Macro flower photographs

[SpiderBob]

Yes, a bit more DOF would have helped I think. Now some of the small green dots on the stems are out of focus. What F stop did you use here? And maybe try a slightly different angle, so that you lose some of the background. The flower is beautiful.

I used f2.8 / 1/2000 sec at ISO 200, 100mm Macro. I remember it being a bit breezy that day. Will have to wait for a new batch of flowers to try again. It is a "Mimosa"

[Letrow]

I used f2.8 / 1/2000 sec at ISO 200, 100mm Macro. I remember it being a bit breezy that day. Will have to wait for a new batch of flowers to try again. It is a "Mimosa"

F/2.8? Yes, that is definitely on the low side for this kind of photo. I use F/11 or higher and shutterspeed of 1/250 or slightly higher for this. You might experiment a bit and see what your camera can handle.

[SpiderBob]

F/2.8? Yes, that is definitely on the low side for this kind of photo. I use F/11 or higher and shutterspeed of 1/250 or slightly higher for this. You might experiment a bit and see what your camera can handle.

Yes, I knew it would be a bit on the low side, but was trying to eliminate the rest of the Fern behind the flower. But I do agree with you or I would not have asked the question. I've been playing again with some wilted flowers, I just have to find that happy medium where I can have both.

[SpiderBob]

F/2.8? Yes, that is definitely on the low side for this kind of photo. I use F/11 or higher and shutterspeed of 1/250 or slightly higher for this. You might experiment a bit and see what your camera can handle.

Here is an example of the pic above and this is only for DOF, Perhaps I was too close the first time as well 6" no cropping, this time I backed off to 48" and did some cropping. I tried various f stops and shutter speeds this is what seemed most acceptable to me,

f11 at 1/32 sec. ISO 200 FL-100mm using manual --- what do you think?

[Letrow]

Here is an example of the pic above and this is only for DOF, Perhaps I was too close the first time as well 6" no cropping, this time I backed off to 48" and did some cropping. I tried various f stops and shutter speeds this is what seemed most acceptable to me,

f11 at 1/32 sec. ISO 200 FL-100mm using manual --- what do you think?

I like this photo better than the first one, partly I think because the colour of the flower is in nice contrast with the darker green background. It looks very delicate. But I would try the other closer focus as well with this kind of F stop and see what you get. The first shot you took was more from the side and I found the other colours in the background were distracting me a bit. You might try a few different angles and see what you can do with the background (sometimes you just can't get rid of some of the background, but hey, that's nature for you).
What kind of lens are you using for this by the way?

[Wendy Stanford]

What an amazing collection of flower photos
I would like to share a couple of mine


Eucalpypt Flower by indigo37, on Flickr
Eucalpypt Flower

Bird of Paradise by indigo37, on Flickr

[Bird Of Paradise Flower

[Letrow]

What an amazing collection of flower photos
I would like to share a couple of mine


Eucalpypt Flower by indigo37, on Flickr
Eucalpypt Flower

Bird of Paradise by indigo37, on Flickr

[Bird Of Paradise Flower

Welcome here Wendy!
I like your first one best. I guess what I am noticing about myself is that I really like delicate (looking) flowers. I guess a bit more zoom or crop would bring out the flower even better, you have a few open spaces now at the bottom and top that distract slightly.

[SpiderBob]

I like this photo better than the first one, partly I think because the colour of the flower is in nice contrast with the darker green background. It looks very delicate. But I would try the other closer focus as well with this kind of F stop and see what you get. The first shot you took was more from the side and I found the other colours in the background were distracting me a bit. You might try a few different angles and see what you can do with the background (sometimes you just can't get rid of some of the background, but hey, that's nature for you).
What kind of lens are you using for this by the way?

Thank you Letrow, I shall givce that a try today. I'm using a Canon Macro EF 100mm 1:2.8 L IS USM

[Wendy Stanford]

Welcome here Wendy!
I like your first one best. I guess what I am noticing about myself is that I really like delicate (looking) flowers. I guess a bit more zoom or crop would bring out the flower even better, you have a few open spaces now at the bottom and top that distract slightly.

Thanks Peter, I see what you mean, I hadn't really noticed the top, I will see how it looks with a tighter crop
Cheers Wendy

[ScoutR]

red red rose


can anyone help me identify this one. It came up in the garden but might be a wildflower.


Wendy

[Letrow]

red red rose


can anyone help me identify this one. It came up in the garden but might be a wildflower.


