Reply To: Flamingo Tongue from Roatan – feedback please

[Nicolas]

Hi @evanepattoncomcast-net

I’ve changed the title of this thread so it’s more obvious there’s an UW photo added for feedback 🙂

I like how you’ve captured the shell of that flamingo tongue snail (a type of cowrie), showcasing the patterns and with your lighting revealing the delicate texture of the shell. This image ticks an important box of macro photography: making small things look big and detailed. It’s nicely lined up with the diagonal, which makes the composition dynamic.

Next time you see a similar subject, here’s a couple of suggestions:

-definitely go for a similar angle (to capture the patterns) but I’d suggest back off a little, to give some breathing space in the composition (more satisfying to look at longer). Also, because this shot is a lot about the patterns and revealing details, I’d close down the aperture (try F/16 or F/22) so the whole shell is sharp.

-then try different perspectives on the same subject. For example with cowries, try get lower so you can see the snail below the shell (photographing side ways or 3/4).

Let’s see what others think but these are my 2 cents.