My first flower - C & C please

[whoever]

I'm still very new to photography and very keen to learn. I took this photogaph hand held and it was quite windy. C & C very welcome.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/491736354_2fc9eb5e3a_b.jpg

[Mortgage101]

Fantastic color not a trained eye but I like it and the oof area seems very smooth to an amature eye.

[chuckw]

Looks oof a bit on my screen, maybe stop down the lens to open the dof or use a screen to reduce wind's effect on moving the flower.

[strmrdr]

bit of sharpening would really wake that picture up.

usm amount 50 or so and 2,2 for the other settings.

Then amount 60 or so and .4,1

as a starting point.

[VegasGeorge]

As I see it, the focus is too soft. I can't quite find the point of critical focus. Stop down to get a wider depth of field so the entire flower becomes sharp.

[Mgw189]

Macro images are tough you should always try to use a tripod. At least that has been my biggest trouble with oof areas.

[whoever]

Thank you for your responses. Heres a second attempt with a similar rose, which I have stopped down a bit.

Camera Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/80
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.5
Metering Mode Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 100
Lens 17.0 - 50.0 mm
Focal Length 33.0 mm
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Daylight
AF Mode One-Shot AF

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/495923158_f4783b9887_b.jpg

Is this any better than the last?

[VegasGeorge]

Yes, much better. The petal edges are sharper than in your earlier shot. You still have plenty of background blur, so why not try stopping down even more?

[Hellashot]

Typical sharpening settings with USM are 330, 0.3, 1

[Bollan]

Still looks soft to me and rather uninteresting (better than the first though). Try stopping down to 8-11 and use a tripod (important). Try different angles, experiment and don't be afraid shooting from other angles than the standard straight from above. The lightning doesn't really help either.

When shooting flowers make sure they are still. If its windy pick another time or try to fix its stem with something.

[waussie]

When you have done all of the above you may have a sharp image but it will still be boring.
Try some angles, include something else in the picture, a bud, a leaf maybe, avoid black backgrounds, allow some space around the subject.
Or ignore this post, it's your choice.

[whoever]

Thanks for all your comments, I really apprechiate them.
I will give some of your suggestions a go when it stops raining!!
The way the weather is in England at the moment - it might be some time ;-)

Bollan - can you explain further how you would improve the lighting please.

[Bollan]

Thanks for all your comments, I really apprechiate them.
I will give some of your suggestions a go when it stops raining!!
The way the weather is in England at the moment - it might be some time ;-)

Bollan - can you explain further how you would improve the lighting please.

Shoot when the lighting is more attractive to capture some shadows giving more depth and detail to the flower is the easiest advice. Sometimes its not possible of course but then you can try other solutions. Try to use an off-shoe flash light and experiment with different lightning angles. The use of a small reflector is another way to improve the lightning. Its just matter of imagination and shooting more. If you really get into shooting flowers maybe try out a ringflash.

Another good method is to look at other photographers pictures. To get some inspiration and ideas how to make a "simple" flower shot more interesting.

The are millions of flower pictures out there but very few separates from the rest. The photographer that put some thought behind usually end up with that little extra to make them stand out from the crowd.

[whoever]

Thanks Bollan