First attempt in macros

[subhrashis]

http://indianaturewatch.net/images/album/photo/10951065924c1ccaeda9f43.jpg

Just starting to attempt macros seriously... Next goal, better perch! This is a clothesline on our apartment roof.
Also a first attempt at identifying dragonflies, is this a common hooktail?

D5000, 70-300 ED VR, 1/200 @ f/5.6, flash, Iso 250

[Anita Bower]

Welcome! Beautiful colors! I like the composition, wth the dragonfly and the perch on diagonals. I think I would crop some off left and top. The perch doesn't bother me. Getting a bit more of the dragonfly in focus would improve the image. Others here, who are insect photographers, will be able to give you more specific advice. Nice start.

[Julie Kenward]

Welcome to the macro forum, Subhrashis! I think you did very well here, especially for your first attempt. Your angle is very good - you've got it in focus from head to tail - just might try stopping down another little bit on the aperture ring to get more of the wings in focus as well. How did you get such a dark BG? I don't see where you used flash - was this in shadow or did you darken it in pp? Feel free to give as much information as you can about the image so we can help you grow faster!

I'll leave the I.D. to the "bug guys" around here but do keep trying! This is a great start!

[Ken Childs]

The dragonfly looks very good. You got more DOF than expected considering this was shot at f5.6. If it was possible, you should have taken a small step to the right to get a better angle, making sure the face isn't blocked by the perch. Shooting a side view with the wings spread always makes it tough to get everything in focus, even at really small apertures.

[Allen Sparks]

This is a great first time post in macro! I like the perch - seems pretty cool to me. With flash, I think you could have shot with a narrower aperture but like Ken said you have greater DOF than I would have thought at f5.6. I like the angle you took also.

[subhrashis]

Actually this was backlit, you can see the morning sun reflecting off the wings. Flash was used to color the shadowy side towards me. The background is a tree, the whole image was darkened a bit via levels.

I did stop down... f/11 for the image below, all else same.. I used the first image for the gold in the wings, but does this look better?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4716161794_c9249015f3_b.jpg

D5000, 70-300 ED VR, 1/200 @ f/11, flash, Iso 250, crop, levels, sharpening, bg noise reduction.

And here, it was placed against the sky for prominent wing veins...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4713184573_c14ace0628_b.jpg

D5000, 70-300 ED VR, 1/160 @ f/11, flash, Iso 250 <!-- / message -->

[Allen Sparks]

hmmm....personally I like the first repost the best due to added wing detail even though admittedly one of the wings is not as gold as the original shot.

[Paul Lagasi]

Welcome..I like the first one..you got the nice DOF for the profile, nice colors and comp...well done

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Subhrashis,
I like the light on the body a bit better on the OP but the wing position of the 1st repost. I fyou work on the colors in the 2nd repost.....that would be my choice overall as the wing seperation really adds to the overall image. Final post, the BG is a bit too distracting. Very nice first macro and I hope to see many more. Welcome to the forum!