Wendy

Love the texture of that rose. I think the blue flower is one of the campanula family. The leaves look like they fit that description as well.

[Katy Noelle]

red red rose


can anyone help me identify this one. It came up in the garden but might be a wildflower.


Wendy

I'm glad Peter said it because I was second guessing myself, there - campanula or bellflower.

The rose is lovely, too - I have a William Shakespeare rose that is so tremendously beautiful - loads of ruffly petals and the color....! I just can't get it. I've finally pressed the "go" button on ordering a gray card - those deep colors are impossible to capture. SO! Lovely job, Wendy!

[ScoutR]

Thanks Peter and Katy. I was thinking Bellflower too. The flower is very similar to the Bellflower that I purchased this year and have shown in a previous post, but the leaves and placement of the flowers on the stem are entirely different, so I was not sure. I looked up some bellflowers last night but was too tired to go through them all.

Katy, I know what you mean about these deep colours. You would not believe how many shots of this red rose I have binned. This one still does not do it justice, and as always with most of my shots, there are photographic faults that I just can't seem to conquer (i think I will call it my style and try to make the best of it ) but on my screen the colours look pretty true. I'm having trouble with the yellow and pink sweetheart rose also. I've taken so many, and I do love some of the shots, but with my current skills some flowers just look better in real life than in any shot I have managed to get.

Thanks for the feedback, I am off to try and identify my 2 types of Bellflower

Wendy

[ScoutR]

#1. Another wildflower in the garden. I dont' know what it is


#2. Delphinium


#3. Lambs ear


#4. Tomato blossom


#5. Impatien


C&C always welcome
Wendy

[ScoutR]

Not sure how these will go over. I'm not quite where I want to be with these, but they are purposely out of focus. I have this figured out in my head how I want it to look and I'm getting close, but not quite there yet. These are more about the blending of the colours and in a way I'm trying to photograph florals the way they look to me from a distance, which is not sharp and detailed but just colours and patterns, if that makes sense.

#1. This different coloured lobelia in my planter caught my eye. It's taken very close up with 8x close up filters, but it is supposed to look like it is far away. Maybe it just looks like it would to a person with poor vision, I don't know, like I say, I'm not quite where I want to be. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.


#2. Dahlia; again taken with close up filters, but not going for detail, but the blending and patterns of colours. C&C welcome and appreciated.


Wendy

[paulwilbur]

why do photographers insist on putting flowers in the bull-eye of the frame? It's the way we think... Gee what a nice flower and click..

[Katy Noelle]

why do photographers insist on putting flowers in the bull-eye of the frame? It's the way we think... Gee what a nice flower and click..

If you took a moment to know her, you would know that she understands this concept perfectly and would have most likely chosen this composition on purpose, Paul Wilbur!

[Mongwopman]

not sure what this flower or plant is called, so if anybody can identify go for it.

[Katy Noelle]

Not sure how these will go over. I'm not quite where I want to be with these, but they are purposely out of focus. I have this figured out in my head how I want it to look and I'm getting close, but not quite there yet. These are more about the blending of the colours and in a way I'm trying to photograph florals the way they look to me from a distance, which is not sharp and detailed but just colours and patterns, if that makes sense.

#1. This different coloured lobelia in my planter caught my eye. It's taken very close up with 8x close up filters, but it is supposed to look like it is far away. Maybe it just looks like it would to a person with poor vision, I don't know, like I say, I'm not quite where I want to be. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.


#2. Dahlia; again taken with close up filters, but not going for detail, but the blending and patterns of colours. C&C welcome and appreciated.


Wendy

Wendy, it's that impressionistic photography thing - I keep wondering if it exists. Let's you and I say it does and start a movement! I really like the last one - the sweep of the petals is still softly there - even though it's oof and the whole thing speaks delicacy and peacefulness. So, maybe, when it's oof - is still has to speak or have a reason for being in the frame. (I just came up with that - what do you think? I don't know what I'm talking about but it sounds good to me.)

Well, if you figure it out - let me know.

[ktuli]

I like them too, Wendy. I also don't agree with Paul's comment about being centered... the first one is fine because the flower bends into the center, giving pleasing leading line - at least for me. And the second seems to spiral into the center like a vortex sucking me into the shot - had it not been centered, I don't think it would have worked that way. Additionally, the square crop tends to balance it a bit as well.

Count me as a fan.

- Bill