I really like this one.....CC

[Blake.Oney]

Which is why I need some CC on it. I haven't shot many flowers or anything like that, and I'm afraid I might just like it so much that I'm not seeing what may be wrong with it. Thanks in advance.

 

[pbelarge]

Hello Blake

The left side of the photo is a 'dead' area. I would work on a crop eliminating that area and see how it looks. Also the photo is somewhat dark - but that may be my screen.

 

[tirediron]

It's a start. As mentioned, it's definitely under-exposed and has a lot of dead area, BUT it's a start. You've obviously noticed one of the things that makes any sort of close-up photography difficult and that's the lack of DoF at such short camera-to-subject distances. These are interesting flowers, but the shape of them doesn't really make for good close-up/macro work just because they're so deep. I would suggest starting easier flowers, things that are the shape of pansies or daisies; being much more one dimensional, it will be a lot easier to get them all (or more) in focus. As well, I would suggest using center-weighted metering to avoid the empty areas which are often much darker or brighter messing up your exposure.

 

[Blake.Oney]

Thanks. I'll try that. I've been photographing people for a while now, but I'm really starting to get into other things. I actually took this at a location while I was waiting on a client to get there. I shot it at 200mm f5.6 because I wanted to have the really shallow depth of field. Is that something that I shouldn't want with flower photog standards? Would I want to do something more like have the whole flower in focus and then the background oof?

 

[tirediron]

IMO, this image doesn't have enough in focus to really hold the eye. Typically with macro and close-up work I try to get as much of the subject in focus as possible.

 

[pbelarge]

I shot it at 200mm f5.6 because I wanted to have the really shallow depth of field. Is that something that I shouldn't want with flower photog standards? Would I want to do something more like have the whole flower in focus and then the background oof?

Maybe you want to read up a little about photographing flowers and even look at some photographs.

Then, go out, using your existing knowledge of photography and make your own style flower photographs.
I think you would do really well.

 

[eilla05]

To me I wish more of the center flower was in focus. There does not seem to be enough of it in focus for me and I agree about the dead space. I do like the picture though

 

[Blake.Oney]

Thanks for the advice. Instead of starting a new thread I'll throw this on in here too. I got this one a few minutes after the flower. I wish the hill with the tree on top wasn't as hazy, but other than that i have no idea what needs to be happening here.

 

[Derrel]

I think tirediron hits the nail on the proverbial head...there's not quite enough subject in-focus to make a really compelling photo. There is about 10 percent of the frame in good, sharp focus, and the rest of out of focus background, which while nicely handled, just does not have a lot of visual "pull"...however, the background is subdued, and tranquil,and does not have garish out of focus elements, or distracting branches, or awful double-line bokeh or anything really "bad", so it makes sense that there's a positive feeling you have toward the shot....it's a good start, and a step in the right direction.