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

Discussion in 'Photography Talk' started by Marley Farley, Jul 27, 2009.

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  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    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.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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.:snork:
     
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      ARMANDII, Feb 9, 2016
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    • Carllennon

      Carllennon Gardener

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      Thanks Armandii,

      Yes thats why I prefer a tripod because I dont really like the narrow depth of field.
      I guess I will have to learn to have a steady hand when I try to photograph insects, I doubt they will hang around long enough for me to setup a tripod and stick a big camera in its face :)
       
      Carllennon, Feb 10, 2016
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    • Apple Blossom

      Apple Blossom Total Gardener

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      I've been back down to the groves today for an hour and had a go at taking a different type of photo.... what do you think of this one ?... how could I improve? I'm open to all criticism I think :snorky:

      Just Me & My Friend!

      Just me and my friend.JPG
       
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        Apple Blossom, Feb 10, 2016
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        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:heehee:
        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]

        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.
         
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          ARMANDII, Feb 10, 2016
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        • Apple Blossom

          Apple Blossom Total Gardener

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          Great photo's @ARMANDII, I really like the colour combination in the second photo :spinning:
           
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            Apple Blossom, Feb 11, 2016
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            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!!
             
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              ARMANDII, Feb 11, 2016
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            • NorthantsGeezer

              NorthantsGeezer Total Gardener

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              I may be able to help you out @Carllennon :biggrin:. Pm me :blue thumb:
               
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                NorthantsGeezer, Feb 11, 2016
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                @Apple Blossom.....I think the combination of the 'busy' picture and sepia gives it a dull, depressing feel for me. I wonder if black and white (mono) would have worked better with sharper tones? :)
                 
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                  Sheal, Feb 11, 2016
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  Lovely shots @ARMANDII, I particularly like the last two and the spiders intricate weaving in the last one certainly stands out well. :dbgrtmb:
                   
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                    Sheal, Feb 11, 2016
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                  • Apple Blossom

                    Apple Blossom Total Gardener

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                    @Sheal, I'm currently packing up to travel back home... but once there I will see what it looks like in B/W not sure how to convert as it was taken as it is :noidea:but will see what I can do. Great tip thank you :spinning: I'm glad you picked up on the depressed look as the guy was really down in the dumps.... I only petted his little dog which opened the window for him to have a chat with someone, bless him... that's why I thought the colouring may suit...Will be interesting to see what it looks like in black and white though :)
                     
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                      Apple Blossom, Feb 12, 2016
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                    • Apple Blossom

                      Apple Blossom Total Gardener

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                      Good Evening @Sheal :spinning: I've had a play around in Photoshop and changed the photo to B&W to see what your thoughts are now :)

                      Just Me and My Friend

                      Just Me and My Friend B&W.jpg
                       
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                        Apple Blossom, Feb 13, 2016
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        That's much better in my opinion @Apple Blossom. It not only lifts the mood of the photo but gives it a sharpness too. :dbgrtmb:
                         
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                          Sheal, Feb 13, 2016
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                        • Apple Blossom

                          Apple Blossom Total Gardener

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                          Strange how just changing the colours can make a photograph look and feel a lot different... I love your photo in the Feb photo comp :)
                           
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                            Apple Blossom, Feb 13, 2016
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                          • ARMANDII

                            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                            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 [​IMG]

                            buy it for £4, 699.00p
                             
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                              Last edited by a moderator: Feb 13, 2016
                              ARMANDII, Feb 13, 2016
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                            • Sheal

                              Sheal Total Gardener

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                              Thank you, but I'm thinking about withdrawing it, I'm not that happy with it. :doh:

                              My uncle was a very good amateur photographer @ARMANDII and one of the cameras he owned was a Leica, he also like you favoured Pentax. We're talking in the days of film photography and he used to develop all his own film too. :) My son is also a good photographer and has produced some great shots in the past.

                              This was one of his first night shots.
                              110.JPG
                               
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                                Sheal, Feb 13, 2016
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