Macro flower photographs

[ScoutR]

Beautiful series Bobo. I just love the texture you have managed to capture in the petals. The yellow rosebud really stands out for me but they are all quite nice

Wendy

Edit: Click and view large in Lytebox - they are quite luscious

[ScoutR]

190mm on APS-C.
1/160 sec at f / 6.3, ISO 400.

I really like this Alex. Hope to see more

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Lysimachia

Beautiful, All shots in this thread should be clicked on and viewed in the Lytebox, but this one in particular changes from a nice shot of a pretty white flower to something exceptional when viewed large

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Cosmos Blossom



Wendy

[Bobobird]

Thanks Wendy. I seldom look at lightbox but those surprised me somewhat.

Your last one is extremely nice. Really like the soft tone and colour.

[herbert]

I really like this Alex. Hope to see more

Wendy

Thanks Wendy. I'd never seen flowers like this before and managed to get a few good shots.

I have been taking all my flower shots with a zoom lens with Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) of 1.2m. If I get a bit too close the flowers lose their beautiful texture and I get some softness I can't fix. I hope to get hold of a macro lens to see if that gives my close ups a bit more pop. I have a lot of work to do to keep up the standard on this thread.

[herbert]

[Deleted]

[Letrow]

I have been taking all my flower shots with a zoom lens with Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) of 1.2m. If I get a bit too close the flowers lose their beautiful texture and I get some softness I can't fix.

That is a nice photo Alex with some good bokeh as well. Instead of going for the macro lens option (I love my macro lens TBH, but these lenses are really expensive) you could also try a close-up filter first to put on your zoom lens. Quality wise it isn't the same as a macro, but it gets you a lot closer for a fraction of the price of a macro. If you do go for a filter, go for a good brand though, there is some rubbish on the market that won't really help.

[Letrow]

Cosmos Blossom



Wendy

Very nice Wendy, I love the softness in this photo. It's like a watercolour. What kind of exposure do you use for these photos and how do you measure? Spot measure on the flower?

[Letrow]

Some close-ups.

Nice shots Bobo. I like the last two best. The compostion is good and the colours are nice and bright. The first two shots are too underexposed for my taste. You could probably fix this partly in Gimp or Photoshop. Now the colours look a bit flat.

[herbert]

Instead of going for the macro lens option (I love my macro lens TBH, but these lenses are really expensive) you could also try a close-up filter first to put on your zoom lens.

Hi Peter,

I had looked at getting a close-up filter for the lens. However I read that it would restrict the focussing distance to a few feet. This would mean taking it off whenever I wanted to shoot anything further away. The hassles involved would probably put me off taking the photos and I would miss out on those capture the moment images. At least with a macro lens it can also focus to infinity.

Alex

[Letrow]

Hi Peter,

I had looked at getting a close-up filter for the lens. However I read that it would restrict the focussing distance to a few feet. This would mean taking it off whenever I wanted to shoot anything further away. The hassles involved would probably put me off taking the photos and I would miss out on those capture the moment images. At least with a macro lens it can also focus to infinity.

Alex

Yes, that is correct, it restricts you to a couple of feet.
Don't get me wrong: If you are willing to invest, buy a good macro. You will probably enjoy it a lot.

The filters are a cheap alternative if you are still deciding and they will give you more possibilities with your current zoom lens.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Peter.

Will take a look at those 2.

[ScoutR]

Very nice Wendy, I love the softness in this photo. It's like a watercolour. What kind of exposure do you use for these photos and how do you measure? Spot measure on the flower?

Thanks Peter. I'm using the Lumix G1 right now and I'm not that familiar with the controls so I just leave it on Matrix and let the camera do the work. I do use plus or minus EC depending on what kind of look I am going for and what kind of lighting I have. Generally speaking I adjust EC until I have not blown highlights in the areas I am concerned with. I'd love to have more light on the bud in this one, but I find when shooting this close in direct sun or bright lighting, I always get blown highlights so I tend to keep the light at the back. When I am not in a hurry (not often) I use a reflector to get some nice even light back on the subject. It is a bit of a pain, but for special shots it is worth it to take the time, as it usually improves things by a large margin.

Thanks again for the positive feedback and encouragement.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Thanks Wendy. I'd never seen flowers like this before and managed to get a few good shots.

I have been taking all my flower shots with a zoom lens with Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) of 1.2m. If I get a bit too close the flowers lose their beautiful texture and I get some softness I can't fix. I hope to get hold of a macro lens to see if that gives my close ups a bit more pop. I have a lot of work to do to keep up the standard on this thread.

Well, Bobo I'd say you're doing pretty good keeping up. I know what you mean about the macro. I've had one on my wish list for over a year now.

I recently found out that my old close up filters (from my film camera) fit the kit lens on my Nikon and fit 2 lenses I have for the Lumix G1 so I have been using them a lot. I'm sure I will get better shots with my dream Macro, but it could be years before I can afford it if ever, and I am having fun with these filters. It's definitley good practice trying to focus that close but I think I'm going to need a physiotherapist too. The Macro might be cheaper in the long run and certainly less painful.
Keep up the good work, and I hope you get your Macro soon.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Waving Goodbye



Wendy

[Letrow]

Waving Goodbye



Wendy

Sweet. And I love the little droplets

[jayant]

[herbert]

180mm, APS-C
1/250, f5.6, ISO 250

[Lukich]

Shot at 600 mm with Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM +2x @ 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 400