Some Macro Attempts

[Barbara Ponder]

This is a small weed that grows in our yard about the size of a nickel. Any and all advice CC welcomed and appreciated as Macro is an unknown for me.

[Ziggy]

They look good to me with nice detail. Maybe just a little more free space in the frame in #1 and #2.

I think the first one is clover.

[Shadowman]

I like the second and third image, too much DOF on the weed.

[DanK]

very good, particularly given that you are new to this. I agree that #3 is framed too tight; in particular more space in front would help.

[deetheturk]

+1 to Dan's comments Barbara, very well done!

[Stagecoach]

Good set Barbara.

No 1 - Good control of the DoF, afraid I'm not a fan of centralised flowers but at times the background does not give you options.

No 2 - Good close-up of a dragon.

No 3 - Beautiful colour on this lizard and you got that eye spot on.

In general for critters it's seems to work if you fill the frame between 1/2 to 2/3 of the area with them, whether a full or part body.

[wilgk]

terrific, i really like 2 and 3 - the first is a teeny bit bland colour wise for macro detail, but the others are great.

[Krawuntzel]

This is a small weed that grows in our yard about the size of a nickel. Any and all advice CC welcomed and appreciated as Macro is an unknown for me.

Attempts? an unknown? I think you will go very far, if these are attempts - especially the animals. I wish my first macros would have been near yours.
Erwin

[IzzieK]

I am still trying my hands on bug photography so I cannot offer any concrete good advice. And the bugs are staying away from me at the moment... FWIW, I like all your attempts. #1 and #3 are shot last year. And they are very good. I like #2 best because I really like the face of this dragonfly...it has character.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Barbara,

Good 'attempts'

With #1, the black point is 35 (of 255), so dragging that down nearer to zero would help increased the contrast, alternatively, as not shot in bright light, try adding some Local Contrast Enhancement (LCE)

The people that have advised adding more space 'in front' of #3 I assume mean on left of image - i.e. in front of its nose - if so, I agree, but not too much, just 10% of width will do.

Well done, Dave

[Barbara Ponder]

They look good to me with nice detail. Maybe just a little more free space in the frame in #1 and #2.

I think the first one is clover.

Thank you Jim!

[Barbara Ponder]

I like the second and third image, too much DOF on the weed.

Thanks John. What should my f-stop be for macro?

[Barbara Ponder]

very good, particularly given that you are new to this. I agree that #3 is framed too tight; in particular more space in front would help.

Thanks Dan! I have a tendency to crop too tight. I think fill the frame is embedded in my brain and I need to work on getting it out from time to time

[Barbara Ponder]

+1 to Dan's comments Barbara, very well done!

Thank you David, one day I hope mine will be closer the excellent macros you and some of the others on the board produce or at least that is my goal!

[Barbara Ponder]

terrific, i really like 2 and 3 - the first is a teeny bit bland colour wise for macro detail, but the others are great.

Thanks Kay!

[Barbara Ponder]

Attempts? an unknown? I think you will go very far, if these are attempts - especially the animals. I wish my first macros would have been near yours.
Erwin

Thanks Erwin! I hope to get better with practice!

[Barbara Ponder]

I am still trying my hands on bug photography so I cannot offer any concrete good advice. And the bugs are staying away from me at the moment... FWIW, I like all your attempts. #1 and #3 are shot last year. And they are very good. I like #2 best because I really like the face of this dragonfly...it has character.

Thank you Izzie, I found that bugs/dragon flies are usually around where I am shooting the birds so I might as well grab a few shots of them while I am at it

I was a little confused on your saying # 1 and #3 being from last year, I shot them a couple of days ago so I went and looked at the data and sure enough it has April 18 of last year. I have no idea why. I shot them with my 70D (old camera) which I have not used much if any since I got my 7d this past Christmas, could that be why? Is there a way to correct it? Not that it matters but I would like to have the correct information on my shots so that if I need to look up something by date I can. The SD card is brand new and I don't know if I formatted it. A mystery and now I will have to figure it out.

[Barbara Ponder]

Hi Barbara,

Good 'attempts'

With #1, the black point is 35 (of 255), so dragging that down nearer to zero would help increased the contrast, alternatively, as not shot in bright light, try adding some Local Contrast Enhancement (LCE)

The people that have advised adding more space 'in front' of #3 I assume mean on left of image - i.e. in front of its nose - if so, I agree, but not too much, just 10% of width will do.

Well done, Dave

Thank you Dave. I need to look more closely at the numbers when doing PP I am not good about doing so. Still working on improving my PP skills. I have been saying I was going to start using Photoshop but I have yet to jump in and do it. I think it might be time.

[IzzieK]

A few days ago I noticed my D300s was not giving me the right date or time...I have been using it on my macro attempts because Grahame uses the same camera as mine and it is easier to follow his instructions and tips because we have the same gear...almost. But on looking at my EXIF yesterday, I can't believe I took some of the test shots on my birthday on some of them. And the time was a bit off, so I checked my time and date setting and sure enough I did not check the DST option so the date was a day off and the time is a little bit off but only by a small margin though not as off as your year??? I decided to mention it just in case because your month is the same, but year?

Thank you Izzie, I found that bugs/dragon flies are usually around where I am shooting the birds so I might as well grab a few shots of them while I am at it

I was a little confused on your saying # 1 and #3 being from last year, I shot them a couple of days ago so I went and looked at the data and sure enough it has April 18 of last year. I have no idea why. I shot them with my 70D (old camera) which I have not used much if any since I got my 7d this past Christmas, could that be why? Is there a way to correct it? Not that it matters but I would like to have the correct information on my shots so that if I need to look up something by date I can. The SD card is brand new and I don't know if I formatted it. A mystery and now I will have to figure it out.

[Barbara Ponder]

A few days ago I noticed my D300s was not giving me the right date or time...I have been using it on my macro attempts because Grahame uses the same camera as mine and it is easier to follow his instructions and tips because we have the same gear...almost. But on looking at my EXIF yesterday, I can't believe I took some of the test shots on my birthday on some of them. And the time was a bit off, so I checked my time and date setting and sure enough I did not check the DST option so the date was a day off and the time is a little bit off but only by a small margin though not as off as your year??? I decided to mention it just in case because your month is the same, but year?

I asked the question on the camera equipment board and Manfred told me it was because I had not used it since last year. He told me how to fix it.