How Good is my Photo..?? Discussion.. Any tips, Criticisms or Ideas Please..!!

Hi Carl, macro is usually defined as one to one ratio, and macro lenses are measured, usually, in focal length, from around 50mm to around 105mm. Most photographers go for the 90 to 100mm focal length as that tends to give the best result. You can go beyond and use what is called a bellows which will get you closer to almost the micro level. To be honest, when I'm out in the garden I very rarely use a tripod, relying on a reasonably fast film speed and shutter speed, as I find a tripod can be too cumbersome and actually be unhelpful when framing the shot.






I would practice using the camera and macro lens hand held and just gently move the camera backwards and forwards to get the depth of field and focus right. Don't forget that while a smaller aperture gives you more depth of field it'll also give you a slower shutter speed, giving you possible camera shake, so you have to balance your depth of field with your shutter speed and film speed to get yourself a sharp, in focus image. If you can practice that then you'll wonder why you thought you needed a tripod.........although there will be times when a special set up shot might require my using a tripod they are, for me, rare.

 

If you walk around the garden with the camera and just practice every now and then focusing etc it's surprising how natural it feels to have the camera in your hand. I often walk around with the camera and actually forget I holding it














Unfortunately, macro photography means narrow depth of field. But the above are hand held shots in normal sunlight. Having said that the softer the sunlight the better.

A lot of the specialist images you see where there is great depth of field are made by taking several shots gradually moving the focus minutely back on each shot. Then software programs are used to stack the images to get the greater depth of field but to me that isn't the shot you took.

 

Hi Apple Blossom, well, they're just an example of hand held macro shots, and if I can do it, then Carl will most certainly be able to!!

 

A lot of keen photographers only taken pics in black and white form. The camera firm Leica make a camera that only takes black and white..................and you can

buy it for £4, 699.00p