First Macro Shots with my new lens

[pumarjr]

Hello all, I am new here, not new to photography tho, none the less, I pride myself on being a 20yr amateur and proud of it. I've been taking photos for a long time, never with any guidance, so when I came across this forum I thought, wow, somewhere to post photos and receive great advice. So here goes.
Equipment,
Nikon D7000
Tokina 100mm 2.8 Macro lens
Partially willing subjects.
I took 143 shots total to get these two halfway decent shots, too much wind and movement. Please comment, but be gentile!

 

[mjhoward]

I've got the same setup! What are you using for lighting? By the looks of the first shot, it looks like you are using some form of off camera flash.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Nice!

 

[pumarjr]

I've got the same setup! What are you using for lighting? By the looks of the first shot, it looks like you are using some form of off camera flash.

no flash, only the sun, I was working, the clouds were here and there, when the iguanas came out to eat, the clouds were out.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

You've got me wanting to see more of the iguana in #2. What colors and textures he has....I want to see more!!!:thumbup:

 

[GeorgieGirl]

And I just saw that you are from Key West...I want to see more!!!

 

[jrice12]

Just my opinions...

#1 is nice - good background and focus is right on. Like the drooping wings. DOF is fair choice with focus ending before the "tail" starts, but would have liked a tad more for wings and "body" focus (and background would support more DOF so that wouldn't have been an issue).

#2 The colors are really something! Eye focus is spot-on. Fair choice for DOF - focus ending at base of neck with shoulder still in focus. However, I would have liked a little less DOF to help de-clutter background and give a bit more depth to the critter (want the back spikes to fade more out of focus to the right). However, the color contrast of the critter beats the background clutter. Not sure I like the bokeh of that lens, but would need more images to decide. Framing may show a little too much background - it's almost as if the critter is straining to get into the picture .

Direct sunlight did some harm to the images but not much. Wonder if CPF would improve #2 coloring even more!