beginnerr Flower Photo, CC please

[trey1010]

Hey everyone, I am new here and new to my DSLR. I recently bought a sony a380 with a few lenses at a price I could not turn down. I took this photo of a flower in my garden and attempted to edit it some with my free trial of lightroom. I will first post the unedited then the edited for each photo. Thanks!

f-stop 4.5
exposure time 1/60 sec
iso speed ISO-160
focal length- 30mm
Max aperture 4.34



F stop- 5.6
exposure time 1/80 sec
iso speed iso 100
focal length 35 mm
max aperture 4.34

 

[Juga]

What settings did you use?

 

[trey1010]

What settings did you use?

Settings on the camera were.
f-stop 4.5
exposure time 1/60 sec
iso speed ISO-160
focal length- 30mm
Max aperture 4.34

 

[Juga]

I am no expert but from what I see I would suggest going to f/7.1 or perhaps a tad smaller. Also the stones on the left side are a bit distracting. Keep working it though!

 

[dxqcanada2 2]

First thing you have to do is pay attention to what the camera is focusing on ... especially since your camera does not have a DoF preview button.

Then think about composition. Play around with different view points.

What lenses do you have ?

 

[trey1010]

Thanks for the replies! Also the lens I was using was a 3.5-5.6/18-55. I also have a 3.5-5.6/18-70,4.5-5.6/75-300 and a tamron 10-24mm 1:35-4.5.

 

[dxqcanada2 2]

OK. Sell the 18-70mm, it is not as good as the 18-55mm.
I think the Tamron might have made a better image view.

 

[Rick50]

Keep shooting. You can learn a lot from shooting flowers. Check out the Tamron 90mm Macro. Nice lens.

 

[nycphotography]

Of the four, #2 is best, as the colors are the richest and the flower is most attractive.

I think the thing with flowers is that you have to either incorporate the background or eliminate it... and you've done neither.

Also, the last flower is looking a little worse for the wear. You should always pick the best specimens to work with.

 

[Pallycow]

first edit is best. I probly am repeating what's been said, but I just skimmed.

your aperture is open too much making your focal plane one where all of the flower is not in focus.

I'm guessing you wanted a blurred background...but I'd personally rather see all of the flower in focus...unless it is artfully blurred in areas for a reason.

Keep at it and you'll get the hang of it. I think most of us, if not all, started out shooting flowers...I know I did...like crazy. It's great practice, and now and then you get a wall hanger out of it.

 

[trey1010]

Thank you all so much for taking the ttime to reply. I will keep at iit and try to improve! Thank you

 

[greybeard69 42]

I would shoot those at f/11 to get the entire bloom in focus. You can always blur the background in PP. I have always felt that it was important not to clip the pedals.

 

[PropilotBW]

Just a thought for you: Try shooting from an angle that people don't see everyday walking by these...you might find the flower much more interesting. Sometimes that involves laying down on the ground, too.
Lastly, Crop out the rock on the left, or reshoot so its not such a distraction to the flower.

Also, if you want a nice result you can frame, cut the flower and put in a vase and set it in front of a black or white background. Then you can play with different lighting (natural or artificial) which can add some dramatic effects to it.