More Dragons, with some wild flowers...

[nps474]

So I shot some more bugs today, I was tempted to stay near the pond, but I noticed that a group of larger flies kept returning to some flowers across from the water. I thought the color contrasts (flowers/insects) would play well...

Comments welcomed and appreciated (Sorry I know I broke the post five shots a day rule, I can go back in and delete some. Oh, I usually use Aperture to do post edits and touch ups, but I was pretty happy with these as RAW images.)

























Thanks for looking!

[julsoph]

Geez...these are fricking awesome. I can't even pick a favorite...they're all really amazing.

Emily

[nps474]

Geez...these are fricking awesome. I can't even pick a favorite...they're all really amazing.

Emily

I love how free people are with compliments on this site. Thank you. I'm really happy I found this forum.

[nps474]

Hey guys, does anyone think any of these shots (or the others posted under my name thus far) could be considered for any type of publication?

I'm currently a third year Graphic Des. Major, my classwork in photo has been limited to Photo 1/Darkroom Lab 1. I am by no means a pro, but I was wondering, how far does one need to push shots like this to at least be in contention towards "real work" print or online? Based on current posts some of you guys are clearly top shelf pros,so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask directly.

I have been shooting bugs and flowers (most. macros) for about a year or so now, I am severely critical of my stuff, so I think it's often best to ellicit random advice from qualified fellow photo buffs pro and am.

Oviously practice makes perfect so if I have a ways to go, no worries, I'm having a blast doing this type of work so the journey will be cool. However it wouldnt be the worst thing in the world if I could bulk up my portfolio of design work with some shots that actually made their way into some "real" work.

Any advice would be great, thanks in advance.

[scott-devon]

These are really good shots, congrats!

There's a 5 shot rule? Oooops! I better watch that one.

[Loupey]

Yeah, we have a great bunch of folks on this site

As for the 5 shots a day rule - there is no such thing. Believe me, I post a lot and I've never been hassled So go crazy.

Question for you (and please don't take this negatively): these dragonflies look dead - are they? The poses look rather unnatural and you are obviously very close to them. Many are not holding on to anything.

[nps474]

Yeah, we have a great bunch of folks on this site

As for the 5 shots a day rule - there is no such thing. Believe me, I post a lot and I've never been hassled So go crazy.

Question for you (and please don't take this negatively): these dragonflies look dead - are they? The poses look rather unnatural and you are obviously very close to them. Many are not holding on to anything.

Jeez I can't believe I left that out. Honest, I wasn't trying to fool anyone, these shots are of 2-3 dead specimens I found around the perimeter of the pond. I can't believe I left that detail out of my original post. So sorry. Haha I realize how fraudulant this make me appear lol. Good eye though I'm sure I wasnt fooling anyone it is very obvious something about these shots is off. The other post I have regarding dragonflies are all live poses I had to get quite close for those as well, though not literally right on top of the little buggers. I thought the "unatural" poses would create some visual interest as I believe the eye (yours in particular) picks up on slight oddities like this, it's rare to see dragonflies cavorting inside flowers like bees. I was attempting to make them appear as though in flight, (perhaps not the best of attempts) In the future I will be sure to include such info. Thanks for bringing this up.

[Loupey]

Thanks for the clarification and no sweat! I don't have any issues with you using such techniques for practice.

But in this age of digital manipulation, and especially in this particular niche of photography, it is hard work establishing and distinguishing oneself from the others. I think integrity is what does that - so always be upfront about such situations.

So that I'm never in a situation to defend myself, I don't use props, I don't move subjects, I only use flash for fill, and I don't clone out more than dust spots. But that's just me

[nps474]

I agree 100%. The intrinsic value inherant to painstakingly stalking and shooting actual live subjects in their natural enviornment really can't be beat by staged shots.