Looking for critique to improve

Here are some of my favourite shots - want to know how to take them to the next level

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75730284​64/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75389242​72/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75508789​12/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75365297​58/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75367646​54/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75360880​94/

Fab! What are they? What lens? #1 seems to be trying new contact lens on: could be next ad for specsavers

Haha I don't shoot any macro so I can't offer much, but man, those are so good.

I seriously don't think there is a another lever after that. There is?

Looks great. More DOF on some of them perhaps?

They're just stunning!

What lens are you using?

edit: nevermind just seen the EXIF Info

Stunning!

Your next level ? You are there. Stunning macros.Up with the best I have seen in the Macro fourm.

Danoptic wrote in post #14810218
edit: nevermind just seen the EXIF Info

I can't see any exif data via firefox exif viewer - why??

Sorry forgot to give the details.

60mm macro usually at 1:1 with 60mm of extension tubes giving me magnification of 2:1, DIY flash diffuser. DOF is an issue - most of the shots are already stacked from 3-5 shots (usually f/9).

I feel like sometimes I just go in 2:1 with the flash when maybe a shot from further away with better composition and natural lighting might be better. Sometimes I get addicted to just wanting to get closer and closer and might forgo a good shot because of that - e.g. get the whole damselfly in the shot (and in focus) rather than just the head). Also maybe my backgrounds are lacking in colour but it's pretty hard to stick something behind them (damselflies) as they will fly away.

This guy seems to have some pretty nice macro shots with great colour backgrounds.

http://500px.com/biker​11

I was thinking of heading out early when they are still too cold to move; then I could probably stick a piece of coloured card behind them, position a reflector underneath, stick the camera on a tripod (ambient light and get more shots to focus-stack), they would also be covered in dew which would make it more interesting. Probably something similar to:

http://500px.com/photo​/9003713

This is my general setting shot:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/iliauk/75686202​98/

I think your next step is to start to consider how a portfolio is put together. We have plenty of images here and your technique is delivering credible results. Do they all belong in the portfolio? What would be the guiding criteria for selecting images that belong? What is the portfolio about subject wise? Why would the viewer want to spend time with your portfolio? What are the aspects of the portfolio that your images will communicate to the viewer? How can you strengthen the content? What are the strongest images? What are the weakest images? For your portfolio is there a story line or is this a documentary? Is this collection a part of a larger portfolio of images?

I think you are on to something concerning all images being of the same magnification. Perhaps you want to capture a collection of images based on different magnification ratios showing the creature in several different scales from different angles. That's a good starting point to put these images into the context of a showing.

A portfolio is in essence a show hanging on a wall in a gallery.

jetcode wrote in post #14811205
I think your next step is to start to consider how a portfolio is put together. We have plenty of images here and your technique is delivering credible results. Do they all belong in the portfolio? What would be the guiding criteria for selecting images that belong? What is the portfolio about subject wise? Why would the viewer want to spend time with your portfolio? What are the aspects of the portfolio that your images will communicate to the viewer? How can you strengthen the content? What are the strongest images? What are the weakest images? For your portfolio is there a story line or is this a documentary? Is this collection a part of a larger portfolio of images?

I think you are on to something concerning all images being of the same magnification. Perhaps you want to capture a collection of images based on different magnification ratios showing the creature in several different scales from different angles. That's a good starting point to put these images into the context of a showing.

A portfolio is in essence a show hanging on a wall in a gallery.

OR.simply a gallery of macros?

Thanks for the replies.

Well they are on flickr and get a bit of views but nothing too interesting

those are amazing great job