Macros... green but good?

Subliminal

Hi all, just took some macro shots with my new camera ( Sony DSC F505V )
Would LOVE some critisim/comments on them, no matter how harsh.. Its all part of learning IMO, so fire away!

The Best one to start with..

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/Macros/Gloss.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/LEaf.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/DSC02126.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/Stem.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/Green.jpg

Kinda a macro?

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/DSC02125.jpg

And to change the green theme:)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/DSC02034.jpg

As i say, dont hold back, im very interested in taking macros, so need honesty, thank you in advance for any comments/critism.

condra

Hey..

Nice shots.

These 2 are my favourites:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/DSC02126.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b169/Photoflix/DSC02126.jpg

The reason for that is because of the narrow depth of field. I like shots where the focus is on a smaller area in the field of vision and the rest of the shot is out of focus.

The first one is nicely lit too. Regarding the second of those two, it looks like it was taken in daylight with no flash, a little more light might have made the colours a bit more vibrant.

Great stuff tho and Im lookin forward to seeing more of your work.

Oriel

To be honest, there's nothing special about any of the photos. Anybody could just do up close to a plant and take a photo - try to make it different. Also, all the lighting in the photos is, again, bland.
You've just take photos of ordinary things - but closer. Your framing appears to be decent enough though.
Try experimenting with different light sources, but don't ever use a flash, not a normal one anyway.
Main thing is, don't stop!

Keep posting your work!
S.

Shrimp

Macros are generally meant to be interesting, imo. However none of them match that criteria. Perhaps it was the subjects you chose, do a quick google, you'll get some good ideas that way.. Keep snap happy.

Subliminal

Thanks guys, really appriciate the critisims, as far as im concerned, its the only way ill learn! There was a spider i could have snapped, but thought it was too boring. Looking back on them, there really is nothing of perticular interest there. Will make sure theres more going on than just leaves next time!

And belive me, ill be pestering you all for critisism for a long time yet

Need to get a tripod too, it was a killer on the arm after a few shots, maybe get a book or two.

Thanks again for the advice,

Sub

DotOrg

you can photograph ordinary things in a good way if you concentrate more on the composition (where things are withing the picture) and the lighting (use reflectors, shades, bounced flash etc etc)

dublinguy05

Subliminal, I also think your shots could have been alot better, try to look at this differently you might think spiders are boring but their webs can make nice shots, then again I like spiders. Here some macro shots I have done, gettin in close different shooting angles can make the shot.

FinoBlad

the shots are weak but you are on the right track getting feedback and not taking it personally like some of the prima donnas here.

try look out for some patterns and some symmetry, texture and selective depth of field is important too. consider converting to monochrome also

have a look at how this guy does his stuff;
http://www.charlesnesphotography.com/contemporary/fbertin-page2.html

Subliminal

Thanks all for your comments, keep them coming!

I see know that i should have put more life into the pictures.

Dublin Guy05: Those pictures are amazing, the cobweb thats wet/has dew on it especially stunning, way beyond my skillset at the moment.

Finoblad: Yes, i can see how changing to monochrome would bring character to a macro, that guy pictures are very symetric, and they look the better for it.

I am going to take a few more macros today, but this time, following everones advice.

Thanks Again...

condra

hey sub.,
- one more thing worth looking into is composition and the "rule of thirds".
I know rules are made to be broken, but the rule of thirds is a handy guide which makes a lot of sense and is used in art and design aswell as photography.
Its simple- divide your image into 3 rows and 3 colums and place the important elements of your image near the points where the lines intersect.

Check out these pics for a basic example:

http://www.dubtastic.com/tutorials/thirds/ex001.jpg
http://www.all-things-photography.com/images/composition-rule-of-thirds.jpg
http://www.wildthingsphoto.com/tips/composition/thirds2.jpg
http://www.scran.ac.uk/packs/exhibitions/learning_materials/webs/04/course/section1/composition/images/slide_1.jpg

Subliminal

Cheers for that, have just started reading about rule of thirds, but the pics make it easier to understand.

Sub

Zombrex

Subliminal wrote:

As i say, dont hold back, im very interested in taking macros, so need honesty, thank you in advance for any comments/critism.

You seem to have a bit of a problem with where the camera's focus is choosing to focus on ... for example a few of your shots the bottom of the shot is in focus, but the rest (where a person would naturally look first) is just a blur. Try and get what ever it is you want the viewer to actually look at in perfect focus, and then it doesn't matter if the foreground and background are out of focus (in fact it can add to the effect)