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50mm lens plus Hoya no.4 close up filter. 100ISO f2.8
| Brand: | Nikon CORPORATION |
| Camera: | Nikon D7000  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | 50mm f/1.8 D |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 28 Jul 2011 - 4:38 PM |
| Focal Length: | 50mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/1.7 |
| Aperture: | f/2.8 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1/1600sec |
| Exposure Comp: | 0.0 |
| ISO: | 100 |
| Exposure Mode: | Aperture-priority AE |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | Off, Did not fire |
| Title: | Camomile |
| Username: | 
DouglasMorley |
| Uploaded: | 16 Aug 2011 - 12:25 AM |
| Tags: | Camomile close up, Flowers & plants |
| VS Mode Rating |
Unrated These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
Comments
Hi Douglas,
I'll jump straight to the point here if that's okay, I like the idea of the shot, the composition and the background etc. however, for me the depth of field is what lets this image down. The nearest petals are not in focus nor is the stem and for macro or close up work, f/2.8 is a very very narrow depth of field which is what has caused this problem. You really need to be closing down that aperture to say f/11 to get the flower sharp and still blur out the background. Remember you can always blur the background more in post production but you can't sharpen the flower if it is out of focus.
If you are really serious about close up or macro photography I would suggest you invest in a ring flash to give enough light to be able to get the depth of field right and this will make a huge improvement to this type of image because the whole flower and stem need to be pin sharp against such a blurred background.
Also remember when you have a subject like this that won't move, you can be very selective with your background. It isn't always possible but you need to ensure that there are no big distractions that will draw the viewer away from the subject.
Hope this helps
DaVeS
Thanks Patrick and Dave.
Actually I took this shot in a deliberate attempt to break the rules of macro. I know that it can be a fine line between what's needed in proper macro and to have an effect that can be pleasing.
I have tried using an 85mm portrait lens, again with a close up filter and opening up the aperture to f1.8 just to see the effects. It's not always possible to recognise the object being portrayed so I've tried here with a 50mm lens to push the aperture to f2.8 and still get a flower head looking like a flower head even if the bloom is not by any means in focus. Incidentally these flowers are minute - about 1/4 inch across and were in a window box.
I'm not trying to deceive, just to achieve an artistic effect.
Davesumner gave some excellent advice for achieving a fantastic Macros shot, but as you were actually looking for a different result, it is hard then to critique unless we know what you were aiming for. I do like your capture, and I love the background, but I too think it would have improved it if the actual flower stem was more in focus, and maybe even slightly higher up the shot. Have fun playing around, often the most incredible shots are achieved by steeping outside the box, and remember to let everyone know what you were trying to do so we can consider that when feeding back. Jude :0)
I thank everybody for their comments. They are all appreciated. I said nothing about my aim with this shot because I wanted honest unbiased opinions with no preconceptions. I was hoping that somebody would see would I saw in the shot. What I have observed is the subjective views of viewers and that is what art and photography is all about.
As for the crop of the shot - the positioning of the foreground flower, this is one aspect where I played exactly according to the rules as it is precisely positioned at the junction of two of the lines forming the classic rule of thirds.
I too like your image. I reckon that you have got the it just right. The background is well blurred but still showing repeats of the flower. I am a flower photographer inclined towards this type of image and regard this as a successful image. Whilst it may lack technical perfection and is a million miles from a macro image lit by a ring flash, it is for me, an attractive image.
regards
Ian
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