Getting closer to good close ups

[OrchidSue]

Don't give up. As my photography instructor said-in the beginning you will have a lot of "conversations" with your camera, and that is true . It's also somewhat about percentages. Of the photos you take, there will be a percentage that turn out to be what you are looking for and the rest not so much. That is true for every photographer. Bingo was right on with experimenting with different angles. It's a lot of fun.

Susan

[got ants]

Here's an example...
NIKON NIKKOR 50MM F 1:1.4 35MM SLR CAMERA LENS 50 MM - eBay (item 290342885902 end time Aug-30-09 19:10:13 PDT)

50mm F1.14 (soooper fast)

[got ants]

Or better yet...

NIKON NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8 WIDE ANGLE AI LENS *EXCELLENT* - eBay (item 370248783218 end time Aug-31-09 08:10:00 PDT)

Nikkor 24mm

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by cirillonb

Ross is great resource on items photographic.I presume you are using a tripod. Several are out of focus or were subject to subtle movement although others are crisp. I suspect a dedicated macro lens or a higher quality close up attachment will help. Also, there is some problem with lighting but since the venue was commercial nurseries you deal with what you have. I have never successfully used flash, even off the camera flash for close up pictures.
Color balance may be a problem with the first two but then again, I didn't see them in real life.
Great work and keep shooting!
Nick

Nick,No tripod. These were in my back and front yard, later I got more at the nurseries. The first two are inside a mango tree where I had to move a lot of branches and leaves to get to it so I had to play with the lighting, but no flash. I'll keep shooting and thanks.

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by got ants

Swamper, pics are nice, but....

..you can do better. First off, why didn't you tweak them? First increase the brightness, the increase the color, and maybe a tad higher contrast, or sharpen the edges.

Here's another trick I learned with my Canon point and shoot..

take the pic of a single flower from a few feet away. Then crop it to size. While you do lose some fineness, for internet pics, no one will notice, but, you gain depth of field with your subject.

Now, when I was shooting film, I always preferred fixed lenses like a straight 55mm for portraits, or straights 18 or 22 mm for close-ups. You can even use a telephoto lens, just stand farther away.

As for your Nikon, you can pick up Nikkor AIS mount lenses for cheap now. You just have to set aperture by hand.

And one last trick, though not sure it will work on a self focusing camera, take the lense off and invert it around. On the standard AIS mounts, you had to hold the pin down for the aperture.

I didn't want to change the color and contrast too much or maybe I don't know how to do it well enough so that they still look natural. I am a little confused with depth of field in relation to closeups, is that something you want? Thanks for your input.

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by got ants

Or better yet...

NIKON NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8 WIDE ANGLE AI LENS *EXCELLENT* - eBay (item 370248783218 end time Aug-31-09 08:10:00 PDT)

Nikkor 24mm

Wow, these are pretty good deals I like them both. Thanks.

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by OrchidSue

Don't give up. As my photography instructor said-in the beginning you will have a lot of "conversations" with your camera, and that is true . It's also somewhat about percentages. Of the photos you take, there will be a percentage that turn out to be what you are looking for and the rest not so much. That is true for every photographer. Bingo was right on with experimenting with different angles. It's a lot of fun.

Susan

Give up? NEVA!!! Thanks, I'm a little frustrated but I am having a lot of fun.

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi Swamper,
You know me, butt inskii that I am. What are you using for a photo editing program?

Al

[got ants]

Swamp, here's a quicky foto edit...





It is more than I would normally do, just to give you an idea of what it looks like.

Again, camera is Canon Powesrshot SD 10000 (digital elph)

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

Hi Swamper,
You know me, butt inskii that I am. What are you using for a photo editing program?

Al

Al, these were not edited. When I do, I use a free version of photoshop just to crop.