Macro flower photographs

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Originally Posted by purplehaze

I've been playing with extension tubes on my 105 mm Nikkor and I can see that it is going to be a while before things get intuitive in terms of lens-to-subject distance in relation to aperture. But this is where I am now. C&C welcome. I know what I don't like, but don't want to bias you, so I'll keep mum for now. If you see any dust spots, rest assured that the camera is going into the shop on Monday. :(

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The only dust spot I saw was on my screen :rolleyes: If I had to guess (and I am guessing as I think they are all very nice), your issues might be with noise and a lack of illumination on the pistils and stamen. As I said, very nice. Wish I could do as well. Maybe I should look into an extension tube (or a 105mm lens :) ).

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Originally Posted by johnbharle

The only dust spot I saw was on my screen :rolleyes:

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Believe me, the screen was really dirty. I nuked something like 91 dust spots on one shot. These were good shots for exposing them, especially when I added a bit of contrast. When I checked my camera settings, I saw the screen cleaning function had somehow got turned off. :confused:

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If I had to guess (and I am guessing as I think they are all very nice), your issues might be with noise and a lack of illumination on the pistils and stamen.

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Actually, it was the colour, which didn't quite seem natural to me. I hadn't noticed noise, but I'll have another look. It hadn't occurred to me to add some front lighting, but I'll give it a try next time. Thanks!

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Maybe I should look into an extension tube (or a 105mm lens :) ).

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When it comes to my 105 mm Nikkor, familiarity breeds more love. The extension tubes are fun, but you pay a price in terms of sharpness.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2aew7pi.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/i74g2d.jpg

A couple I took this morning. Nothing spectacular, but more in focus than I've been able to do previously :)

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Originally Posted by johnbharle

http://i43.tinypic.com/2aew7pi.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/i74g2d.jpg

A couple I took this morning. Nothing spectacular, but more in focus than I've been able to do previously :)

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Nice ones John. The top one looks best to me and the droplets come out well. The bottom one is in focus, but on the petals. It would have been better I think if focus had been on on the carpel or one of the stamens. I love the colours.

First prunis of the year

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/6...95bce7f7_b.jpg

The weather is getting colder (and windier) already after a nice sunny week, so I fear that the pleasure of having the prunus may be short-lived

A prunus bouquet http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7...1e216fc6_b.jpg

and a ribes


http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/6...b01fdfee_b.jpg

I should have had a bit more space on the left :(

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/7...d06fbb20_b.jpg

First of the wild flowers in my neighbourhood. Forget-me-nots. I hope they don't mow these flower areas too often.

Blackthorn

http://i39.tinypic.com/op5ky.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2hqfl95.jpg

C & C welcomed
http://i42.tinypic.com/id4qpt.jpg

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Originally Posted by Bunty Plumchip

Blackthorn

http://i39.tinypic.com/op5ky.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2hqfl95.jpg

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Nice colours Carolyn, I love that blue background against the white of the flowers

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Originally Posted by rtbaum

C & C welcomed
http://i42.tinypic.com/id4qpt.jpg

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Good detail Randy. Maybe you could have cropped a bit more on the right side, there are a few lines there that distract slightly from the main subject.

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Originally Posted by Letrow

Nice colours Carolyn, I love that blue background against the white of the flowers

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Thanks Peter- it is the sky itself in all its Spring glory :) I don't think I enhanced it in these.

http://i41.tinypic.com/ru0978.jpg

Cropped and line removed; pasqueflowers grow quite close to the ground and it is really difficult to avoid linear patterns in any photo of this flower. I will revisit this little prairie throughout the season as there many more species of flowers and bugs. I probably should have tried to get a wide angle shot, as the entire hill was carpetted with pasqueflowers

A dandelion

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7...f8a342a9_b.jpg

and another ribes

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/6...204750bf_b.jpg

A few prunus

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/6...d90a2fbe_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/6...ba109d30_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/7...b4772124_b.jpg

Very fragile flowers...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7038/7...fd7cfc43_b.jpg

muscari botryoides

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7...748a0f4f_b.jpg

helleborus

Peter - simply super shot. Lovely.

Can you describe how you took the shot and the settings used? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Bobobird

Peter - simply super shot. Lovely.

Can you describe how you took the shot and the settings used? Thanks.

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Thanks Bobo. F/11 and 1/350sec (to counter any effects of wind and movement) on manual settings and ISO 4000. The ISO actually moves automatically on the D7000 if you use manual and indicate it in your settings.
And I was lying on the ground to point the camera slightly up and get the inside of the flower.

Thanks Peter. In these tips go to the notebook for use next time. :)