Newb lookin' to learn

a couple in the shade

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number 2 aint to bad,..whats the set up your running buddie?and what settings?

macro junkie wrote in post #4032197
number 2 aint to bad,..whats the set up your running buddie?and what settings?

Thanks for the note my friend. Tell me what they need. I am only running the S5 IS with stock lens in Super Macro.

Hand held, and I just took a few more as for some reason it seems, and I saw this really apparant trying to take some shots of the moon that , even in manual focus, with all the "help from the camera settings" turned off that I knew of, when I push the shutter half way down, I guess the exposure sets, it would seem to change my focus. Is that possible? It does it in the EVF and the lcd screen. If it is in fact doing that, how do I comp for it. and IF its not doing it what am I seeing?
Thanks in advance for all the help and pardon the questions if they have newbie all over them *smile*.

Blast

Blast wrote in post #4032254
Thanks for the note my friend. Tell me what they need. I am only running the S5 IS with stock lens in Super Macro.

Hand held, and I just took a few more as for some reason it seems, and I saw this really apparant trying to take some shots of the moon that , even in manual focus, with all the "help from the camera settings" turned off that I knew of, when I push the shutter half way down, I guess the exposure sets, it would seem to change my focus. Is that possible? It does it in the EVF and the lcd screen. If it is in fact doing that, how do I comp for it. and IF its not doing it what am I seeing?
Thanks in advance for all the help and pardon the questions if they have newbie all over them *smile*.

Blast

are u using an slr?when i use my slr if i put it on manula focus and press the sutter half way it does nothing cause its on manula..nothing should change unless your in auto then when u press it half way it will focus for u.what is an s5 is?

macro junkie wrote in post #4032275
are u using an slr?when i use my slr if i put it on manula focus and press the sutter half way it does nothing cause its on manula..nothing should change unless your in auto then when u press it half way it will focumetering s for u.what is an s5 is?

just a point and shoot with some C M Av Tv P auto and a host of other pre-programmed settings.

I was in full manual and in manual focus.

1/50
f 2.7
iso 100
6mm focal
metering : pattern

Re-shot #1 is this better to you guys, I like it but, I dont KNOW. I trust you guys to tell the truth, even when its brutal *smile*

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Cool shots. Have you tried using the flash? Give it a run and see how they come out.

4g63photo wrote in post #4032728
Cool shots. Have you tried using the flash? Give it a run and see how they come out.

Not since I first got the camera. I was blowing the hi-lites bad. I have seen you guys using a card as a diffuser. Is there anything I need to know to start or just experiment with the weight of the card stock?

Also, I remember that in Super Macro, the flash would cast a significant shadow from the on-board flash, will an improvised reflector help?

Harry

its very sad that your here to lean and no one has post part form me and 4g63photo on your pics..

come on guys hes here to learn,,.the least u can do is post a comment.


i think the reason its out of focus is your setting your fstops to low..try it at f/8.0 shutter speed 125 or 200 and iso 200.and like 4g63photo your probably need a flash.

macro junkie wrote in post #4041865
its very sad that your here to lean and no one has post part form me and 4g63photo on your pics..

come on guys hes here to learn,,.the least u can do is post a comment.

i think the reason its out of focus is your setting your fstops to low..try it at f/8.0 shutter speed 125 or 200 and iso 200.and like 4g63photo your probably need a flash.

well MJ i don't think they are being like that. some just feel that if they can't say something nice then they won't say it. now back to the op. i think the first one is soft or out of focus. second one is ok. pics seem to be lacking something to hold interest. just my 2cents. all i can said is keep trying and use different setting and see what you get.

Bill

This forum is one of the best places to learn. The amount of posts that are made every day that contain a wealth of information.

I do not simply mean the written comments, but the subjects that are posted as well. The angles used, the lighting, focus points, framing etc.

When you see a shot that you really like, ask yourself why it works. If there's something about it you'd like to know, type a response and ask the poster. They'll be delighted to help.

Bill has summed the philosophy up nicely. I have had posts that have had no comments, and I tried to learn from these.

Now, the problem with using flowers as a macro subject is twofold:

Firstly it is difficult to make a lot of flowers 'interesting' from a macro concept, especially if they are common. It takes either an unusual angle/lighting or an extreme close up to hold a viewer interest.

Secondly, they are a starter subject for a lot of people. They are abundant and easy to shoot. Which means there are a lot of them posted...

This is not to say all flower shots are boring, it just takes something out of the ordinary to hold a person's attention.

Having got that out of the way, we come to the point that I do not feel comfortable about - giving negative feedback. Perhaps if I was a master photographer myself, I wouldn't worry so much, but I doubt that would make a difference. Anyway...

Out of the 2, #1 is in my opinion the best, but the stamens in the centre are OOF. This is because you are using f/2.8 which gives a very narrow depth of field. You need to try and get this up to around f/11 or higher, especially with macro shots. Sometimes even a small aperture will not give enough DOF and you will need to resort to stacking. (LordV has written an excellent tutorial on this. A search for 'stacking' and 'LordV' should bring up loads of links) You can also try and isolate a feature of a plant (such as the stamens). These can be brought into sharp focus with a blurred background to add interest.

You will probably find it useful to invest in a flash. This will help keep the shutter speed up at smaller apertures and minimize movement both from the subject and the taker.

I think I've rambled on enough already, so I'll finish here. Please do not take any of this as a personal attack, I am simply trying to state why replies might have been thin on the ground.

Now get out there and start shooting. Look at the posts amde on here for ideas, and let's see some more of your work.

The second purple flower you posted is better by a million miles dude. Much more in focus, with interesting OOF leaves in the background and foreground. Much better than having it all sharp.

Also if you are having trouble with a lot of pics coming out a wee bit blurred, then you could always throw you ISO further up. 100 is fine when the shutter speed is low, but 1/50 shutter could mean camera shake when hand-held, unless you are super steady.

bump the ISO to 400 or thereabouts and this extra light sensitivity will allow you to use faster shutter speeds and therefore achieve shaper images... hurrah!

nice pics!

Bill Pham wrote in post #4041881
well MJ i don't think they are being like that. some just feel that if they can't say something nice then they won't say it. now back to the op. i think the first one is soft or out of focus. second one is ok. pics seem to be lacking something to hold interest. just my 2cents. all i can said is keep trying and use different setting and see what you get.

Bill

Hey Bill,

Even if they have nothing nice to say, thats fine. Not looking for an atta boy.

I am looking for answers to questions I dont even know to ask yet.

1. Will this camera give me shots worthy of posting here with the stock lens?

2. What is my goal with DOF? Keep the whole petal in focus when it is alone and change the DOF if there is a bug to hold the viewers interest and focus to the bug if in fact the bug is the subject matter?

3. In fact my wife even mentioned that maybe that since this is the "photo sharing section" that maybe I am in the wrong forum as I am not here to necessarily SHARE but to solicit instruction. If thats the case I apologize as I guess ignorance is no excuse but it is what it is.

4. I will admit that being a "Yank" my goal is, and I know I will have succeeded when, one of the Brits say, "Now thats one crackin shot Harry" *smile*

5. There are things I know I know, there are things I know I dont know. but there is SO much I dont know I dont know. I am not here to please I am very competitive in nature and happen to be well versed in a FEW arenas and dont mind saying this is NOT one of them. SO, if I am in the wrong venue let me know. If not and I post **** tell me its **** but you better tell me why its **** or I will hand you your ass in a basket. *smile*

6.MJ, THANK-YOU for taking the time to reply, it means a lot and I am very appreciative and having posted on forums for some 15 years now have seen a lot of newbs come and go. It can be frustrating for the verterans when the newbs dont bother to search the forum for the same ole newb questions that we answer over and over. I do appreciate your time.

Thanks Ya'll
Harry

Blast wrote in post #4042413
Hey Bill,

Even if they have nothing nice to say, thats fine. Not looking for an atta boy.

I am looking for answers to questions I dont even know to ask yet.

1. Will this camera give me shots worthy of posting here with the stock lens?

2. What is my goal with DOF? Keep the whole petal in focus when it is alone and change the DOF if there is a bug to hold the viewers interest and focus to the bug if in fact the bug is the subject matter?

3. In fact my wife even mentioned that maybe that since this is the "photo sharing section" that maybe I am in the wrong forum as I am not here to necessarily SHARE but to solicit instruction. If thats the case I apologize as I guess ignorance is no excuse but it is what it is.

4. I will admit that being a "Yank" my goal is, and I know I will have succeeded when, one of the Brits say, "Now thats one crackin shot Harry" *smile*

5. There are things I know I know, there are things I know I dont know. but there is SO much I dont know I dont know. I am not here to please I am very competitive in nature and happen to be well versed in a FEW arenas and dont mind saying this is NOT one of them. SO, if I am in the wrong venue let me know. If not and I post **** tell me its **** but you better tell me why its **** or I will hand you your ass in a basket. *smile*

6.MJ, THANK-YOU for taking the time to reply, it means a lot and I am very appreciative and having posted on forums for some 15 years now have seen a lot of newbs come and go. It can be frustrating for the verterans when the newbs dont bother to search the forum for the same ole newb questions that we answer over and over. I do appreciate your time.

Thanks Ya'll
Harry

Harry first of all i'm no expert. just comment on what i think of your post. since you didn't really ask any question in the first place. to answer you question.

1 your camera is fine even though i never had a P&S. should do what you wanted to do.
2 dof is whatever your style is i like alot of detail in my shot some like more blurring in their.
3 not sure if there is a answer to that one since your shot is in between macro and nature to me.
4 if you look in my avator i'm also a yank as you put it.
5 if i offend you somehow it was not my intention
6 i got nothing for that one except my original reply was to answer MJ comment

Bill

Bill Pham wrote in post #4042531
Harry first of all i'm no expert. just comment on what i think of your post. since you didn't really ask any question in the first place. to answer you question.

1 your camera is fine even though i never had a P&S. should do what you wanted to do.
2 dof is whatever your style is i like alot of detail in my shot some like more blurring in their.
3 not sure if there is a answer to that one since your shot is in between macro and nature to me.
4 if you look in my avator i'm also a yank as you put it.
5 if i offend you somehow it was not my intention
6 i got nothing for that one except my original reply was to answer MJ comment

Bill

Thanks my friend, not offended at all, we're fine,. "preeshate the follow-up"

Harry