HM3: The Talon by MarkusU by dprchallenges


07-AUG-2005

This is the talon of a magpie. No magpie was harmed in the process of taking this picture, since it unfortunately already was dead...

Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7 Digital ,Minolta AF 100/2.8 Macro
1/6s f/32.0 at 100.0mm iso400 hide exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Dennis Phillips		25-Aug-2005 13:20
Great use of background bokeh to enhance the centre of interest. Fascinating composition, slanting from top left to bottom right, with a hook centre-right filling the frame. I find the interesting texture to be the fleshy pods, and that those pods look slightly different in each iteration. The pod centre-right especially adds a pleasantly delicious berry note to what is otherwise a frightenly macabre image. Quite fascinating. Tlaloc

Guest		21-Aug-2005 11:24
Sweet! Markus, you made a good image so much better. It's now an even better example of the use of textures. Strong entry. Well done. John

dprchallenges		21-Aug-2005 10:10
Thanks for your inputs John. You sure have an eye for details! I removed some distracting spots, and changed it from B&W to colour. I first processed this image a few weeks ago, but when I look at it now I prefer the coloured version. I agree the texture would show better in a tighter crop, but then it lacks quite a bit of sharpness, and due to natural circumstances it is too late to go out there and reshoot it... ;-) Markus

Guest		21-Aug-2005 04:19
Markus, looking to keep the Macro Challenges hosting in the KMSLR forum? ;^) I need to be careful not to show bias, but this is a great example of the kind of thing I'm after. It doesn't have to be B&W/mono. However, the textures here are great in an interesting subject and composition with effective lighting. I'm wondering what possibilities might exist for getting closer/tighter to show the texture even more and perhaps in a more abstract way, although that would compromise the overall interesting shape of the 'monster's' claw. You should remove that spot to the right of the 'wrist' and a couple more less pronounced dots elsewhere. More importantly, I would like to see you clone out that stray bit at the right of the 'wrist' and the top of the right claw. I'm not fully sold on the background noise either, although it might grow on me. Finally, it seems to me that the image could be a little sharper, maybe with some different sharpening, but that's a lesser observation. Despite my suggestions, I find this to be a strong image where the texture and structure complement each other nicely for a strong visual impact. John