Just starting to work with macro, this was taken during the evening in our woods, low light no flash. My wife likes flowers and likes the flower very sharp.
Canon 1D Mark III
Canon 100 F2.8 IS macro
1/40 @ f18
ISO 3200
Did not have flash with me, was out much longer than anticipated.
HI Monte...I think you have done a nice job making the flower sharp,,,The bg does seem to compete too much with your subject..IMO..Think simple. Also, the bottom curving stem is not necessary and is just distracting. Looking forward to your next post!
I agree with the others. The flower is nicely in focus but I'm constantly looking at the BG. Might try to lower the aperture to f8 or f10 and see what you think. At this closeness you should be able to keep the flower in focus and not get quite so much of the BG. Another option would be to select the flower, inverse the selection and then blur the BG a bit to tone it down.
Hi Monte, good advice already given. Top and left of the flower are a bit tight in the frame. I may consider a crop centering the flower. Lovely colors and details!
Hi Monte. I think everyone already hit the high and low points. It's been mentioned here before and it's worth mentioning again, small flowers close to the ground are tough. They're usually so close to the stuff in the BG that it's hard to get the flower in focus without getting a busy BG.
One way to even out would be to have shaded the whole scene.... Then nobody would be noticing the BKGR :)
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,