Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Paper Wasp

This evening I found this wasp building a nest on the branch of a flowering shrub along my neighbourhood dog walking route.  I had actually stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful blossoms when the movement of the wasp caught my attention.  I love how the nest looks like it grew there!

I decided to use a gradient map adjustment to change the photo to black and white and then use a layer mask to remove the black and white adjustment from the wasp itself.  I bumped up the hue/saturation to give the wasp a little more of a colour pop and then I added the quote about anger.  I tried adding a texture, but with the natural texture in the wooden fence and the wasp nest I decided to leave well enough alone.

This photo is being linked to Texture TuesdaySweet Shot TuesdayOur World TuesdayThis or That ThursdaysPhoto Art FridayShoot, Edit, Submit, Fabulous Friday and Photo Friday Link Party.

72 comments:

  1. Creepy!! I had my own unexpected run in with a wasps nest this last week. I think you took it much more calmly :) Great photo, the b&w makes the nest look like something else entirely.

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    1. Thanks April. I have to say I do love such things. One day I'm sure I'll get stung, but until then I will continue to be fascinated and focussed on the opportunity for a great photo op!

      P.S. Was it your pic. I was just looking at? And if so, I hope the toe is feeling better. LOL

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  2. Great shot and quote... (I'm scared of wasps though.)

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    1. Thank you. I haven't been stung (yet) so for now I'm just fascinated by them.

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  3. Incredible.
    Stay inspired!

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    1. Thanks Michelle. It really was a lucky find. I'll probably to back to see how the nest is developing.

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  4. Bees are so cute and bumble bees but I really hate wasps!!!! Grrr....

    Nice shot, really nice!

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    1. Thank you. I must say I wouldn't want this nest on my back deck, but I do find paper wasps fascinating.

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  5. Gorgeous shot and I love the edit! I wouldn't be brave enough to be anywhere near there!

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    1. Thanks so much Kate. I think there's a fine line between bravery and stupidity. I guess if I get stung I know I've crossed it. LOL

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  6. Lovely image and great quote! :)

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  7. Great quote! It goes well with the photo too. I like how you used the B&W gradient map and then brought back some of the color - so effective!

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    1. Thanks Pat. I love photos that just have that little pop of colour.

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  8. What a great shot Linda. The quote is perfect!

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    1. Thank you Cherie. I'm certainly glad to have found such a fitting quote.

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  9. I love this! It came out just perfect!

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    1. Thanks Jean. I went back today to try to get some more shots.

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  10. Great shot--and I love that quote, don't think I've heard it before!

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    1. Thanks Jaymi. I did a google search for the quote. I hadn't hear of it before either.

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  11. We have one of these wasp nests in our barbeque. We keep knocking them off but they come back and make another. Lovely photo and processing. Valerie

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    1. Thanks Valerie. I know it would be a nuisance in the barbecue, but think of it as a great photo op!

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  12. What a great capture and the perfect quote for it!

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  13. this turned out beautiful! it is amazing really how they build those nests!

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    1. Thank you Tanya. I find wasp's and their nests fascinating so I was thrilled to find this one building at a convenient height for me to photograph it. ;~)

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  14. Perfect quote, beautiful photo.

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  15. This is an awesome (but scary for me!) image and I love the selective color. Very cool -- the quote matches perfectly. :)

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    1. Thank you so much Nancy. Welcome to my blog. I see you've joined as my newest follower. Have a wonderfully creative day!

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  16. Great shot Linda! Love the way you put it all together! Lovely work!

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    1. Thanks Kathy. It was a lucky find. I love taking macro shots like this.

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  17. Your post processing of this shot is awesome. Love how the wasp is the only color against the black and white.It is such a striking photo. genie

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    1. Thanks so much Genie. It was a fun photo to process.

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  18. Usually too shy to comment, but this is a very nice picture!

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    1. Thank you so much. Your comment is appreciated! Have a super day.

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  19. Wasps nests are so intricate and delicate but you have captured this one beautifully.

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    1. Thank you so much. Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

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  20. nice shot! is it original or photoshopt?

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    1. Thanks Tina. As the post says, the photo is original. The only photoshopping was the gradient map and layer mask to achieve the B/W with the touch of colour and then adding the text. Other than that, that's the shot I took with my iPhone.

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  21. Nice shot! I have become weary lately since I recently got stung and it wiped me out for the rest of the day. Take care. :)

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    1. Thank you. The fascination still has me taking the risk, but then I've never been stung...(yet)...

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  22. Great shot! I found one in our backyard too. I'm so eager to take a photo while the wasp is at work but my severe allergic reaction to wasp's bite once is keeping me so far away from it!

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    1. Thanks. I can certainly see your hesitation. Maybe you can get someone else to take the shot for you. If not, just enjoy from afar. Have a great weekend.

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  23. This is wonderful - your processing is so striking! And what a fitting quote to go with it.

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    1. Thanks so much Sherri. I must say I do love this shot.

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  24. What a great combination of black and white and selective color!

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    1. Thanks Heidi. It's fun to just have that one pop of colour isn't it.

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  25. Wow! Just wow! So glad I found your blog!! And the quote on the photo is TRUE!

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    1. Thank you Shannon. I'm glad you found it too. Have a great weekend.

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  26. This is a wonderful capture and edit, Linda! I think the mark of a true artist is knowing when to 'leave well enough alone'. Thank you for sharing your piece and your process with PAF.

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    1. Thank you Bonnie. Your black and white inspiration is what got me started, but as you can see I needed a bit of colour to make it pop.

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  27. it's a great piece. I love the quote you use as well!

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    1. Thanks you! Have a wonderfully artful weekend.

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  28. so artistic...and creative....and brave!!

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    1. Thanks Phyllis. It wasn't so brave. There was only the one wasp and he seemed pretty much occupied with his building.

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  29. This is fabulous. What a great find on your walk. The edition of the color on the wasp really makes this piece extra special and I'm glad you left well enough alone as it couldn't have turned out any better.

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    1. Thanks so much Ida. It really was a lucky find.

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    1. Thank you. I'm very pleased with how it all came out.

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  31. Perfect pairing of quote and photo! I like your use of selective color here.

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    1. Thank you Pat. That little pop of yellow really works in this piece.

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    1. Thank you. It's one of my favorites right now. Have a wonderfully ARTFul week!

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  33. This is a great shot. I hope you were using a zoom lens, so you didn't have to get too close. I like the honeycomb pattern of the wasp nest. Nice processing.

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    1. Thank you Marilyn. And no, I took it with my iPhone, so I was right up close.

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  34. Always enjoy the color masking technique - very lovely processing. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Karen. It's a fun technique to play with.

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  35. Great editing of your photograph, what an opportunity to find this setting.

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    1. Thank you Kaylene. It was a great discovery when I found that wasp nest under construction. I may go back next week and see if it's getting bigger.

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Linda

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