Hanging On by myautofocuslife

Hanging On

My first insect shot! And as you can see, it's kind of a disaster.

The little beetle was clinging on to an orchid flower. I was so excited to see it because I had my Sony with the macro lens with me, but I think I missed a good opportunity to get a great shot. Most of its head is but its antennae, body and hind legs are not in sharp focus. I am ashamed of myself! But I thought I should upload this anyway, as a reminder to myself to try and do better next time.
Well, it's a pretty darn good "fail" to me. I love the color of the flower, too.
February 17th, 2012  
I agree! These critters don't cooperate sometimes, but your capture is fine! Livia, we are all learning and are all searching for that shot of a lifetime!
February 17th, 2012  
You still have quite a lot of detail there. It is still a good one even if you are not quite happy with it. I love the colouring of the insect and the flower, nice focus.
February 17th, 2012  
Looks good to me. Love the vibrant colours. :)
February 17th, 2012  
Don't beat yourself over it. I think it's a great shot and I like it very much! Great shot!
February 17th, 2012  
His eye is sharp. the colors are great and it is an effective use of a shallow dof.
February 17th, 2012  
Great Precise Shot. Colorful & Love the DOF.
February 17th, 2012  
My eye is drawn immediately to the insect's head, which I feel should be the focus of the shot... and it is sharp and clear. I love your composition and the color is fabulous.
February 17th, 2012  
Okay... how is it a disaster? It's pretty cool! I can see all the detail in its antennae thingys! I can its big black eyes! I can even see some details in the texture of the flower! Nice soft background and beautiful colors, too!
February 17th, 2012  
This is better than anything I posses in my collections. Its all about timing sometimes and you timed it to perfection. Don't judge your own work by standards of others. This is a great shot just read the above comments, these people are not lying :)
February 17th, 2012  
Really cool shot! Pretty colors!
February 17th, 2012  
Striking bug. beautiful flower
February 17th, 2012  
Cool macro shot even if it isn't exactly what you wanted. I so want a macro lens:)
February 17th, 2012  
It works for me too. Lovely soft vibrant colours. You shouldn't worry about the "thing" not being completely sharply focussed, I think it is good that he doesn't pop out of the soft focus too much.
February 17th, 2012  
Macro shots with insects moving are very very hard to get in a full frame focus. If you are really close up then there is a small field of focus that is crisp and the rest is softer. Good job!!
February 17th, 2012  
I love it!
February 17th, 2012  
Very nice! I like the contrast & colors.
February 17th, 2012  
Livia, this really is a great photo, in spite of how you feel about it. Macro shots with moving objects really are a challenge and you captured this little guy very nicely!
February 17th, 2012  
Better that you got his delicate and structural foreparts in focus than his rather dull boring backside ;-)
I think it's a good shot.
February 17th, 2012  
Macro is my newest favorite thing to shoot!! Can't wait to see more of yours!
February 17th, 2012  
We are our own worst critics...I think the shot is great- love the angle and the flower and the fact that you can see just enough of the bug! Well done Liv!
February 17th, 2012  
Stunning focus! He looks like he is holding a heart with his hind legs!
February 17th, 2012  
Not so bad at all. For the first try a really good one.. I like it
February 17th, 2012  
Great capture, love the colours and detail
February 17th, 2012  
Great shot
February 17th, 2012  
Everyone loves this! So do I!
February 17th, 2012  
Each day I look forward to your contribution. I see nothing but excelence in your work. The depth of field limits are due to physics not you. Did I say, "I love the capture"?
February 17th, 2012  
Huh???? What disaster. That's a damned cool shot!
February 17th, 2012  
What disaster??? It's an amazing shot!
February 17th, 2012  
Love the focus it is so not a disaster!
February 17th, 2012  
Wonderful shot!!!! How do you get them to stay still long enough??
February 17th, 2012  
Perfect title, lovely photo.
February 17th, 2012  
Great shot. I think I snapped his cousin yesterday!
February 17th, 2012  
great focus!!:)
February 17th, 2012  
wow, nice job! It's hard to capture those lil' buggers!
February 17th, 2012  
it looks pretty good to me livia!! you got great focus on the little guy!
February 17th, 2012  
Beautiful colors! Nice shot:)
February 17th, 2012  
what a lovely coloured beetle, ours are usually black
February 17th, 2012  
It doesn't look like a disaster at all, perfect first shot! We're definitely our own worst critics aren't we?! I'm rarely 100% happy with some aspect of my shots too, but this is a lovely one! Love the colours and textures in that flower and the background as well as the insect.
