Bluebell photos

It was a lovely day yesterday, so I decided to go out and take photos of the bluebells. Unfortunately since there has been almost no rain for a week, many of the bluebells have withered away. These are some that I managed to capture. It's difficult when there is a breeze. Please tell me what you think. I cropped the photos from the original. I had no tripod and it was difficult trying to keep it in focus. I had to use autofocus.

What is with the softness and all the noise?

bakedcookies wrote in post #10232716
What is with the softness and all the noise?

Wow your helpful.

Op: How heavy are these crops? Im guessing that the noise and softness could be coming from extreme crops. Can you post the original?

The images are 100% crops. Here are the details for the photos. Both were taken using the macro setting on the camera. As for the softness, I guess that is my fault. I used the autofocus and there was a slight breeze. It was taken handheld with no support and I found it difficult to stay still so low on the ground.

The first one:

F/5.6
1/500 sec
55mm (kit lens)
ISO 400

The second one (Bluebell pollen)

F/5.6
1/500 sec
ISO-160
55mm (kit lens)

When I upload original photos to Flickr, it shrinks the images.

The noise in the first might be due to the ISO being at 400.. Of course as well as the 100% crop won't always help.

Try changing the focus option to AI Focus.. on my 450D (i'm not sure if it's the same with your camera) but you hit the right hand button on the menu buttons (the ones around the OK button) and choose AI Focus, this will keep re-adjusting the focus while you half press the capture button down.

Hope that helped and if it doesn't make sense I'll try and re-word

Thanks for the info on the other Focus modes. I never noticed that option. I just read that for things that are likely to move, it is better to use AI Servo, and that AI Focus is a compromise of the two. I just had a quick go at moving towards the keyboard while taking a photo, and it seems to be helpful. Thank you for the advice.

naddieuk wrote in post #10238470
Thanks for the info on the other Focus modes. I never noticed that option. I just read that for things that are likely to move, it is better to use AI Servo, and that AI Focus is a compromise of the two. I just had a quick go at moving towards the keyboard while taking a photo, and it seems to be helpful. Thank you for the advice.

Glad it helped -- I've learnt a lot about photography from this forum and happy it's been passed on.

I've only been doing this since October 09.. Lots to learn still!

I have taken new photos today using the Aperture Priority and the AI Servo. It was slightly breezy which made it much harder to take the photos as they were going from side to side. I wish I had someone to hold the flowers to reduce the shake.

f/32.0 and ISO 200.

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They're much better

Good work.

Thanks, maybe I will actually get them printed at Boots, especially the first one. I am starting to understand the Creative Mode selection a bit more now.

You had them set to ISO 200 though.. If there is enough light, light the sunlight.. then stick it to ISO 100

Second set -wayyy better. Breezes outside are macro's enemy. I was out yesterday and ended up using my pop up flash to counteract that. worked pretty well. Keep it up.

There was some cloud coming and going and ISO 100 was not going to be enough, especially with the breeze coming and going. I would have loved to have it on ISO 100 though, but it was not bright enough. I will try it again when the weather becomes better if the flowers are still there.

You've gotta love English weather eh!! lol

That's true! Beautiful sunny hot weather and then suddenly very cold!