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Widow Skimmer

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 15, 2012121 views6 comments

This is just an attempt to document the features of the male widow skimmer. If there is anything artistic about this shot, I had little to do with it. Sometimes, the art is all in the subject.

Despite my attempts to learn to be more artistic through my NPN experiences, I think most of my macro images are essentially documentary "mug shots." With my scientific background, I just can't help it. As a result, I have a lot of images I don't post on NPN. However, this is a Nature Photography site, and the most common use of nature photography is not to produce "wall hangers" so I decided to post some of my more straightforward "ID" shots. In this case, the subject is one that many people find pleasing, so I think it's "pretty" even though the POV and comp are nothing fancy.

Canon 50D
Sigma 150 mm. Macro
1/50 sec. @ f/7.1; ISO 400
Tripod

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 16, 2012 at 10:44 AM

Wayne,
Artistic presence of any work is solely up to the individual viewing said work. The detail you have captured here to me is amazing and you are giving a glimpse of the subject that cannot be seen by the naked eye, again to me, the art and wonderment of macro. After review of your gallery, my only conclusion is how beautifully artistic your body of work truly is.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on July 16, 2012 at 11:11 AM

Wayne, I will second Mike's comments!! I think macro can be quite artistic but I also think it has great value in showing us details of objects we may not have ever noticed before. Nice rendering of the details in the skimmer and I also like his tilted pose. In macro I often think a simple comp is best. Nice capture!

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Bunn Martin on July 16, 2012 at 2:39 PM

Subject so sharp...I really like it. It should not be difficult to clean up the BG a little.

Registered on September 17, 2011, 38 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 16, 2012 at 7:37 PM

The comp is a classic, and perfectly shows off the beautiful and intricate wing detail. The background is certainly acceptable for allowing the details of the Skimmer to be clearly visible. Is it artistic? Well that's subjective, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But it certainly is an excellent image of this Skimmer.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 17, 2012 at 10:24 AM

Hi Wayne

i thoroughly agree with Mike's statement

I see art in all your work..... this Skimmer image , being no exception. Excellent detail and color
Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 18, 2012 at 12:46 PM

I agree, "Sometimes, the art is all in the subject". I've always tried to present my macro work as true to life as possible..And let mother nature do the heavy lifting

Very good details throughout, excellent plane of focus at F/7.1
Nicely seen from the BG, I especially like those wings Wayne

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