First try 300mm F4 macro mode

This is my first attempt using the 300 F4 IS USM in its macro mode.

All critique welcome I am new to this fascinating form of photography and have HEAPS to learn.

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Not a bad attempt, but a bit too busy, and I presume flash was used? Try a less busy Rose, with less clutter. If flash was used, try natural light instead for a softer and more natural look. Also, a set of extension tubes placed between the camera and the lens will let you get even closer and fill the frame more with the flower if you want!

Dave

Thanks Dave advice noted and will be acted on.

I have purchased a set of Kenko tubes and below is my first attempt with then.

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If you're going to use flash and you are indoors, a great way to make the lighting look better is to bounce it off the ceiling. With something like macro, lighting is very sensitive and is easily noticed when the light isn't optimal. Macro lighting is one of the hardest and most frustrating things to figure out...experiment, experiment, and don't stop until you've found what works best.

As I am discovering every day however I love the upcoming challenge of Macro work.

I spent years photographing whilst skydiving, diving, climbing and hang gliding until a serious motorcycle accident left me unable to do all the exciting sports I used to mix with my photography.

Macro is my latest challenge and it is so complicated that I hope it will keep me going until the inevitable end.

I recently purchased the 100 F2.8 Macro and MR-14EX ring lite and there in lies a whole new set of challenges.

Thanks to everyone for their time and help.

Cheers
Chris

Dave!

Your site is fantastic. What photos!

Mrvile wrote in post #3471227
If you're going to use flash and you are indoors, a great way to make the lighting look better is to bounce it off the ceiling. With something like macro, lighting is very sensitive and is easily noticed when the light isn't optimal. Macro lighting is one of the hardest and most frustrating things to figure out...experiment, experiment, and don't stop until you've found what works best.

Not too sure on bouncing the flash off the ceiling for macro shots, but for general style flash related shots, I'd agree, although you have to watch colour casts from the ceilings/walls, etc. I'd agree that macro flash lighting is something that's very hard to get right, and I'm still nowhere near happy with the lighting that I'm getting. In fact, I'm very disappointed, it's what I personally consider as the worst aspect of my digital macro photography efforts. Others here have lighting much better - LordV, Dalantench, Racketman, Pxl8 (he only shoots natural light shots), AirBrontosaurus, Bald Eagle all have much better methods of lighting that I do. Many will use a flash bracket, some type of diffuser, and play with FEC to adjust the lighting levels from the flash and remove harsh shadows/lighting. Some try a mixture of natural light + fill flash (Dalantech in particular, although LordV has been experimenting with this of late to good effect).

Chris - keep at the macro photography, in al honesty it took me nigh on 5,000 shots and six months to start getting half decent shots. It just takes a lot of work, and a lot of practice.

Oh, and thanks for the kind words on my website, very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave