OK, let me have it! Nature Pics...

[Meg C]

Please be as candid as you like. There are a few of these that I really like, but because my eye is so new to this, I'm not sure what to look for. Composition, lighting, sharpness, focus, etc... What do you think? (just threw the foot pic in because I thought it was cool)

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/alien_bud.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/daffodil_1.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/daffodil_2.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/daffodil_3.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/megs_feet.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/mini_daffs.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/tree_bud_1.jpg

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/tree_bud_2.jpg

[JohnEBongo]

Well, you certainly have complete control over DOF. The feet picture is pretty cool. I think the flower pix are good but the little white ones get lost in the picture because they are too small......

[johneric8]

Nice feet.. Lets see the soles of those babies!!

[Meg C]

Thanks for the comments :) These were all taken with my new 50mm 1.8... I wanted to experiment with it while we still had some nice light outside yesterday.

You want to see the soles of my feet? LOL I'm not sure that I could take that pic, but I'll see what I can do. :D

[vinnyveez]

Nice feet.. Lets see the soles of those babies!!

this is like the 3rd comment i have seen you make on feet. lol i thought i had problems :cool:

[Shirlon5]

Like the feet too but your flowers need work. There was to much in the picture and it was hard to find what you was taken a picture of. When you have a flower that stand out you should only be able to see that flower :D :D

[VFTT]

No comments on the feet, but your flower pix do need a little help. You put the flowers dead in the center, which can be ok sometimes, but certainly not all the time. If you put the flowers dead center, then dont be afraid to walk right up to them and have them fill the frame. Or you could always crop the picture down to get the same effect. If you want to print them you better start out with the flower filling the frame though.

I cropped one of your pix to show you what I mean. Image how nice it would look if you had shot it this way full frame.

If you dont want the subject to fill the whole frame (or if your lens wont focus that close), then you can also try to put the subject off center. Putting it dead center like you have the flowers kind of makes it look like you just saw the flower, put it dead center, took a snapshot, and then moved on. You used some creativity with your feet (again, no comment :oops: ), try to use some with the flowers. Good luck!

- darren

[Meg C]

Thanks for the comments all! I hope this doesn't show my ignorance (I'm sure it will...), but these were shot with my 50mm 1.8, so I couldn't get any closer than I did (1.5 feet). Would you usually take these pics with a larger zoom lens or on a macro setting? Since what I used is mostly a portrait lens, perhaps I didn't choose the best subject matter. It was a beautiful afternoon, and I was looking for things outside to photograph... :)

In the the perfect world, what would you use to photograph flowers?

[VFTT]

these were shot with my 50mm 1.8, so I couldn't get any closer than I did (1.5 feet).


OK, open mouth insert foot.....

I guess I am just spoiled by my 100mm macro lens. :)

Looking at the photos I gueess I just assumed that you could get closer. Therein lies the power of the macro lens.

Check out the photo I shot with the 100 macro:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66436

Those are crocuses which are about 1/2 the size of a dafodil. So, you can get the idea of how much closer you can get to some flowers and how much you can fill the frame.

If you dont have a macro lens, you can get (sort of) the same effect from a larger telephoto lens. You can sit much further away with a 300mm lens and get pretty much the same shot.

So, figure out what you want to shoot (ie: do you really want to shoot flowers or would you also like to shoot birds) and pick up another lens. As you said you almost have to choose your subject based on the lens that you have.

Take care.

- darren

[Hellashot]

Image #2 needs more sharpening.

[Meg C]

OK what about this one? I'm really finding that the lenses that I have for zoom/macro are pretty crappy :) lol So much noise...

http://www.streamload.com/stevnmd/nature/daffodil.jpg

[ChP]

The above flower is much better. Getting in close is very important and I like how the composition gives the flower some direction (rather than being straight on). The background color is interesting too, great use of color.