A bee, see?

Nice idea, nice colours but another shot of this type from you Gaz out of focus and soft. You could do with a bit more depth of field although you want to keep the flowers behind blurred. Bring the focal point forward, maybe around the bee's body or legs. Usually with these sort of shots you get a nice colourful bee showing quite a lot of the yellow rather than black sort of give it a more delicate and attractive look.

As I am quite a long way short of "expert" in my photography skills I tend to be wary of being critical of other people's work. What I do find is that quite often because comments are delivered in technical terms which are not as well understood by the novice, the whole purpose of the critique is often diluted to the point of being not much help. It's a bit like camera manuals which are written by experts who always seem to assume your level of knowledge is the same as their own. As an an example I quote from BC's comment....."You could do with a bit more depth of field although you want to keep the flowers behind blurred." This, on the face of it, could appear to be a bit contradictory to someone just at the beginner stage. It's fine if you understand the terminology but how can we always know the level of expertise of the person seeking help ?

To my less than expert eye this image looks uniformly blurred so could the problem not be camera shake ?

Lovely colours Gaz - and nice composition, but as has already been said, it is blurry - it does look like camera shake to me - but then, I'm never good at that sort of thing (figuring out why something is blurred!).

Perhaps try to get a higher shutter speed next time? I know how hard it is to photograph little critters, when they are *always* on the move - so keep on trying! You'l get there!

xx

Well Gaz has been around a while as a senior member and it's not posted in the beginners section, as he has done this sort of stuff several times some of this terminology has been raised before.

I don't see the whole shot as blurred like camera shake although it may be a combination of the two issues. The purple flower behind the bee, the petal above are substantially sharper than the rest of the image as is the petal the bee is on. The foreground and background go out of focus hence it doesn't appear to be substantial camera shake to me but depth of field.

I've tried to offer informative C&C, and i am no expert, but I reckon here and in other areas I am going down the wrong road. It would be bloomin' good then if some more people start offering it and in appropriate manner people want. Enjoy your photography folks.

Nice shot Gaz - dunno how you lot can brave getting so close to things that STING

Re the shot being soft - that may have been Gaz's intention, or it could be a crop, or it just hasn't been sharpened for the web. Additionally it could have been a bit windy. These shots are not as easy as they seem.

BC - Myself and others appreciate your C&C - you're always most helpful I find. lease don't stop offering helpful advice.

It looks like a combination of things to me, but camera shake does look like a probability. I think you're right though, BC, in saying that the flower is sharper, I think focus is always a problem with macro - and the slightest bit of wind could do this to a shot.

xx

Thanks Laura, but I won't be doing any C&C for now. I just think my C&C is out of kilter with what some people would like from the site. I have always been fair I think, but it still comes out more harsh than I think people want. YoP is friendly and has a nice style, the C&C is mild in comparison to photography sites in general. I can't help it, I am a professional trainer in a critical environment at work. I can't help but see the flaws, certainly including my own work.

<I've edited out a diatribe of attempting to justify myself - God knows why I should!>

My thinking is it is a phototography website and not just a gallery. We use photographic terminology, which is explained on the website, in thousands of books and can be Googled in seconds, but that is still too much for some.

The sum total of all that makes me question now whether my thinking is just wrong for here and so I shall refrain from any C&C, for a while anyway. However, I will still enjoy many of the pictures, and encourage those who enjoy taking pictures to enjoy it, and those more serious to achieve the perfection and style in their images they are aiming for.

BTW Should just say, I am very happy to C&C my stuff, always have been, always will be, so long as you have some constructive points to make whatever level you are. Always interested to hear opinions.

As I see it, taking your bat and ball home is not the answer BC.You are just as much entitled to have an opinion as anyone else. We all see things in a different light sometimes and so much of it is subjective we are bound to disagree on some level. We should all be mature enough to accept C & C, no matter how critical it is providing it is honest and constructive.

BC - dont be so disheartened. I find your C&C well thought out, balanced, fair, and not without foundation.

Feedback is always difficult to give, particularly if it is developmental - moreover it can be even harder to accept; even in the spirit it was offered. I think receiving feedback is far more difficult then giving it - especially on YOP so it seems.

Like you I am a member of other tog forums, where the C&C is generally more constructively critical and more technical in nature - but it seems to be accepted with far more grace and magnanimity. IMO, while YOP is generally a friendly forum one of its failings, and areas for development, are in the giving and receiving of C&C or simply aesthetic feedback.

This is an area both Azz and I are keen to improve - yes, it will be a challenge, and we all have a responsibility to play, but it is an area we feel we can actually improve in with the cooperation and goodwill of all members. We will be publishing some 'guidelines' for offering and receiving C&C/feedback in due course - which we feel will help.

In the mean time, please continue to offer your C&C - your opinions, observations, and comments are well respected and even if of no apparent value to the original poster lots of other less defensive members can take the opportunity to learn from them.