Where Do We Go From Here (larger)

The image of the fly on the flower was taken last summer and it had

to be one of those moments when I just quickly took the image. The

settings are not like I would ever normally use with my 100mm

Macro. The F Stop was 6.3, I usually shoot at 2.8 with my Macro

shots. That being said, I still wanted to use the shot of the fly. While I

didn't manage to capture the 'compound eye', there is some good

detail in it. Hence I decided to use the image for one of my Digital

Alterations. I do admit this is a rather odd composition, but with all

the talk and questions about 'our World' at this time in History, I even

posed some questions for myself while working on it. (your imput is

always appreciated, and I do thank you in advance for any visits,

most sincerely, Gail)

Hi Gail,

A fantastic production.

Technically, you used your macro lens well despite the F/6.3 setting. Your lens performs best from F/2.8 to F/5.6, so F/6.3 is not far off the optimized zone anyway. 

The merging of your technical skills with your creativity with other scene elements results in a beautiful work of art.

Warmest Regards, Mike

Hi Gail,

Very creative as always and I think there is a lot more going on here that just the first glance of seeing the fly. Best wishes!

A really beautiful creative and original result, Gail!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

excellent presentation with clarity and creativity blended well.

Hi Gail,

  Wonderful creative image with beautiful colors & details.  Take care, Patsy

Thankyou for your visit and input Patsy, always appreciate hearing what you think.

many thanks to you both for your visits and thoughts shared!

Thankyou Garry for your input, you are right!

Thanks for the input, I was really suprised when I looked at my Camera info, and wondered what I had been thinking. Sometimes when I have had a day when I get frustrated with my image results, I clear all Camera Settings, this could have been one of those days. Thankyou for easing my mind in the regard of settings used Mike, also for your very kind words of critique.

How did you get the hair on the fly so well separated...a pleasure to view...regards....David

Impressive concept and post work. Very well done.

Thanks for the description of how you did this.  It is an art and it is a dream.  Like an old Chinese philosopher said: "We are in the dream of the butterfly or the butterfly is in the dream of ours."  We could never find the so called "correct answer".  Congrats.  Best Regards,

The original image was rather soft. Mind you the hairs were very visible. Because I was going to use it in a Dig Alt comp w/layers, I oversharpened it a bit.

So glad you enjoyed this composition Wanghan. I like the quote from the Chinese Philosopher, it suits this image well. Many thanks for sharing and for your visit!

Thankyou for those encouraging remarks, glad you enjoyed this composition.

Its a very interesting compilation. The fly with its back to the other world seems intent on ignoring the possibilities of other life forms, and stubbornly concentrates instead on scavenging within its own narrow domain, unaware that accepting a wider view to his mind that equal that seen through those compound eyes, would make inroads to solving its food problems.  The hands filled witth oats and the human figure seem to offer solace and sanctuary, an open and charitable gesture to those that need it most. Ironic that those who need it most are too wrapped up in just trying to survive, that they scarcely look further than thier own immediate vicinity for help. 

Forgive my rambling analogy of the image........its easy to get lost in this work, and suffice to say I like it!

Very well done Gail!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

Very beautiful!!

I always love your 'ramblings'. Your thoughts are shared Alf. Many thanks for taking the the time to share them with me. Good to hear you enjoyed the image.

Hello 'smiles'!!! So nice to have you visit Alberto, I hope the family is well.

very good one, again. compliments -koushik

Hi Gail, Excellent and fantastic shot. Very creative work! 7.

Regards, Tina

really excellent my dear friend.

Well, Gail, you asked for input and here it is. You seem to be tugged back and forth between the image as it is and the manipulated image. I recognize this because it's something I'm aware of in my own work. I have a great regard for the simple image, the moment caught on the wing, so to speak, without undue rationalization or judgement. It's that image that presents itself to you because you're ready to receive it. Having said that, I have to acknowledge that I spend an awful lot of time playing around with the image, adding, subtracting, cropping, straightening and adjusting color, brightness, contrast, etc. I'm hopelessly behind, now processing pictures I took last June. It seems that your path, like mine winds between these two points on the spectrum. I can't really pick out a clear course yet nor set my sail towards some envisioned land. I seem to proceed at the whims of the daily wind and tide which makes it hard to hold course long enough produce a cohesive body of work. I keep coming back to the certain realization that I am truly "Jack of all trades and master of none." It serves me well in that it leaves me open to a myriad of possibilities but makes me vulnerable to constant shifts of direction that inhibits the development of a well-defined vision. My work reflects the current reality of my personality whether I like it or not. If you want to know me, look at what I do - it's all there warts and all. I've gone on like this because I think we share many of the same traits. That's my take on things for what it's worth. I guess the main thing is to continue continuing, knowing that it's not about popularity or success but the unflagging search for the path that is true for you. It can be kind of a lonely journey made bearable only by the occasional companionship of other solitary pilgrims. Endlessly verbose as usual, Jack

Hi Jack,

I appreciate your thoughts very much. To be very honest, I do not know that I have a 'Vision', or actually a direction of where I hope to go. I am constantly trying to LEARN my camera, so many aspects of composition, exposure etc. Before Photography, I spent much of my spare time doing anything Creative that 'soothed' my Soul. Drawing and Painting have always been a big interest for me. Graphics especially, as I worked for a Company with my first employment that had a Word Processing Centre, Interior Decorating, Marketing, and Graphics. I was the 'little one' (their name for me). Their intent was to have me 'grow up' with the Company, work in each Company within the Parent Company. Had I gone to College I think I would have leaned toward Graphics, had I known I enjoyed it so much with the little work I did in that 'end'. We sold Bank Charters, and had customers from all over the world, and offices in many parts of the world. Our main Office was in Don Mills, Ontario. From there we did the Accounting, Word Processing, and Interior/Exterior Decorating/Design for you should you Purchase a Bank Charter, and also the Design in the Graphics end for your Banking Brochures, Letterhead, Business Cards, et all. I was totally fascinated. When I left that job, (they went Bankrupt !) I did other Secretarial work, then retail, and when I went back to work when my youngest was 4, I did numerous jobs, that entailed Creative work, and one of my last jobs was the Sales Desk in a Printing Company. Other jobs followed and finally my last was Home based. A Limited Editon Print Art Gallery from our Home.

 

I also did Painting, Folk Art, Wedding Florals etc for Sale in our Gallery and pieces I put on Consignment in Other Galleries. I do know that if I had the opportunity I would have loved to do 'Illustrating'. (Adobe Design etc). My Dad is very much like you as far as the simple image. He does very little Manipulation to his images and is not interested in Artistic Images like I do. Yet he is one of my biggest influences Artistically. I find that I am very busy with my Daughter and her children, always in my thoughts and they are on there own since February of this year with many challenges and problems. There are times when I work on a Photograph for the image it self, and if I am burdened at all, I find I bury myself in the Creative end and studying it. My Composition may not be very good that I am working on, but I get lost in the 'layers' and 'learning' end. I have done Interior Decorating, and Window Dressing and having a 'Store' in your home brings a whole new dynamic into how you live and do things. Will I ever find my 'way'? I do not know. One day perhaps I may be able to 'peel back my own layers' and find who I really want to 'be', but for now, I try to be somewhat content in 'learning' as I go. I have a lot going on in my life, and I never seem to have enough hours in a day as it is. I am never content just to sit, at least for long. I do enjoy PN and those who I have met, like you. Folks who share their thoughts along the way. And I do so appreciate it. Now it seems I am very 'verbose' - but that is no surprise.

;-) thankyou Jack.