Getting closer to good close ups - Orchid Board

Swamper · #1 08-30-2009, 10:49 AM

I still have a way to go but experimenting today with my nikon D-60 with it's stock 18-55mm lens and some "close-up macro lens diopter filters till I can get the lens I want. All comments welcome.

Swamper · #2 08-30-2009, 04:56 PM

Ok guys I know they are not great but c'mon

RosieC · #3 08-30-2009, 05:06 PM

I don't know anything about photography, but I think they look great. I especially like the third one with the drops of water on the flower.

Swamper · #4 08-30-2009, 05:08 PM

LOL Thanks Rosie, I am just trying to get a lot closer than I have been, and still be in focus. I like the third one too

OrchidSue · #5 08-30-2009, 05:59 PM

I am still a beginner myself, but have found that getting a true macro lens goes a long way toward getting what I want with my close up orchid photos. I have a Canon Rebel XSI that came with an 18-55mm kit lens and it is in general so so. I did get myself a macro lens and would like to get a better zoom lens than what came with the camera, but finances are limited right now.

Also, some of your photos look a little underexposed. Are you using manual or automatic settings? Another thing that has made a huge difference for me was taking a beginning "this is how you work your camera" photography class through a local community college. I haven't used auto settings or flash since taking the class and my photos are so much better. Depending on conditions, auto settings can under or over expose your photos.

Susan

orchidbingo · #6 08-30-2009, 06:34 PM

I like the pic of the flower with water drops too.

One of the things that might help you compose is to try varying your camera position.. don't always shoot the flower head on. Shoot from a slight side angle, from above or even from below looking up into it's 'face'. Also don't think of the camera as a horizontal fixed frame. Turn it to vertical. You can zoom in and get a tighter shot without cutting off the tops of flowers. The focus on your close-ups is good. Try experimenting on different ways to frame the composition.

You don't have much depth of field with the macro but you can use that to your advantage. Focus in really tight on a single flower and the other flowers will often be enough out of focus that they don't distract from your central focus. By changing your angle you can often focus on a single flower.

Hope this helps a bit. I've found these techniques useful through the years. Look forward to seeing all the wonderful pics you'll be taking

bingo

Ross · #7 08-30-2009, 07:20 PM

The pictures aren't bad at all. You will definitely see an improvement in sharpness with a dedicated close-focus lens. Having said that, which "filter" type adapter did you get? Both Nikon and Canon make high quality diopters (2-element "filters") that are actually high enough quality you can skip getting a different lens. I use a Canon screw-on adapter on the end of my Nikon 200 f4 micro to get even closer than 1:1 (lifesize). Good quality lenses will tend to be more expensive than the camera body itself. Even Sigma, etc. macro lenses are expensive (but worth it.)

Swamper · #8 08-30-2009, 08:00 PM

Thank you guys for your input.
Susan I was on manual not auto. I do get frustrated and take auto shots once in a while just to see a difference.
Bingo, thanks. Every little bit helps.
Ross. Its a "Digital Concepts" kit. comes with a +1,+2,+4 & 10X Macro. I didn't think about checking for a Nikon brand diopter. I will look into it.
I went to a few orchid places in homestead and redlands and took about a hundred more pics. Some were good some were bad.

cirillonb · #9 08-30-2009, 08:44 PM

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

got ants · #10 08-30-2009, 09:26 PM

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.