Turned Tulip [Photography Contest Flower Photos]
Uploaded: December 24, 2006 00:47:54
I had a very difficult time getting this image to be as sharp as I would have liked. Used a tripod with the macro lens but didn't use an off-camera shutter release. Still, maybe the softness is ok...I have mixed feelings about it.
Donald K. Cherry December 24, 2006
Very pretty floral image, Mary! I really like your PoV, color and lighting! Nicely done! Merry Christmas! #576803Mary B. McGrath December 24, 2006
Glad you like it, but I am very critical of my work, and would like to improve on this image. Happy Holidays! #3736217Vladan D. Djordjevic December 24, 2006
Great perspective, colors, effects! Merry Christmas to you and your family! #3737558Theresa M. VanderStaay December 24, 2006
This is beautiful Mary...The color and clarity is great...I like the POV in which you have taken this one...Shows a different view of this beautiful tulip...I think you've done a great job on this one....I am glad you posted it! :o)Tessa #3737609Mary B. McGrath December 24, 2006
Thank you all for your support of my macro efforts. It's all a work in progress, and thanks to digital, you can always erase and start over! #3737646Robert N. Valine December 24, 2006
Nice image! Actually Mary, I think the softness is kind of appealing. If you wanted to improve on overall sharpness, I would suggest trying a longer lens that would flatten perspective a little. What length macro are you using ? It looks like a short focal length. Maybe 60 or 90mm ? Try 200 or 300mm and pull back a little. More of the image will be sharp. I like the 75-200mm zoom length for macro flower shots.What was your aperture setting? Try your smallest aperture setting on the lens to give you maximum depth of field. #3737771Mary B. McGrath December 24, 2006
It's a 100 mm macro lens. I think the depth of field was 2.8, as I was trying to keep the shutter speed high to avoid camera shake. Thanks for the suggestions! #3737985Robert N. Valine December 25, 2006
I kind of figured it was a 90 or 100mm. That lens may be fine for what you are doing. If you are using a tripod you shouldn't have any trouble with camera shake. A shutter release would definately help though. I shoot a lot of my flowers at f5.6 This gives a good combination of sharpness and softness. Usually I'm using an 80-200mm zoom for quick easy framing. This lens works well in combination with close up diopters. I also use 35,50 and 135mm primes on occasion. I took a look at your gallery and your photos are very nice. Your Bio is very impressive. Good Luck in the contest and have a Merry Christmas! #3739134Laurie Daily January 25, 2007
A beautiful image, Mary! Congratulations to you on this finalist! I understand your frustrations at times with sharpness. It is something I continue to work on. Thank you Rob for some of your insight...I will definitely re-evaluate how I am shooting my flowers and try some new things! #3870554Mary B. McGrath January 25, 2007
I need to use my tripod more, especially the larger one, but I'm sometimes too lazy. I wonder where my shutter release is? Hmmmmmmmmm.....thanks for visiting! #3870577Ivan Chacon February 25, 2007
Very beautiful, congrats Mary! :) #3990873Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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