Comments on: What went wrong with this dragonfly photo?

By: Tony Bryan

Tony Bryan — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:34:51 +0000

Hi Steve,

Excellent post and very good Instructional Technique, get everyone involved and keep it simple.
Let’s have lots more please Steve.

Thanks very much.

By: Bill Lucas

Bill Lucas — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:14:01 +0000

I want to see more posts like this one of the dragonfly. It helps me see and learn what is the difference between taking pictures and photography. I look at most pictures and don’t see what is wrong until the mistakes are pointed out to me.

Still learning,
and I want to do better.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:59:47 +0000

Hi,

I notice this is an older posting, but still of course very relevant. It’s encouraging when an accomplished photonaturalist like yourself, gives other aspiring photographers the chance to positively criticise your work, for the purpose of improving your images and our own.

I love the subject matter, and only recently became interested in the whole dragonfly family, from a photographers perspective. Your image I think captures the essence of the dragonfly beautifully, but as you’ve already conceded, the background is a little distracting, as it’s not been thrown far enough out of focus.

I can also spot another problem which has blighted some of my own efforts. I think when you took the shot, that there was a branch or twig or something obscuring the bottom part of the perch, and it’s been completely thrown out of focus, but it’s still visible.

Hopefully you will continue to post these type of images, as it’s obvious from the many responses, that it’s very popular with the readers.

Thanks again,

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:14:04 +0000

I love your posts. Please keep doing this one. I often take photos then dont like something about them but have no clue how to fix a problem. This is helpful and much appreciated!

By: Pete Belardino

Pete Belardino — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:39:37 +0000

Most websites I visit show almost perfect shots ! I’m not learning anything from those ! This post shows what you don’t like about your shot, and more importantly, WHY !! More of these posts can only help Steve !!!!

By: ender

ender — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:26:49 +0000

Mr.Steve,This kind of interrogation of photos have been very benefical for the all of us.
Thank you so much.This type of reviews are very helpful for the people who are amateurs.
What you explained here is exactly true.Sincerely yours.

By: Marcio

Marcio — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:21:33 +0000

Hi!
I liked it very much. Please, continue with this kind of post.

By: Rowman

Rowman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:55:12 +0000

Hello,

I am really excited about your website. I really find your posts helpful in the world of photography. I found here from your newer post on non focused moon in which that one also is a great post. Any way, thanks for your help and keep up the good posts.

Good Luck,

By: AnneTanne

AnneTanne — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:45:03 +0000

I only found your website today, and immediately added it to my feedreader.
Yes, please… this kind of posts is very unstructive, so I would be glad if you go on posting them!

By: Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:31:45 +0000

3 points: I consider the ONLY flaw with the image is the timing: her wings would have looked better more up: Moar Gooder Compisition, see…
Getting the sensor parallel with the subject-plane is simple, even without a tilt/shift camera: simply shoot wider glass, swing the *camera* so the sensor’s parallel, and crop away the other stuff ( yes I know that many suffer from the It Isn’t A Good Shot(tm) Unless ALL The Sensor Is Filled With Subject school, but as the phojos say “GET the shot!”, and this gives one neat shots of buildings & trees, too.. )
Or you can use http://FocusMagic.com to create focus where your glass couldn’t.
Finally, background-blur can be created in PS, and it’s BACKGROUND, so PSing it is fine.
Where’s the problem, then?