In my opinion any manipulation is fine if the end result is art ... if it is for science then the minimum needed to make the photo an accurate representation of the subject. I also prefer when photographers declare what they have done to the photo - if only so that we can allow for it when assessing...

Looks lovely but I've got to say, I'm having trouble spotting any difference between this and the first image :S

Ahh, no - my mistake - too much white wine! It looks much better than the original

Hmm, and it's about $850 too expensive for my budget

Interesting how much those antennae are moving ... people always worry about using a tripod and keeping their camera still but they often forget how much the subject moves

Really lovely - brings a smile to my face every time I look at them

Excellent news - I hope they pay you plenty!!

Definitely not a Hornet - the yellow doesn't extend behind the ocelli and the dark pattern is too black - not red/brown enough Nice photo though.

I think you did a typo in the title? CS5 or CS6?

But in general I agree. I know they can charge what the market will pay but I am constantly amazed at how expensive the full product is, when you consider how many million units they must sell around the world.

Be aware that the Sorbathane bottoms feel a bit greasy and pick up bits and pieces, and dust if you are not careful. Just a thought but would wrapping the feet in cling-film both protect them from collecting dust and leaving deposits, while at the same time retaining some non-slip adhesion? If the ...

Very nice image - I love the composition and the balance of reds & greens. Could the lack of detail/bokeh above the front rim have been made worse by the glare off the front rim? Personally I don't mind it (it helps delimit the front and rear parts of the cup) and it took you pointing it out for me ...

It certainly an amazing setup - capable I guess of just about any configuration you'd ever need. I just didn't comment earlier because it is all so way out of my budget that I felt a bit daunted

It does look similar to a simple Meiji but not an EMZ ... but am I reading the start of the word "Vickers" on that label?

Hmm, yes ... I think that I have proved that I am more an expert in fly body parts than I am in the theory of how stacking software is written

This one sounds like a question for Rik

Interesting subject - thanks for sharing What does it look like if you get really close to it? Is it a fairly amorphous jelly or is there some microstructure there?

They are lower facial-ridge bristles and they appear to pass in front of the posterior edge of antennal segment #3 :) I believe that this is caused by the PMax stack "seeing behind" the antenna because at the time those bristles were in focus the antenna was out of focus and a blur. So the stacking ...