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Flowers Macro 1:2
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:26 pm    Post subject: Flowers Macro 1:2 Reply with quote
This is my first time trying out macro photography outside using my sb-910 flash. It was hard to get most shots because it was so windy today. I'm starting to get the hang out manual focusing. The lens I used was the Vivitar 70-210mm 3.5 lens. This was my first manual focusing lens let alone macro lens. I don't have a tripod yet so all are hand held. No Post processing was done besides cropping and white balance.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5



#6


I don't know if it's my computer or not but some of them seem a bit too dark. I had trouble dialing in the right exposure on the camera. Then again it was cloudy off and on outside. I hope to learn a lot form this forum and it's members.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Flowers Macro 1:2 Reply with quote
Nikonshooter wrote:
...No Post processing was done besides cropping and white balance....

....I don't know if it's my computer or not but some of them seem a bit too dark.


If you don't like the look why not edit them ? In #3 for example, I would lift the shadows and add a use a small S-curve. But that's my habit/taste.

Which editor do you use ?


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:13 pm    Post subject: Re: Flowers Macro 1:2 Reply with quote
sichko wrote:
Nikonshooter wrote:
...No Post processing was done besides cropping and white balance....

....I don't know if it's my computer or not but some of them seem a bit too dark.


If you don't like the look why not edit them ? In #3 for example, I would lift the shadows and add a use a small S-curve. But that's my habit/taste.

Which editor do you use ?


I like the look, I just don't know how accurate the colors are on my laptop. The colors look different than what the camera showed me. I only have lightroom 4 to work with.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The colours you see on the camera depend upon upon which "Picture Control" you use - Neutral, Standard, Vivid etc - or maybe you use your own and set Contrast, Saturation etc. individually. These settings are not useable by Adobe software so you will get different colours when LR carries out the RAW conversion. I use CNX2, a Nikon product, which does import these settings. However lots of people don't like CNX2 and successfully use LRX or CSX - but I don't how!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Not bad for the first try.
Try to get a real macro lens. That is, a prime lens. That Vivitar zoom is heavy.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
For handheld and no pp, these are quite good. I agree, this lens is quite heavy, maybe getting a 90 or 55 macro would help.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
You did a great job with the focus and I can't see anything wrong with the exposure. The colours look great too. Very Happy

I used the same lens for my first attempts at macro but I added a Raynox lens to get 1:1 magnification. The results were very pleasing.
Raynox Arrow http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/dcr/dcr250/indexdcr250eg.htm

If you think there are issues with colours and exposure, have you calibrated your laptop screen? That can make quite a difference. But as I said before, your photos look fine to me.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excellent start, especially handheld. I strongly recommend looking for the nikkor micro 55/3.5, You can get it quite cheaply on the bay, and try for one with the specialist extension. Also a tripod becomes essential as you get closer. You might also want to research what people have been doing in the realm of macro with enlarging lenses (usually mounted on a bellows or other focus device)

patrickh


PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you for all the replies and advice. If the colors looks right to you then I have nothing to worry about. I'm trying to hunt down the Nikkor 55mm 2.8 right now ebay.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 5:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
excellent flower images


PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Great start indeed and no, I don't find them too dark, I would even
underexpose 1/3 .. 2/3 stops at times to enhance colors even more
and to make the flower head stand out from the BG.

I see you tried some clever cropping to make invisible the wilted parts!

Last edited by kds315* on Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:49 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes I tried my best with what I had. Hopefully the kenko extension tubes get here before the cold kills all the flowers. Thank you for the tips and comment. I will try to stop them down to see how they turn out.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nikonshooter wrote:
Yes I tried my best with what I had. Hopefully the kenko extension tubes get here before the cold kills all the flowers. Thank you for the tips and comment. I will try to stop them down to see how they turn out.


For the beginning you could also do exposure bracketing to find out what works best for you (it depends on metering setting and sensor), i.e. shoot every picture three times exposed with, say -1/3EV, 0EV, +1/3EV or -2/3EV, 0EV, +2/3EV
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