DNG to jpeg in PS Elements 4.0, Magic Wand Tool, Deep Yellow Filter, Circle Lasso for "eyes" to layer for enhanced Saturation and Contrast, Contrast/Highlighting, Used both RAW & jpeg versions to add depth (Pentax K10D set on DNG+JPEG simultaneous capture,) Merged Visible, Sharpened Edges, USM, Resized, Saved for Web...
Statistics
Place: 138 out of 248 Avg (all users): 5.5625 Avg (commenters): 4.5000 Avg (participants): 5.5395 Avg (non-participants): 5.5882 Views since voting: 767 Views during voting: 224 Votes: 144 Comments: 4 Favorites: 0
The first thing I noticed when I saw this photograph is that it has a very strong composition. The framing of the flower to include the stem, and the negative space around the bee are both very well done. The rule of thirds has been used very well as the bees head is near the imaginary intersection lines.
I like the overcast lighting because there aren't any harsh shadows to obscure the details of the flower or bee. I do feel however, that the photo could stand to use a little more brightness overall, as the highlights on the bee are a little dull.
The challenge into which this image was entered, was a technical one (Macro) and therefore, the technical aspects of the photograph are very important. The image is in focus, but not as sharp as some of the photographs that received higher votes. I admittedly do not have much experience with Macro shots, but I am quite confident that had this image been sharper, that it would have scored a lot higher.
I get the impression that there wasn't a lot of available light based on your camera settings. In the future, it might be good idea to try to close down your aperture a stop or two to get a greater depth of field. By changing the f-stop from 5.6 to 8 or 11, you will increase the area in focus, and hopefully have a sharper image. Manually adjusting the focus is probably the best way to achieve sharper photos.
Overall, a good capture. Keep up the good work.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to PM me.
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