Here is another image of a "Windflower" from the garden.
Nikon D70, 200mm f4 micro (mf), PK-13 extension tube, ISO 400, 1/500 sec @f8, Gitzo tripod.
Full frame, Converted in CS3, light saturation adjustment, light levels adjustment, USM @ 85-100%.
These windflower images are my first experiments and attempts @ shooting images using extension tubes. I like being able to get close enough to fill the frame with the blossoms and the effects achieved with the shallow DOF!
First and foremost, it is important that you like what you've done. I too really like to climb inside of the flower at times. It offers some beautiful perspectives.
From my point of view, I really like the sharpness of the center of the flower and you've really managed the yellows very nicely. Personally, I would like to see more depth of field. Maybe f/11 would have helped a little. The biggest thing that I see here is the oof petal that comes out the front and comes toward my eye. I find that very distracting.
I like the sharpeness on the centre of the flower and the stem. However after seeing the earlier posted flower, I am missing the additional green at the flower's centre. As compared to the first post, this one seems to be missing something. This photo also seems to have the peck a boo aspect and as such the oof petal at the front does not to bother me. Dave
Craig, it's great to see you using those extension tubes...I LOVE my set! I don't get to use them often enough but when I do I love how you can climb inside a plant and see what you've never seen before.
I think the comp here would have been stronger with more DOF as well - remember that you can usually stop way down with those extension tubes and not worry about the BG much because the falloff on DOF is so drastic. I do like the underneath view (always one of my favorites) but I don't think you left me quite enough of the top part to really get the best sense of the plant. I want to peek over the edge as well to see if I could see just a bit more of that lovely yellow center. It's very close, though...I'd keep plugging away as long as these flowers are in bloom!