Inspiring Photo: Caterpillar #8585535

Caterpillar

Uploaded: June 30, 2009

Description

Adjusted contrast and exposure. Sharpened. 8x10 crop.

Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/640 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi

Comments

Bobby R. Strange July 02, 2009

Great shot, Jeff. Love the detail and crop. #1149286

Jeff E Jensen July 02, 2009

Thanks Bobby! #7702352

Michael Kelly July 02, 2009

Good macro Jeff it jut need a touch more punch and that can be done with the levels slider alone in this case. Bring the right slider to the left at least to where the black histogram starts to build from the bottom and maybe a touch further. Then adjust you center slider (mid-tones) to give you nice rich deep color without making it look artificial and you should have it. #7702421

Jeff E Jensen July 02, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions Michael. Here's what I came up with. #7702565

Jeff E Jensen July 02, 2009

Wow, didn't even notice the blown spot in the corner. Let's try this again. #7702569

Ellen H. Robertson July 04, 2009

WOW Jeff the last post is great, really brought out the colors, and you can even see where it has eaten a hole in the leaf. #7702891

Anthony L. Mancuso July 04, 2009

I also love the detail and comp here Jeff, I like how the levels adjustment brought out the colors but I don't care for the way it brightened the whites on the front of his head, you seemed to have lost some detail there..there is incidentall a tiny spec on the yellow band by his right antannae I would consider cloning, very tiny but slightly distracting nonetheless.. #7703122

Michael Kelly July 04, 2009

Jeff I like the change and think it made a big improvement. The white area that Tony is talking about can be fixed by masking, I have CS4 and I understand it is different than PSE.

Here is how I would do it and perhaps Dale or someone else can interpret for PSE:

When you did the layer adjustment level you should have a mask box on that layer. Select the mask box by clicking on it and then change your foreground color in the color picker to a light gray and using a brush paint on the photo with that color in the white band area. This is a partial mask that will let the change come through with a reduced amount similar to what an opacity adjustment would do for the entire photo. Black blocks the whole adjustment white lets it all through and grays are in between. You will probably want a very light gray just to bring a bit of detail back but keeping the band on the subject fairly white. #7703805

Dale Hardin July 04, 2009

Excellent capture Jeff. Very nice detail and fine composition.

As noted, a little flat but I feel the "fix" is pretty harsh and as Tony mentioned, some detail was lost.

Mikes ideas were very good but in this case I think you can do it a little easier that using a mask since you're using PSE7. Give this a try.

Make duplicate and open a levels adjustment. Hold down the alt key as you slide the white slider in toward the center of the histogram. (your image should be almost all black) Slide until you see a little red in the bugs head area. (this is when it starts clipping the red channel but before it clips the rest) Click OK.

Open a hue/saturation layer and increase the yellow about 20% to 30% to accent that color.

Then apply a soft-light blend at about 20% to 30% also. These setting should give you better contrast, color and overall balance without leaving you with blown high lights and overly harsh tones.

#7703861

Aimee C. Eisaman July 04, 2009

I think you have gotten some great advice on this image already and can't wait to see your final product. I just love Monarch butterfly Caterpillars which is what this is! They have such a striking pattern and love milkweed which makes for a great background to photograph them on. While I have not found any in recent years mainly because I haven't gone out hunting them I recall raising them until they turned into butterflies when I was a kid. Yes I was a bit of a geek then. Of course I'm way cool now! LOL! If you have kids everyone this is a great way of showing them the life cycle of a butterfly. Find one of these guys and put them in a plastic bin with air vents of course and feed them milkweek. :~) I think once you apply the changes to this image it will be fantastic! Very nice composition as you have it! #7704343

Jeff E Jensen July 04, 2009

Here's attempt number 3

Mike and Dale - thanks for the tutorial! #7704373

Jeff E Jensen July 04, 2009

Here's attempt number 3

Mike and Dale - thanks for the tutorial! #7704374

Jeff E Jensen July 04, 2009

BAH! Let's try that again. . . . . #7704377

Michael Kelly July 04, 2009

I think that is perfect Jeff. Lots more pop but with the detail still there - actually even more detail. #7704504

Aimee C. Eisaman July 04, 2009

Fantastic!!!!!!!! :~) #7704580

Jeff E Jensen July 04, 2009

Thanks Mike and Aimee!

Oh, and just in case you didn't notice, I got rid of his spot.

#7704680

Rita K. Connell July 04, 2009

double fantastic!!!! Awesome picture #7705289

Susan M. Reynolds July 04, 2009

Third time is the charm! Stunning :)
#7705346

Anthony L. Mancuso July 05, 2009

Looks great Jeff.. #7706602

Sharon Lohrmann July 05, 2009

great job on the edits jeff. this image worked out really nice. this last verion really pops nicely. #7707328

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