Hand held macro

Tried hand holding macro shots of flowers.

I noticed this and the dragonfly shot you posted look a little soft. What lens and settings are you using?

I'm suspecting a large aperture, so a thin depth of field.

They were both shot with Canon 7D & 100mm F2.8

Morlux wrote in post #16298473
They were both shot with Canon 7D & 100mm F2.8

what aperture? f/2.8? What shutter speed?

Shot at f4, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Morlux wrote in post #16298489
Shot at f4, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Thanks. You'll get more of the subject in focus if you try something like f/11. If you do, maybe use ISO 400 or 800 so you can keep your shutter speed up.

Another one shot with the same settings.

Thanks for the tips.

Couple tips:

1. Even the best, sharpest lens there is will take blurry macro shots if you move just a bit ...

2. Try to take your shots in optimal (morning) light.

3. Try to compose your shots in such a way as the background is uncluttered, clean, and pleasing. In other words, rather than shooting down toward the dirt and ground, instead get on an even plane with the flower and try to get a smooth background.

To show what I mean about the difference, here are two photos I took of the same subject: a Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly.
The first shot was poorly-composed, taken in horrible mid-day light, with an equally-horrifying background.
The second shot was well-composed, taken in pleasant (overcast) light, with a clean un-cluttered background.

That helps a lot. Thanks.

You have received some great tips from Jack.