Photo Critique #133

Photo Critique #133

on Apr 20th 2012 with 11 comments

Friday Photo Critique is our weekly community project, where we publish a photograph submitted by one of our wonderful readers, then ask you all to offer constructive feedback on the image. It’s a great way to learn more about photography, express your viewpoint, and have your own image critiqued!

Quick Ground Rules

  1. Play nice! We’ve deliberately chosen photographs that aren’t perfect, so please be constructive with any criticism.
  2. Feel free to offer any type of advice – composition, lighting, post-processing etc.
  3. You can also link to photographs that you feel offer a great example of this type of image shot exceptionally well.

Without further ado, here is this week’s candidate for Friday Photo Critique!

The Photograph

Photo Details & Inspiration

  • Nikon D700
  • 24mm
  • f/2.8
  • 1/320
  • ISO 400

Our local conservatory has a yearly butterfly show. I made this image of an Owl Butterfly while there. I found the mimicry of the animal fascinating. I can’t image what other animals might think when they see it. I really like that the “eye” even seems to have a highlight at the top giving it further depth.

Photographer: Jennifer Norton

Please let us know what you think in the comments – how would you have approached the scene or taken the photo differently? A massive thank you to everyone who commented last week.

The most constructive and helpful comments will be featured on the site. Interested in submitting your own photo? You can do so here!

 
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Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I was raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, I left for Western Kentucky University where I obtained degrees in photojournalism and cultural anthropology. I am currently employed by CityBeat, an arts and entertainment weekly in Cincinnati. The work I am doing here is very rewarding and I suspect it will continue to be. I am available for freelance work in all areas of photography.  

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  • http://www.doppel-m.eu Manulein

    I Love this shot. Nice differentation between figure and basic. If I should say something critical, I woud say the bokeh could be a Little Bit more softer. But I am only a Amateur photographer.

    • So

      That is an amazing butterfly (I love the fish-like look of it). I agree with Manulein about the background : the bright colours are somewhat distracting. Still about composition, I think the patterns of the butterfly and the tree don’t really work well next to one another. I also wonder if putting the butterfly on the right (instead of left) of the frame could have given more meaning to the shot… But again, as Manulein said, I am only an Amateur.

    • http://frankfor.me Kye

      I have to agree on the bokeh. I think it would’ve been better if the background was a blur of color instead of being still discernible as plants/flowers/etc.

      Great image otherwise! I’m just being nitpicky.

  • http://scotthaysphotography.com Scott Hays

    Excellent… nice asymmetry!
    Very colorful background distracts from more monochromatic subject though… try more lens, less depth of focus imho. =)

  • Alberto

    I do not have an URL but I still would like to send my critique about the photograph. It is a very nice shot and the way it is olaced in the foreground. However I woul have liked the backgroung more difuse. Kepp the good work. Congratulations.

  • Maya Thomas

    Beautiful! I love how half is up close and half is blurry.

  • http://ajsimmons.zenfolio.com Sean

    First, beautiful soothing image, makes me warm! Colour rendition is excellent, composition (using Rule of Thirds) is pretty good. Focus and sharpness are spot on, would have liked to have seen a slightly softer bokeh in the background, but the chosen DoF was sufficient to capture the insect in full focus, the pink cluster on the right is distracting, try cropping to about the centre of that cluster or about one third in from the right. The subject exposure is perfect, there are one or two blown out hi lites in the background, one that the antenna leads into and one that would be resolved by the suggested crop. A little burning might help, but without any detail overdoing it will just givr you a grey spot, You might try cloning in some flora from right around the area.
    Overall, Very good image congrats! Print it Frame it Hang it on the wall!

  • Bob Jacobs

    First, I find the tilting tree awkward. I would have tried to make it as vertical as possible. Also, I would have cropped as much off the right side as possible depending on the overall dimensions of the print.
    The name “owl butterfly” is obvious if both wings are visable. This would have helped but may not have been at all possible.

  • Jacob

    perhaps 70% black vignette?

  • http://frymanfoto.com Bill Fryman

    Beautiful shot. My only suggestion would be to crop tighter (something like the crop used at the top of this page or even a little more) possibly making it into a vertical image instead of horizontal. Like Sean I find that one burned out spot by the antenna a little distracting but not enough to overdo work on it. I agree that this is worth printing and framing. Good work.

  • Sue

    I like the photo. I think you’ve captured the detail of the butterfly beautifully. I wouldn’t have worried about blurring the tree, I think it’s part of the picture (and you’ve taken the blur too close to the butterfly). I like the crop but would have included more of the tree. The main feature on the left is perfect as the eye moves left to right and I think the background blur is great, it adds to the environment. You needed to darken the pink. I opened the photo and closed my eyes. The first thing I was drawn to was the butterfly but the flowers were very distracting and drew my eye away almost immediately. Well Done!