the best I've gotten of this insect. Lots of spotting of little bubbles and floating junk and the standard brighten, contrast, saturation, etc.

Olympus E-510
50-200mm + EC-1.4
aperture priority
1/200 sec @ F 7.1
ISO 200
manual focus
If any steading device was used it would have been a momopod.

Large view provided.

Appreciation of C&C, always.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on July 13, 2011 at 10:56 PM

Charlie, very, very sharp and very good detail. To me this is an excellent image of this insect.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by John Stuart-Clarke on July 14, 2011 at 4:48 AM

I like the subtle reflection of the clouds (or is it opaque vegetation beneath the water's surface?) and the smoothness of the background. The strider could perhaps do with a little bit of fill light?

Registered on December 31, 2009, 6 Posts, 36 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 15, 2011 at 8:26 AM

Hi Charlie,

The thumbnail definitely doesn't do this one justice. I really like the colour and the reflection is great. The larger version reveals some nice detail. Possibly a bit too centred for my taste - if it were mine I'd consider a slight shift (re-crop) of the subject towards the upper left corner (but only by a very small amount).

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on July 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM

Thanks for comments, Barbara, John and Brad. And your right that the reflections are of clouds, John. I'm going to take another look at this to see if i can brighten and re-compose this Brad. I liked the reflection of the striders body so distinct except for the surface tension distortion by its leg.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Johan Malmros on July 15, 2011 at 4:33 PM

I like the calm, smooth surface. Nice job with clearing that up. What really draws me in though is the pattern created by the reflection and surface tension around the right front leg.
Agree with Brad about the centering.
The break in the reflection of one of the antenna nags at me. Is it a bubble or something?

Registered on January 6, 2011, 20 Posts, 154 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 15, 2011 at 5:47 PM

Charlie, Great job on a very tough subject. I've tried this many times and never come close. The cloud (I think) reflections are a nice addition. Yes, it would be nice to be able to see the details in the strider more easily, but this is a great capture.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on July 15, 2011 at 9:11 PM

Yes, Johan, I'm pretty sure that the break in the reflected antenae is a bubble. I could probably eliminate it easily, but I am one of those who likes some imperfection in my images. I'm quite happy with nature in all its imperfections.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 16, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Very nice Charlie, I like this. I
I've shot these myself on our pond, so I know what a pain they can be.
Great details and exposure, love that sharp reflection

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 17, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Nice job, Charlie!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments