Decent macro?

This is a weed growing outside on the un-mowed section of my office property.

The flowers are delicate and I think they are attractive. c&c welcome!

1/200s, f11, iso 200-300mm. Tripod, manual focus, mirror locked and wired remote. 100% crop no pp. Sigma 70-300

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

I'm no pro but it seems way over-exposed and a bit soft round the edges.
I like flower macros so I'd say good attempt but you should try different angles and compositions to heighten interest.
Detail is a hugh factor in macros but with the blownout whites you've lost tons of details and colour. IMHO.

well looks like it blown out a bit to me too. granted i'm no expert at macro. here is one of my from the other day handheld could be better i know but somewhat close to what you trying to get i think. i could be totally wrong too

Bill

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Thanks for the c&c. I need all the help I can get. What makes "blownout whites"?, under exposure. I chose the apererature and let the camera choose the speed. I am still learning to use my new camera and don't understand all of it's features yet. If I want to compensate for under exposure, do I use the +/- feature of the camera?

Bill, those are really good. I'm not yet ready to do that yet. I am trying to get through the problems of focus and dof.

randomgrafix, I have not worried too much about composition yet. These flowers are only inches above the ground and I am to stiff to get down to their level, I am still trying to get them as I said to Bill above.

Here is the same one at f 22. Sharper?

Thanks a lot for your responses.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

I hope you don't mind a few observations from a rank amatuer.

One of your problems with DOF is the fact you are at 300mm. At the top end of the zoom range, DOF is compressed, so you are better off concentrating on the details of one part, rather than trying to get the whole subject in focus.

Blown out whites are caused by over-exposure, not under. i.e. too much light is reaching the sensor, so you need to change the compensation to the -'ve.

The harsh lighting is not helping your exposure either. Try the same shot earlier or later in the day, when the sun is lower. The lower angle of the light will enhance the shadows and help the exposure.

dreamline,
I welcome all the advice I can get. I had gotten advised on a different thread to do macros with this lens at 300mm. So I was trying it. With this lens, macro mode only works between 200-300, so I was trying them all at 300. I am still experimenting with this lens. The difference between macro and normal with this lens is in macro mode the focal distance is 37" instead of 59". As far as time of day, I couldn't pick it, I have lunch from 2:30 PM to 3 and this is the only opportunity I have. I don't leave until 7:00 PM. But I will try different subjecs in the future and post them here in this thread.

I have a 17-70mm lens that has a focal distance of about 12" that I am going to try after I get some decent ones with the 70-300.

I really don't mind if someone calls me a dunce, as long as it is true.

Amatuers often do much better than pros. The only difference really is the amatuer does it for love, the pro for money.

Thanks for the reply and info!

Here is one that looks a lot better. They are growing on the side of my house. Cropped, no pp.

1/100s, f 11, iso 100-214mm with tripod and af and av

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Now that's a very nice shot. Crisp, clear and well exposed.

Now that shows that accidents do happen. I do think that using the lens a 300mm might not be the best way to go. At least I am learning things and this forum has been very helpful.

I am glad I joined and found such an excellent bunch of people!!

step your shutter speed up to 200 next time its that sunny..i find high shutter speeds when its very bright help me alot.

step your shutter speed up to 200 next time its that sunny..i find high shutter speeds when its very bright help me alot.

Only problem with this lens at 300mm is in order to get any dof, I would have to go to at least iso 400 to get f-22. Wouldn't that produce a lot of noise?

jackprks wrote in post #3683947
step your shutter speed up to 200 next time its that sunny..i find high shutter speeds when its very bright help me alot.

Only problem with this lens at 300mm is in order to get any dof, I would have to go to at least iso 400 to get f-22. Wouldn't that produce a lot of noise?

On your XT, 400ISO shouldn't give any/much noise. I shoot 400 with my Rebel and it's fairly noise free.

That sounds good. That way I can get the speed for some handheld also. The most I have used is 200 and that looked OK. Of course I have vision problems and some of these things I don't see clearly. I still enjoy photography in spite of this.

jackprks wrote in post #3690427
That sounds good. That way I can get the speed for some handheld also. The most I have used is 200 and that looked OK. Of course I have vision problems and some of these things I don't see clearly. I still enjoy photography in spite of this.

It's always encouraging to hear that kind of commitment to the craft. I have friends who had strokes and the doc told them that photography was one of the leading stress relievers, next to painting, collectables and jogging. (so I'm doing all of em... except jogging...me lazy)
If you're enjoying it then keep it up.

randomgrafix, except for my heart, lumgs, liver, eyes and bones-I am in good shape.
In spite of all handicaosm, we have to go on living and by facing a sea of troubles, defeating them! (Paraphrased) My favorite poem is Invictus.

"Into the valley of deathe rode the valiant 600"