New to macro

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

Feel free to criticize. My colors may be off, I'm ordering a new monitor and calibrator soon.

Camera	Canon EOS 7D
Exposure	0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture	f/18.0
Focal Length	90 mm
ISO Speed	320
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Flash	On, Fired

cgipson1 · Apr 21, 2013

Nice froggie! It does look a little bit underexposed... and the color blends with the background a bit. I did a quick edit just to see what I could do....

Original on top:

Did you diffuse the flash? Was it the pop-up flash?

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

It was diffused and also a external flash. I was trying to separate the background and frog, but they were so close in color, was posing quite the challenge. The flash was mounted on camera, though.

cgipson1 · Apr 21, 2013

reaper7534 said:
It was diffused and also a external flash. I was trying to separate the background and frog, but they were so close in color, was posing quite the challenge. The flash was mounted on camera, though.

Good! How large was the diffuser? Having the flash on camera can make it difficult to avoid the harsh shadows like the one under the frog's chin. A good macro bracket like this Kirk Enterprises : Universal - Macro Flash Bracket will allow to place the flash in an optimal position... very helpful. I also often use a flash or two off camera with wireless flash triggers. You may also find that calibrating your monitor will be needed to achieve optimal exposures and color in post.

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

I can't afford a top of the line monitor so ill be getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2412m with a SpyderPro 4 calibrator. Ill look into the brackets, I'm still wrapping my mind around using a flash on a sunny day, lol.

cgipson1 · Apr 21, 2013

reaper7534 said:
I can't afford a top of the line monitor so ill be getting a Dell Ultrasharp U2412m with a SpyderPro 4 calibrator. Ill look into the brackets, I'm still wrapping my mind around using a flash on a sunny day, lol.

I almost always use flash on sunny days... it helps to reduce the contrast in harsh sunlight for portraiture or macro. I also use flash for fill on none sunny days... lol!

I use a Dell Ultrasharp 30".. and it is a great monitor (no matter what some say!

) You will love the monitor!

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

Found some baseline settings for my current monitor and it was way to bright, that's why all you guys are seeing it too dark on your end. So what looked good to me, looked like garbage to everyone else.

cgipson1 · Apr 21, 2013

reaper7534 said:
Found some baseline settings for my current monitor and it was way to bright, that's why all you guys are seeing it too dark on your end. So what looked good to me, looked like garbage to everyone else.

Not unusual... happens to a lot of people.

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

On that note, I'm searching for new monitors now. Had a eye on some Dell Ultrasharps, but KmH shot that down. LoL

cgipson1 · Apr 21, 2013

reaper7534 said:
On that note, I'm searching for new monitors now. Had a eye on some Dell Ultrasharps, but KmH shot that down. LoL

I am pretty happy with mine.. but mine is the older IPS panel technology.

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

cgipson1 said:
reaper7534 said:

On that note, I'm searching for new monitors now. Had a eye on some Dell Ultrasharps, but KmH shot that down. LoL

Click to expand...

I am pretty happy with mine.. but mine is the older IPS panel technology.

Lenses are making me poor enough, so I can only afford e-ips

KrisztinaK · Apr 21, 2013

I think the detail in the frog is fantastic. Love how sharp this is ...

I'd probably crop out the bit of tree in the corner though. And maybe go a little looser on the crop of the frog itself. Maybe that's not possible if this is an in camera crop, but it just feels a smidge tight.

Charlie - I really like your edit on this. tfs

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

KrisztinaK said:
I think the detail in the frog is fantastic. Love how sharp this is ...

I'd probably crop out the bit of tree in the corner though. And maybe go a little looser on the crop of the frog itself. Maybe that's not possible if this is an in camera crop, but it just feels a smidge tight.

Charlie - I really like your edit on this. tfs

Not a in camera crop, I do have some room to work. I had to look at what tree you were talking about, that is my wooden deck !! Lol.

KrisztinaK · Apr 21, 2013

I wasn't talking about the deck. LOL
There is a small bit of darker wood, at least I think it's wood, near the upper left corner. Not quite in the corner but the far left.
Whatever it is, I'd crop it out.

reaper7534 · Apr 21, 2013

KrisztinaK said:
I wasn't talking about the deck. LOL
There is a small bit of darker wood, at least I think it's wood, near the upper left corner. Not quite in the corner but the far left.
Whatever it is, I'd crop it out.

ah, that's a leaf. I'll try cropping that out and post up tomorrow