Preparing a photo for a macro Nature competition.

[popcorn]

I am preparing a photo for a competion.

The suject matter is a crab spider which has caught a honey bee about 50 times its size.

I do not want to submit the photo for discussion here, because this may infringe competition rules but I would appreciate help.

THe photo was taken under natural light with my 90mm Macro lens 

The problem is that the bee's wings are translucent and so is the spider.

The action took place on a white petalled Cosmos flower.

In my image the petals are not as white as reality, the white has shadow on it and this is now a muddy grey.

I need to emphasize the white, but the area I need to do this to is vissible through the intricate pattern on the bee's wings, so masking is not possible.

Any ideas, it will change a good photo into an award winning one.   

Probl;em number 2 is that the competition entries closes at midnight to night ( Cape Town South Africa two hours ahead of GMT )  

[pontiac1940]

Play with levels (shadows, highlights), contrast, vibrance and clarity in Adobe Camera Raw or LR
Good luck. 

[hmca]

Not sure if this will be helpful to you but if you use Google Images you may find some that are similar to yours.   I found this one which also has shadows on the white petals. Perhaps your image doesn't need as much editing as you are thinking it does.

[Peterj]

Consider using a luminosity mask

[popcorn]

I apologize, I have taken very long to respond.
Medical problems.

To late now, not even a mention!!

Peterj could you possibly go into more detail as to how you would have use the luminosity mask?

[Peterj]

Sept 15, 2024 18:06:34 GMT popcorn said:

I apologize, I have taken very long to respond.
Medical problems.

To late now, not even a mention!!

Peterj could you possibly go into more detail as to how you would have use the luminosity mask?

I'm happy to try and help. Using On1 PR almost exclusively creating and manipulation luminosity masks is very powerful. With out actually seeing an example of the file I'd rather share two PDFs with the group.>>>  cloudup.com/cehx6EfkviN   
Not exactly clear what "To late now, not even a mention!!" means, but if it means that you're too late to submit I'd love to have a try with the raw file.

[hmca]

Popcorn, you also might be interested in checking this thread started by Clive.   Frank has shared some detailed information on creating luminosity masks using free actions offered by Tony Kuyper.  See the last post.

[popcorn]

Hi Pete,
I completed my reply and forgot to post it. Don't get old!!!Here it is again.

This was my first entry to a photo competition. It was limited to Macro.
Not a mention, I wish judges would give at least a little feed back.

D500 Tameron SP 90mm Macro Natural light f/11 1/400 Compensation = +0,3
Original NEF 19,6MB Cropped & Edited TIF 43,2MB
In retrospect I would have change the composition a little to allow more space for the spider to move into.

I used ACR, Elements 2023 and Elements+ Windows 11
I would love you to give it a try, but please only use Elements. How do you suggest that I send them to you. Let me know.

The honey bee's body is about 7mm long.
The crab spider is an ambush predator, it's venom instantly incapacitates the Bee. I was facinated to see how quickly the Vultures moved in to share the spoils.
The spider is able to change color to match the ambush site. It takes about 6 hours to change. It can't mimic Red or Blue.

Hi Helen,
Thanks for the tip, I will follow your suggestion. I have made, and used luminosity masks previously, but I never get the results demonstrated in the tutorials.

[Peterj]

Sept 18, 2024 21:00:24 GMT popcorn said:

Hi Pete,
I completed my reply and forgot to post it. Don't get old!!!Here it is again.

This was my first entry to a photo competition. It was limited to Macro.
Not a mention, I wish judges would give at least a little feed back.

D500 Tameron SP 90mm Macro Natural light f/11 1/400 Compensation = +0,3
Original NEF 19,6MB Cropped & Edited TIF 43,2MB
In retrospect I would have change the composition a little to allow more space for the spider to move into.

I used ACR, Elements 2023 and Elements+ Windows 11
I would love you to give it a try, but please only use Elements. How do you suggest that I send them to you. Let me know.

The honey bee's body is about 7mm long.
The crab spider is an ambush predator, it's venom instantly incapacitates the Bee. I was facinated to see how quickly the Vultures moved in to share the spoils.
The spider is able to change color to match the ambush site. It takes about 6 hours to change. It can't mimic Red or Blue.

Hi Helen,
Thanks for the tip, I will follow your suggestion. I have made, and used luminosity masks previously, but I never get the results demonstrated in the tutorials.

You can share it on Dropbox, or your Google drive. My main Processor is On1 PR, I'll give Elements (2021) and Elements+ on Win 10 a go; but I'll first have to use On1 to enable me to figure out Elements.

[popcorn]

Hi Pete,
I am 84 years old.
I don't share enough images to warrant paying the premiums for Drop Box. I probably will not understand Google Drive.

I do use the free version of WeTransfer on the few occasions I need to share.
This needs an email address for the recipient ( they do not have to have WeTransfer installed )

I am sure you would not want to have your email address on the public domain, but I understand there is a channel for private member to member correspondence on this Forum.
I have previously used it but I have forgotten how to!!!
Perhaps you could forward me your email address on this.

[popcorn]

Hi Helen,

I apolopize for probably being an idiot.
I can't find any link to download the free Actions for luminosity masks offered by Tony Kuyper.

I have tried to use luminosity masks before, but I inevitably get lost and just give up.
This time I am determined to master them.

Could you please supply the link to download the actions themselves, I have downloaded everything I can find to download, but no actions!!

[hmca]

Hi popcorn,

There are no idiots here, any one of us can need help from time to time. This link should take you to the actions for Photoshop Elements.
Things to note:
1. After clicking the link to add to cart you will be asked to review the license agreement.
2. After reading be sure to check the box that you have read it.

3. You will then be directed to a page where you have to fill in your email etc.
4. Once that is complete you will be sent a link via email to download the action.

[popcorn]

Thank you, but there are exceptions!!

[hmca]

popcorn .....we all struggle from time to time and rely on help and encouragement from our members....check out the current CE challenge where I have struggled to get the desired effect.

[popcorn]

Thanks Helen,

Could you possibly tell me how to export large Raw files to the forum and which division allows forum memebers
to criticise the images

to possibly suggest alternative methods of editing the image in Elements,
also how to have a private conversion and export files to individual members.

Could you also tell me how to format text, paragraphs etc. and spell check my posts.
I'm sure I did know once!!!