What may look like an easy shoot took about 90 minutes and 6-8 ladybugs. I was shooting fairly early in the morning and the darn guys wouldn't fly. Figuring they weren't warm enough I pulled out my halogen lamps and lit the grass with them; for heat not light. That helped, but it was very tough getting the third panel right. The ladybug had to take off in just the right direction. It was maddening.
The idea came to me while thinking of things that would look good on a tall, thin composition. That way I could utilize the full 720x720 canvas instead of losing 2/3rds of it due to trying to put 3 traditional compositions next to each other. Hopefully the voters respond to that.
POST: I'm pretty happy for Enzo since he doesn't have a blue yet. I think it's funny that I consider myself a landscape photog and yet two of my top three photos are of ladybugs.
Statistics
Place: 2 out of 244 Avg (all users): 7.5283 Avg (commenters): 8.7500 Avg (participants): 7.4400 Avg (non-participants): 7.6071 Views since voting: 14765 Views during voting: 490 Votes: 212 Comments: 84 Favorites: 51 (view)
AMAZING! I have tried to capture these guys a few times! VERY DIFFICULT indeed! Do you ALWAYS use a tripod with your macro? I have been lectured TO DEATH about using a tripod! I want to hand hold, LOL! Could be why most of my shots are a blurry mess!
LOVE this!
Can't believe I haven't commented on this yet. I stumbled upon it a while ago and loved it, and find myself revisiting it now. Kudos to the vigilance and determination with which you approached this project, that last frame is really amazing. I love how the focus remains on the grass and the ladybug has escaped the narrow focus into a blur.
We lost a granddaughter whose nickname had become "Ladybug." As many shots as I've taken of ladybugs, this one got the essence of losing her. Gorgeous.
wtg Doc! The way this works as a series... excellent. Thanks for sharing the shoot info. I can understand maddening, working with tiny things and getting the shot framed right ain't easy. Great job.
You have at least graduated from murdering the creatures. For me it is the colour of the background that makes this image. The focus is superior on the "takes flight" right-hand image. Well done.
Thanks for a great competition...to finish ahead of such a fantastic and admired photographer is a great confidence boost for me. I didn't think I could do it as this image is so strong...congrats and thanks so much for being a great sport
i love the fullness of the image, nice large photos, nice dof, the only critique is the bug out of focus in the last frame.. would be nice to have him caught in flight with sharp detail. overall a very nice image.
The colors and sharpness don't match up across the series. I realize you moved around to capture the sequence but it seems they should match up more. I think its a nice bit of work.
Very cool! An excellent storyline - I love the third pane DOF. 8!
P.S. I think what would really make this one pop is some careful editing to make the upper half of the plant look sharper and remove a touch of the blue cast.
Pity the lady bug wasn't focused in the last shot. Lovely colours. It would have been good if you could have had the plant in the last shot with the same colour and texture as in the first two.
What a great sequence, and very well done - nice non-distracting background and subject is super-sharp (not counting the motion blur in the 3rd panel, which is understandable). I think the "story" is superior, but I guess others will also likely point out to you that the images don't "match" - seems like the plant is either a different plant each time or shot from a different position. This isn't so much of a detraction for me, the story is what sells me on it, but maybe next time with a "progress" triptych like this, be more mindful about how well the subject matches position-wise and lighting-wise. Boy, this is a long comment - sorry! 9
magical... in my opinion, out of what I have seen, this could be a ribbon.. I love it, adding to favourites. first 10 of the challenge for me.. would love to know whose it is.. a big fat 10 all the way.. well done & thanks for sharing!
Great sequence! Change in DOF/focus/angle is a little distracting (grass tip is suddenly sharp in the right panel and angle looks different) but overall this is still terrific.
Oh...to Soar!
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
