backlit fungus

[diggleken]

Hello all,
grateful for input to these two, Jelly ear, backlit into the sun.
They worked at the time, not sure now, dont know which one is best.................
Cheers
Ken

[DogHeadGod]

I'd say the first one, as you have retained some blue in the sky.

If you know how to use photoshop (or similar) I'd ever so slightly lighten the stem just to bring a little detail out... but thats just personal opinion.

[diggleken]

WOW, a response!
Grateful thanks DHG, I understand where you are coming from.
The stem, is however, a piece of elder that the fungus was on, so not a stem and it was very dark so no detail to bring out I suspect, but might well be worth trying - though these jelly fungi are good to hold up to sun for backlighting - but shopping might just make it much better.
And, welcome to WAB!
Thanks again.
Ken

[Fungalpunk]

Nice try this and full marks for the attempt. Being no great photographic genius my pointers are limited but maybe this is a little too close and the contrast between sky and specimen is too great. Keep at this though idea as it only needs one good one to fulfil the plan - thank goodness for digital hey.

Still like this though.

Fungalpunk Dave

[diggleken]

Cheers Dave, amen to that digital thought!
Ken

[big bill]

Hello Ken ,Sorry you have waited for such a long time to get a response must have missed this ,

1.When choosing specimens try to choose specimens that are perfect your
chosen specimen has a chunk taken out on the edge which detracts from it

2. Watch your point of focus and aperture settings close up and macro photo
work will show up any faults 100 fold,your 2 pic is the best better focused
and you have some detail in the log which the fungi is using as the host.

Other than these points Ken image 2 is the best of the pick image 1 you have got to close and the image is out of focus there is no part sharp wether its aperture settings or a focusing point.
So image 2 does it for me you could improve on it slightly by cropping in slightly to the left and the top and tighten up on the main image otherwise well done

[diggleken]

Ta Bill, good advice, I do tend to just take the shots without too much bother about quality of the specimen, but, youre absolutely right, when possible, use the best.
It was a tad difficult, holding the wood with fungus up to the sun and clamping the camera on too just by hand, without shake and movement, then getting it all right in macro - and I was hoping it would shimmer through the jelly more than it did, so perhaps a thinner, newer specimen would also have been better to gain that effect ........ I'll keep trying, I do like this type of shot.
Cheers
Ken

[acherontia]

The first is better as there are less blown out areas. If you want to 'stage' a shot like this you could take the opportunity to use a tripod,something to hold the subject still and metering/experimenting with settings.
If it's just for fun it's not compulsory, but your images won't be as good as if you took some time and effort

Acher

PS - I sometimes never get a reply LOL LOL

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by acherontia

The first is better as there are less blown out areas. If you want to 'stage' a shot like this you could take the opportunity to use a tripod,something to hold the subject still and metering/experimenting with settings.
If it's just for fun it's not compulsory, but your images won't be as good as if you took some time and effort

Acher

PS - I sometimes never get a reply LOL LOL

Basically Acher, youre quite right, I should apply myself more to do justice to a good camera and try for the very best image, thinking through what it is I want to achieve with a shot etc etc, plus digital has also made me lazy, unlike using my old SLR and kit.
I often go back and shoot again when annoyed with results, when I can,and its always much better!
Interesting responses - you can see why I'm not sure either................
Cheers, thanks all,
Ken

[big bill]

Ken no problems thats what thew forum is for to help and advise people ,its then upto the individual wether they take the advice offered and act on it but best of luck with your projects .
Like you said people at times get lazy with digital ,remember you have no developing cost so you can shoot as much as you want so experiment its only your time in front of the pc and software after that.
And a tripod is a handy item or even a mono pod or both tripod with some sort of small clamps to hold specimen and monopod for camera ?

[acherontia]

The great thing about digital is that you can instantly see the image and histogram which will enable you to adjust settings there and then. Not much good on a moving or quick target like birds/insects but ideal for this kind of thing. And it doesn't cost owt to experiment and on the spot too!

Acher