Winter Leaf

[Tahaacke]

I think it might have focused more on the branch then the actual leaves (or is that a flower?). I am trying to work on focusing better. What are your C&C?

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/51/leaf01no9.jpg

[ScottDR]

Hello,

Yes it appears the branch is better in focus. The background blur (bokeh) is nice, but the white highlights in the background and below do take away from the main point of interest.

What lens/camera/distance did you use?

[Glenn NK]

[quote=Tahaacke;4517392]I think it might have focused more on the branch then the actual leaves (or is that a flower?). I am trying to work on focusing better. What are your C&C?

Not so much C&C, but some comments. I do a lot of "botanicals" (flowers, leaves, buds, berries) in closeup format (not quite macro) with a 100 mm macro lens. Since buying the lens ten months ago, I've taken about 6,000 botanical shots.

I always use a tripod for a number of reasons:

1. Can spend more time getting the focus right.

2. Can more time getting the composition right.

3. Can use manual focus - being really stupid, the camera doesn't have a clue where to focus - in your image, the camera picked the wrong thing.

Other comments:

Always take at least several shots of a subject; at different f/stops, slightly different composition, and even at different ISOs. This is how you learn what looks and works best, It also covers you if one shot was screwed up with focus, exposure or composition.

In the bright summer sun, I use a diffuser to soften the light - direct sun creates glare (spectral highlight) that invariably blow out.

A rainy day is prime flower weather - they are fresher, but more importantly, the lighting is soft and diffuse resulting in better colour saturation. Also raindrops add to the image (but they must be in focus).

Night shooting with a small flash (built-in will work) really isolates the subject from the background, and enables the use of small apertures for good DOF of the subject, but the background being farther back, usually is black or near black - this really acctentuates the subject.

If you get serious, then focus stacking is the answer. This involves taking several images with the exact same composition and camera settings, but each successive shot has a slightly different focus point. The software examines each image and takes the sharpest parts of each image. This essentially puts the entire subject into focus. Larger apertures will blur the background, but the combination of images taken at different focus distances, makes up for the large apertures.

[Mick_I]

Must have been chilly out! have you cropped the image? if not remember the rule of 3rd's in order to create a stimulating shot.

[Tahaacke]

It is cropped slighty. Iso 100, 55mm, f/5.6 on the 18-55mm kit lens. What is the rule of thirds? Is it kinda like what Glenn NK was saying?

Or is this better with the background? Or should I just crop out the snow?
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2091/leaf012sh0.jpg


Thanks for all the tips and comments.

[tonydee]

Rule of Thirds says put the main lines dividing your image, and the specific points of interest, a third of the way in from edges. Another way of visualising it is as a 3x3 grid superimposed over your image - much like a naughts and crosses board - where you want the import parts of your image to lie along the lines or be on the intersections.

I think it would be better without the snow, but - given it's not well focused - you'd be better off taking a new photo. Really, take a few dozen from different angles - thinking about how the subject you want contrasts with the blurred background behind it - and review them carefully on the computer or post here for comment. Quickest way to learn.

You might be interested in this similar thread that's still under active discussion - I think it shows a sound example of this kind of technique, and there'll be further discussion to read: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=418303

Cheers,

Tony

[Tahaacke]

Thanks you for the information.

[Tahaacke]

Okay I gave it one more go. I am trying to nail down my focusing. I think I focused better in this one. http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9171/img2339yb7.jpg