Macro flower photographs

[rawill]

Peter

Inspite of me not really being a flower person I have to say.

This is a stunning image.

The colours and sharpness, just great on in my opinion.

Just maybe a few shots of this would have gone great in a stacked form.

[pucko]

[Wavelength]

WOW; i felt i was on the walk-ways of Heaven's Gardens.... they are all really inspiring

[Letrow]

Peter

Inspite of me not really being a flower person I have to say.

This is a stunning image.

The colours and sharpness, just great on in my opinion.

Just maybe a few shots of this would have gone great in a stacked form.

Thanks Robin. Stacked might be good for this, but that is one technique I still have to look into further.
I know that Hugin offers good possibilities for this, so maybe I'll try that going forward. This flower would be great for it actually, because it is indoors, so I would be able to use the tripod, which I don't do normally.

[rawill]

Helicon focus, Zerene, Combine ZP

The last is freeware, works well, (for me a newbie)
I also bought Helicon focus, haven't tried Zerene but guys on here recommended it.

[Letrow]

A pink rose
Photographed at F/14 and 3 second exp and ISO100. I am beginning to like the low ISOs, although it won't work for me outside of the house, handheld. Inside though, with the tripod, I like the colours I get.

[rawill]

I like it, great colour. opening nicely.

but at F14 I thought the petals at the back would be in focus too.

I would like to see you try this photo with a couple of shots with slightly different focus, then try stacking them

[Letrow]

F/14, but full frame and macro, so the DOF is limited. You might get luckier with a DX camera I guess.
Stacking is still way off, I will have to experiment with that first going forward. But I don't think it will be used much for my macros, as most of it is done hand-held.

[Letrow]

Blue thistle or eryngium

[michelleh]

I feel quite embarrassed adding my selection to this thread...(not macro)...but how else will I learn. To those who have posted I am in awe of your skills.

I have only noticed now, the importance of making sure that the flower has all its petals and that they are perfect. Image 2 has 2 petals that have been damaged. There were others that were so badly eaten I could not post them.

Should I try with the orchid to change the background from a white wall to something a bit more colourful? Any other C & Cs very welcome.


To Peter. I love brain teasers and it struck me in the middle of the night, halfway between waking and sleeping, the significance of LETROW. Glad I got it. I think it was commented on by someone reading your interview and it challenged me to also try to figure it out. Quite simple really but it did take me awhile.

1. Orchid


2. Zinnia


3. Hibiscus bud (Just as an aside my cocker spaniel is quite addicted to hibiscus flowers...can't wait to get outside and eat them...gets into a bit of a panic. Would anyone know what is so special about them?)



4. Hibiscus flower (I will try to post this one later as Tiny Pic keeps coming up with an error message)
AAAh SUCCESS!

[GiacomoD]

I feel quite embarrassed adding my selection to this thread...(not macro)...but how else will I learn.

Michelle
there is no reason to be embarrassed, most of us are here to learn. At the beginning I had the same feeling, then I realized that there is nothing better than posting a photo (yes, even a bad one!) and make treasure of the suggestions coming from the other members: it's a great way to improve our skills and understand our mistakes.

By the way, I love very much image 3!
Waiting for others hibiscus buds...

Giacomo

[michelleh]

Thanks for your comments Giacomo, I appreciate them. Just by the way my husband is also from Florence. Mother's maiden name Borri.
Ciao
Michelle

[GiacomoD]

Ahah, that's amazing Michelle!
Actually I live in a very small city close to Florence, but Borri is a quite common name in this region.
Sometimes I think that this world is really small and getting smaller and smaller...
Ciao
Giacomo

[arslanturegun]

I am not so keen on macro. Anyway, while browsing I have found two flower shots.





Cheers,

[kris]

0.4 sec at f/14, ISO 100
25mm (Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/25 ZF.2)

This was not shot with a macro lens, buy I like the result.

[Letrow]

I feel quite embarrassed adding my selection to this thread...(not macro)...but how else will I learn. To those who have posted I am in awe of your skills.

I have only noticed now, the importance of making sure that the flower has all its petals and that they are perfect. Image 2 has 2 petals that have been damaged. There were others that were so badly eaten I could not post them.

Should I try with the orchid to change the background from a white wall to something a bit more colourful? Any other C & Cs very welcome.


To Peter. I love brain teasers and it struck me in the middle of the night, halfway between waking and sleeping, the significance of LETROW. Glad I got it. I think it was commented on by someone reading your interview and it challenged me to also try to figure it out. Quite simple really but it did take me awhile.

1. Orchid


2. Zinnia


3. Hibiscus bud (Just as an aside my cocker spaniel is quite addicted to hibiscus flowers...can't wait to get outside and eat them...gets into a bit of a panic. Would anyone know what is so special about them?)



4. Hibiscus flower (I will try to post this one later as Tiny Pic keeps coming up with an error message)
AAAh SUCCESS!

Good to hear that you figured it out Michelle. I guess you have to be from South Africa to get it!

I like your flowers, good colour and smooth bokeh. Perhaps your focus on the second one should have been more on the yellow bits than the petals. Nice colour that one by the way.
I wouldn't worry about flowers being old or eaten, even that can be quite beautiful, at least I think so. I'll post one of my old roses as an example below.

[Letrow]

Ageing beauty

[Franci]

I agree with Peter that flowers need not be perfect: we all aim at a "perfect" picture, not at a perfect subject. And most of us have every reason to love aging beauty!

[Franci]

[michelleh]

Thanks Peter and Francesca.
Yes I now get the point. It is the photograph that counts. And you, Peter, I feel are the expert on this site when it comes to flowers, so thank you for your encouraging comments. Your aging beauty is truly lovely.
Here is a photo of the Zinnia that I was reluctant to post due to chewed petals.

As to Your 'name', Peter, just derived from the reverse 'root'. That is if my play on words means the same in Dutch as it does in our local Afrikaans?
Ciao
Michelle