MACRO help

[DesRosiers13]

howdy all! i am completely new to everything about photography, but recently purchased a used camera and im curious to learn!! In the package, i receieved a small MACRO attachment. I used that to experiment and to see what it did, and i always seem to get round shadows along the bottom of the photos. is it safe to assume that its due to me being to close? heres the included items with the package i bought....

Fujifilm Finepix s3100 with...

-Filters, UV, FD, and Polarizer

-55mm Lens, .45X High Definition wide angle, 2.2 High Defination Telephoto, and Macro

heres the URL's to the pictures...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/had_car_stolen/DSCF3257.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/had_car_stolen/DSCF3253.jpg

if i pull back it seems to be fine, but isnt the macro used so you can move in close?? any info at all is new knowledge for me! thanks for looking
-dave

i dont really know what any of those lenses do either, so if you want to go ahead and explain the filters and the lenses, im all ears

 

[xfloggingkylex]

something is in the way of the flash. if you had a DSLR I'd say it was your hood, but instead i think you need to pull back a foot and zoom in to compensate if you can.

 

[russrom]

even though it isn't a true DSLR that is your Lens! The (I don't know what to call it on that camera...?)Tube, Lens, (what ever it is) is in the shot because the flash is right on top of it and you are so close you are blocking the bottom half of the subject from the flash, Try an off camera flash or some other means of lighting(Lamp, flashlight...I don't know get creative!) Keep it up and welcome to TPF!

Oh and as far as the other filters go look at this site... http://www.tiffen.com/camera_filters.htm
There are a lot of places on the web to find good info so if you don't like this one you can always try another!

 

[DesRosiers13]

thankyou very much for posting! i figured that was what the problem was, im glad i know for sure now. I have always wanted to get a camera, im glad i finally just did it now cause i know itll be lots of fun i will definatly check out that site! thanks again!
-dave