Need advice.

[Curos]

well, im pretty new to photography, done a little bit, but just getting into macro's. This pic:
http://uploads.offtopic.com/files/IMG_1265_1.jpg
was taken inside, cannot seem to get it any better than that, have tried numerous things...flash is too bright...ISO, aperatures, shutter speed..ive tried it all...any advice would be great :)

sorry forgot - Canon EOS Digital Rebel - standard 18-55mm lense, +7 zoom with a Hoya Close-up set.

[Fido aka James Smith]

1. Are you using a tripod.?
2. Use a smaller (higher numerically) aperture. More depth of field.
3. Use a second light source such as a 100 watt bulb to create highlight/shadow detail in the petals.

[Curos]

tripod - yes
tried several aperautre settings
have 2 100watts above me, tried turning em off, one off, etc.

[Fido aka James Smith]

1What ISO and f-stop ....? May want to increase ISO and therefore f-stop.
2. How are you releasing the shutter?
3. Is the subject absolutely motionless as well as the camera?
4. Are you using the "macro" setting on your 300D?

[Motorsports Photo]

Looking at the pic, I think the flower is still moving. The top right petal is out of focus (?) at the very front and then out of focus again as you get near the stem. It doent look like it protrudes past the center.

I think some white balance might also make the colors stand out better.

-Pete

[Curos]

alright, home from school.

probably should have said this earlier, forgot...this flower is very small, about the size of a quarter around...anyways.

the flower is not moving, completely still on my desk on a sheet of paper.

1. ISO was 800 i believe.
Fido, what do you mean by #2?
3. both are motionless, tripod and desk.
4. this was taken with the macro setting if i remember correctly.

[Olegis]

As was suggested - try to use sturdy tripod, small apperture (f/16 for example) and timer-activated shutter release.

[dn7elson]

By 7+ closeup Hoya set do you mean that you have stacked a +4 and +3 to make a +7?

If so, each addition removes some clarity from the image and the DRebel kit lens (18-55) is not that sharp to begin with (I also have one).

In addition, the depth of focus is very short with the addition of the closeup lens stack, so you will likely not get the entire flower in focus.

[Jesper]

I've downloaded your file and I see the following camera settings when I right-click and choose Properties:

Shutter: 1/15 second
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal length: 50 mm
ISO 800

With macro shots, the depth-of-field will become very small (just a few mm) if you choose a larger aperture (= smaller f-stop number). You can see that the DOF is very small in your photo - that's what you get at f/5.6. Try setting the camera on Av mode, which allows you to control the aperture setting (the camera will choose the matching shutter speed to make a correct exposure). Set the aperture to f/16 or f/22 for example, to increase the depth-of-field. Note that the smaller you set the aperture (= the higher the f-stop), the longer the shutter speed will need to be.

f/16 is 3 stops down from f/5.6, so if the light would be the same as your photo above, the shutter speed would need to be 1/2 second (and at f/22, you'd need 1 second).

[robertwgross]

When I try to shoot something close in like this, I do best by sticking on the EF12 extension tube to whatever lens. Still, the depth of field can get very tricky.

---Bob Gross---

[Curos]

thanks for all the help guys, lemme try a few more shots in a minute and i will get back to you...

[Curos]

HUGE difference

http://uploads.offtopic.com/files/IMG_1326_1.jpg

changed aperature to 20....

[dn7elson]

Much better. Now, you need to work on the White Balance to reduce the yellow cast.

[Curos]

will try in a bit, gtg eat now...food...

also, tried with a rose about 4-5 times the size of that one, and the pictures are turning out under and over exposed, ive tried several aperature settings, cant seem to find a good one..any advice there? can post a few pics later if you need.