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Waiting for the Fourth
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Waiting for the Fourth

by Jim Zablotny

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 3, 201490 views3 comments
Lightning bugs are nature's fireworks. I caught this one a few minutes ago waiting for the sun to set. The subject was backlit so I used a fairly long exposure for each image. Pentax K10d, Sigma 180mm f3.5 (1/20sec at f10, ISO 640). 28 image stack (Pmax)Lightroom noise reduction, clarity, exposure, Photoshop levels, Topaz Detail.........................Jim

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on July 4, 2014 at 6:57 PM
All I can say, Jim, is that the insects in your area are not only amazingly cooperative, but so is the wind. 28 image stack for a lightning bug on a leaf is remarkable. The detail is excellent. I particularly like the bug's little legs and feet and its space helmet. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on July 5, 2014 at 3:35 AM
I like the details a lot. The leaf and the legs are superb.good job with stacking 28 shots!
D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 5, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Great details throughout, Jim, an excellent stack! The subtle backlit glow of the leaf works really well. I do see very slight traces of a dark halo around the base of the leaf that the Pmax method sometimes produces, especially when there's a bit of movement between frames, the clone tool fixes those quickly. :biggrin:
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments