Any advice appreciated - Spider shot

[Elbee19]

During one of my outting for an ecology class I am taking we stumbled across some very cool looking spiders.

I took this photo with my canon a70. I was zoomed in set to macro mode. The the only post processing of this photo was sharpening in photoshop.


Any and all advice, critiques, and/or comments are welcomed!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/181067176/186445228xhHnCd

[Andy_T]

I think it's a very interesting picture, technically very good and a great capture.

I won't say I like it because that critter gives me the creeps :shock:
I definitely appreciate your guts to get a close-up of that monster.

Best regards,
Andy

[Sailor Don]

Excellent sharpness and color.

The picture definitely says spider with a capital S. :)

[Leighow]

Well it is a great shot -- the web making is so cmplex.

All that it lacks is dramatic lighting. The shot is underexposed and the best that I coulc do is as shown below.

By the way, IMHO there is "no prize" for minimal post processing. If you can give us better view with some alteration in you image -- that is fine with me -- even if it is not fine for some contests!

http://members.rogers.com/hleigh/SPIDER.jpg

[Elbee19]

Wow Howie...your version is MUCH better!!!!! Thank you very much for the honest and most helpful critique! Now the next question I have is did you adjust for the underexposure by adjusting the levels? I would love to know how you were able to bring more life to the photo.

Again, fantastic fix and thanks for the help!

[fredpb]

That touched up version is nice!

That shot, if possible, could have used fill flash when taken, but not too many Canon small digitals have it right yet.

I just tried out a Nikon 3200. Returned it. Did not like the pictures, but had superb macro and fill flash. Got the A75 instead. Close up flash is uncontrolled. Too bad. But I can live with that.

[Elbee19]

I tried to use the fill flash but the photos were too blown out. I suppose I could have used manual mode and decreased the flash output. I'll have to remember that next time!!! I was in a bit of a hurry because the class I am taking is called Fall Weeds & Wild Flowers so while I was back taking photos of the spiders the rest of the class had moved on to other flowers in the area. I had to work quick!

But I agree...having the flash on during macro shots makes for an extemely tough photo.

[Leighow]

Wow Howie...your version is MUCH better!!!!! Thank you very much for the honest and most helpful critique! Now the next question I have is did you adjust for the underexposure by adjusting the levels? I would love to know how you were able to bring more life to the photo.Again, fantastic fix and thanks for the help!

Take lots of time (I have been remiss) and read all the essays at the Luminous Landscape.
I do it almost automatically now. I always SAFEGUARD the original. I do not use adjustment layers on the copy as I never backtrack. Try

1: Levels -- and move the right (white) and center(gray) pointers to taste.

2: in Levels select options and run through all the auto contrast stuff (with and without snap to) and see if you see sone shading that you like.

3: Select Lab Mode and look at the B & W channel to see if contrastr needs a bit of a pusk.

4: Finally, select color balance and carefully up the yells and just a tad touch to the reds and magenta's -- to taste.

That done, you can see that the lighting is not ideal. I say -- stick to the magic hours. Shoot to get some great light and shadow. Use the histogram to center your blacks and whites. Otherwise --as in this image -- the whites will be washed out after playing around.

[jgbeam]

The blown highlights at the top of the photo are way too distracting for me. I'd crop the top, even losing some of the legs tips, to make this a much more interesting shot. Just scroll the image up until the highlights are off the screen and you will see what I mean. It becomes a totally different picture when your eye is no longer drawn away from the main subject.

Jim