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	Snail On Hosta EF-100mm Macro Lens, Manfrotto 3021Pro Tripod, Wimberly Plamp, Exposure f3.5, 1/40sec. Early morning sun, with indirect back lighting. Several aspects of this shot initially caught my eye. The snail’s body appeared translucent, giving it a visceral feel. The dew on the Hosta bud seemed to add to the delicate and passing moment, and the colors complimented each so well. Using the Plamp, I was able create the diagonal composition I wanted. In the digital darkroom, I made minor adjustment layers using Levels, Hue/Saturation, and Selective Color, and finally I added a slight Gaussian Blur outside of the main subject area to give more softness to the background and the lower part of the shell. This image always makes me smile remembering that morning capture. Shortly afterward, the snail departed, and eventually the Hostas ended their seasonal bloom. However, the image remains to remind me of a special morning. © Van Hill Canon EOS 20D Digi...