On Tue, 1 May 2001 16:36:03 +0200, Lasse Karlsson wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>These are my comments to the pictures that were picked out for me to comment on this
>month.
>I hope I will do justice to the pictures, the techniques and the shooters in my
>comments. (If not, I don't mind at all, the shooters or anyone disagreeing with me...)
>
>Leon Althoff: Clarrie's Crab
>
>I haven't done any real or advanced macro shooting myself, other than just trying it
>out a couple of times. However I think that I realise how difficult it may be. In
>this case I want to commend you for having achieved what you have in this case. Yet I
>do not find the picture altogether successful (although you may have accomplished the
>best any photographer may be able to in that shooting situation).
>There is definitely a lack of 3-dimensionality. The crab appears slightly amorph, you
>can't really feel the structure of the crab. (I realise that it is shallow DOF and
>the colors/lighting that won't allow for the "tentacles" and the shell to appear, but
>still.)
>I was also asking myself whether something could have been done to the colours to
>make the parts stand out more. But I do not know if this, in your opinion, would have
>made it too unnatural for your intentions.
>Interesting picture though.
First off I will say that shooting things this small that only look any
good when they are in water is not easy, but you do get used to it
after a while. They tend to be afraid of the light and run away very
quickly, which means you have to focus in low light. The depth of
field is next to non existant - maybe 2 mm if you are lucky (and that
is fully closed down). Changing the colours may help it as a work of
art, but that is not what this picture is for.
What would have been nice is if the crab had found a shell that gave
better definition of the animal against the shell. However, I have no
control over the shell they select - I will be on the look out for a
better subject though.
Success of a picture is measured differently by different people. I
gave a copy of the picture to Clarrie who it is named after and he
loves it. All those who share an interest in small marine life have
marvelled at it. I am willing to admit it does not have huge artistic
merit, perhaps next month.
What does drive me on though is that the pictures of animals like this
used in books on the subject are really dreadful in a lot of cases.
The picture of this crab is better than you will find in any book, and
people who write the books are getting to see my work and I hope will
include my pictures in future books.
Oh and there is no "h" in my name, but I will forgive you that.
Leon
http://www.bluering.org.au
http://www.bluering.org.au/leon
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