February 17th, 2012  
I wish my 'disasters' looked half as good as this! Honestly I think it's a really cool, honest picture.
February 18th, 2012  
It isn't bad at all. Manyt of the micro lens shots only have part of the insect in focus. The head is what is important.
February 18th, 2012  
This is not a bad photo at all, you got this guy clearly and the colors are well done. We are all learning and I like the fact that you posted it as a reminder to yourself. You will look back and love it. I think we are our own worst critique on our photos.
February 18th, 2012  
How can you call this little beauty a disaster, Livia! It's gorgeous and has beautiful dof and colors. Why are some of us so hard on ourselves (that means ME!) Love your photo. :)
February 18th, 2012  
Excellent fail! I think it's great.
February 18th, 2012  
Agree with Caryn - excellent fail....great shot!
February 18th, 2012  
Oh he's a cute little bug!
February 18th, 2012  
Your getting into live subjects! :) Great colors!
February 18th, 2012  
Looks great to me. I love his bright yellow colour and shiny black eye.
February 18th, 2012  
Beautiful
February 18th, 2012  
Your so funny...great shot! Well done if you ask me!
February 18th, 2012  
The colours nearly pop off the page. I know how small these guys are and they are quick to fly away if you try and rearrange them so I think it's a wonderful shot. But be warned I'm pretty sure this is the little guy that loves feasting on orchid flowers and I believe they have a very healthy appetite for them so your lovely orchid flowers could disappear very quickly.
February 18th, 2012  
Looks great for a first try, if you are in really close you won't get the whole insect in focus with a macro lens, you should always aim for the eyes and head which is exactly what is in focus here! Great colours too!
February 18th, 2012  
great close-up shot
February 18th, 2012  
wow so colourful!
February 18th, 2012  
Ro
AMAZING!!!
February 18th, 2012  
the yellow against the purple looks great. Insect shots can be so time consuming. I find trying to take photos of bees so frustrating but ever now and then i get a good shot, so worth all the time I spend
February 18th, 2012  
Bright little beetle! It looks like a great shot to me!
February 18th, 2012  
I'd say it's a great first shot. Insects are very hard to capture well. Nice detail on the legs.
February 18th, 2012  
Mmmm, why are you ashamed? This is a wonderful shot. They are quick little buggers so focusing is not always possible but I'd say this is pretty darned good! xx
February 18th, 2012  
February 18th, 2012  
Perfect details.
February 18th, 2012  
Fabulous shot
February 18th, 2012  
I think it's still a great shot, i wouldn't have noticed all of the things you picked on, nothing to be ashamed of here:) Beautiful colours too!
February 18th, 2012  
cool colors 'tho -like it :)
February 18th, 2012  
Cool close-up.
February 18th, 2012  
beautiful photo
February 18th, 2012  
wow Livia the detail of the beetle is amazing - as are the colors, beautiful composition!
February 18th, 2012  
Well my macro lens are still in the package - at least you are giving it a try! I like the color and I think this has some great detail!! Good job!
February 18th, 2012  
LOL Livia. I can see you getting all excited! Think the photo is fine!
February 18th, 2012  
This is very beautiful - love the colors and the focus.
February 19th, 2012  
Absolutely stunning!!!
February 19th, 2012  
great macro!
February 19th, 2012  
A big, magnified, colorful "THANK YOU!" to everyone!

All your encouraging comments make me smile. I'm just bowled over by your support. A special thank you to @zferrie for the helpful link. It was a great read.

I still think this shot of mine is on the side of failure but I take it as part of the learning process. I am grateful for all your comments and I will try harder. Thank you so, so much.
February 19th, 2012  
Fabulous
February 19th, 2012  
Amazing macro, he is a cute little guy.
February 19th, 2012  
This is wonderful! I think it's an amazing shot of a very interesting bug.
February 20th, 2012  
This is a great shot..the insect is so clear you can see him clinging to the flower!
February 20th, 2012  
For me it's an amazing shot, and to think this busy bug is not easy to capture. Love the colors, too... and I see a purple heart ;)
February 20th, 2012  
Great fail Livia, it is a fab Macro
February 21st, 2012  
beautiful :)
February 22nd, 2012  
It is a terrific Macro! As far as focus, the main rule for insect macros is the eye must be in focus. The rest is choice and circumstance.
February 23rd, 2012  
Awesome shot Livia!
February 26th, 2012  
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