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

One of the problems with close-up shots is obtaining decent depth of field and the closer you get to the subject the smaller the area it is possible to get within focus. Unless very well lit a large aperture is often required, or a slow shutter and the latter isn't often possible with fast moving insects. I was lucky today as the sun was full-on to the flower and the fly was in profile, but I still cranked the ISO up to 400 so as to get a reasonable shutter speed and decent dof.

1/100 at f18 (wish I had a ring flash!)
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Thats a stunner Dave. You must be pleased.
A good explanation for those who keep trying for the wow factor in their pictures:gnthb:

 

That is incredible, Dave. Wow!!! You know, a ring flash may have given you problems, since the rings light may have reflected back from the hoverfly's eye segments making it look unnatural. Personally, I don't think that you could better yourself. That is one photo to be justly proud of.

 

Thanks strawman. That's a good point regarding reflection!

I don't think there's much chance of me acquiring a ring flash anyway - they cost an arm and a leg.

 

Dave.
You may want to consider Focus Stacking.
Its atechnique for getting max DoF in macro photography.
I havn't tried it myself,but I know a bit about it.

 

Many thanks for the info:thumb: I've just had a look at the link and done a bit of Googling too.
Looks a really interesting technique, though I think I'd be hard pressed to employ it on the quick hand-held shots I've been taking recently. However if I get my paws on a dead spider!!!:D

 

If I was shooting images as good as yours, I wouldnâ??t concern myself with trying to be better. I donâ??t think that you can improve on something that gives such fine macro photography. I had a ring flash back in the seventies, but I became more interested in photographing landscapes, buildings and wild flowers, so I sold it. I donâ??t think that you can beat natural light for nature shots.:thumb:

 

I couldnt agree more.
I never use flash,i dont even have a flash gun.:gnthb:

 

Hello

I've just joined the forum and discovered this section. Thought I'd share these photographs I took last October. My camera is a Pentax Optio which I have had for a good few years and I'm a very much an amateur with the camera doing most of the work for me :o, but I was pleased with the way these came out. I'm currently thinking about treating myself to a new camera, but not sure what to go for. I know Canons are very popular and do seem to produce great looking shots, but I have sentimental fondness for Pentax as in the pre-digital days a Pentax was my first 'proper' camera (before that I had a Kodak Disc - what can I say, I was a teenager). Whatever type I eventually go for, I think I'd like to progress a bit and learn a bit more about the art of taking a good photo rather than just being the point-and-click-and-hope-for-the-best photographer I've been until now!

 

Mmmm... Where are your images, Chiaroscuro?

 

Oh, umm, I can see them. I'll have to have another go!

 

It's okay now, Chiaroscuro. Your photos have beautifully saturated colours and the raindrops give them that special touch. Getting in close like that, everyone can see the finer points of a flower. Well done.:thmb:

 

Those shots would be hard to beat with ANY camera :gnthb:

 

I'd still got my album setting on private before. :dh:

Aww, thanks both of you for your kind comments :o. Seeing the raindrops on flowers was what made me want to take the photos, and I just used the macro setting on the camera - it did all the hard work.