Macro + light box + Flower, can I get some C&C?

Just getting into this and look to improve. What are some things I can do to make this a better pic? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

The setup and settings,

• Rebel XS, Canon 100mm macro
  
• DIY lightbox, 430 ex flash
  
• F13 at 1"
  
• ISO 800 < just realized i was shooting so high will try and shooting at lower iso next time
  

The first is rather different to what we normally see and I would just like to see it larger in the frame.

Focus is good in both with sufficient DOF.
#1 is over exposed and #2 looks OK.
But especially for this kind of shots you really need to publish larger images (1024px on the longest side).
In a white box with static objects use the lowest ISO setting your camera allows (50 or 100). Use a tape measure to know the distance from the focal plane of your camera to the center of the object you are shooting. With that distance, your focal length and the required depth of field calculate the necessary aperture. Then measure the light and set shutterspeed for optimal exposure.

^thxs, for the tips. how do i publish it larger? i justed grabbed the link from flickr,

Johnnyk_1 wrote in post #11567681
^thxs, for the tips. how do i publish it larger? i justed grabbed the link from flickr,

In Flickr click on the enlarge button and then select "view all sizes" Select the 1024 x size and copy the link and paste it in the "insert image" popup window on this forum.

Got it thxs!

Yes, you got it! Another tip for you.... To get the white balance right you have either to take a shot of a white or grey sheet of paper with the light you are using in your white-box and then set a "custom" white balance or use my method... I usually shoot at "auto" white balance and put a white sheet somewhere at the side so that part of that is in the image-frame. Later I crop that out but in PP use it to correct the white balance in Adobe Raw Converter.

There seem to be just tiny hot spots on the flower petal - otherwise: very nice macro shot - could may be a tad lighter over all.

^ thing is i am using a white sheet of paper for the background and as a platform but when i take the pic its not as white as it need to be.

I only have PS element, wondering if i can fix the white balance there?

Gonna get some cherries or some other fruit tonight and shoot in RAW and see how that turns out. Till then here is another pic strait from the camera.

I like the first shot very much. I don't have much issue about being overexposed - it's clean, and I like the shadow that is the shade of the flower petal.

There are a few things to refine the shot:
I can see where the bottom and the back of the lightbox meet. If that transition can be blurred, all the better.
Crop the bottom edge to eliminate the distracting leading edge of the light box.
Slightly burn in the top and edge of the petal pointing towards 10 o' clock direction.

^ thxs and a lil overexposed with the shadow is what i was shooting for.

The bottom back part is fixed. I didnt have a roll of white paper at the time so i had to use to sheets of plain white paper.

Good catch on the leading edge of the box, didnt notice till you pointed it out.

i got some different angles of the flower and might post on here after i clean it up.

not my pic but here is what im going to try and replicate tonight,

Try to eliminate the stark shadows of the cherries...
I use A1 size sheets of paper in various colours for backdrop and also a glass plate.
If you are interested and want some examples have a look at the whitebox setin my Flickr collection

results from tonight, still trying to decide if i like it..

I'll be honest.
You can do better - give it another go:
1. The cherry closest to the camera is oof.
2. The transition from shadow to white needs to be smoothed out.
3. Cherries look too purple, they look more like like Fuji apples.
4. The stem of one of the cherries is cut off.
5. Use white underlay that does not absorb water - paper absorbs moisture, distorts as well as it changes color when wet - and all the water seem to have ended up on the paper rather than forming droplets on the cherry.

Kudos to setting up the shot and executing it - too often, it's the complacency and laziness that get in the way of creativity and I really admire your effort to set the apparatus and going at it.

Don't forget - enjoy the process as much as, or even more than, receiving feedback.

<thumbsup>

I have to agree with Mu Eugene.
OOF is easy to avoid when shooting in a whitebox where you have all parameters under control.
I am frequently using my tape measure and DOF calculator (application on my iPhone) but also available on line.
Use one focal point (not necessarily the central one). Your compositin is off centre.
Did you shoot RAW and did you check your white balance?
Keep shooting.

Mu Eugene wrote in post #11574967
I'll be honest.
You can do better - give it another go:
1. The cherry closest to the camera is oof.
2. The transition from shadow to white needs to be smoothed out.
3. Cherries look too purple, they look more like like Fuji apples.
4. The stem of one of the cherries is cut off.
5. Use white underlay that does not absorb water - paper absorbs moisture, distorts as well as it changes color when wet - and all the water seem to have ended up on the paper rather than forming droplets on the cherry.

Kudos to setting up the shot and executing it - too often, it's the complacency and laziness that get in the way of creativity and I really admire your effort to set the apparatus and going at it.

Don't forget - enjoy the process as much as, or even more than, receiving feedback.

<thumbsup>

thxs for the honesty, kind words and feedback.

I went back and tried to fix the focus issue but i just dont like the way the pic turned out. Still missing around with it on PS.

As for the stem, looks like it got cut off when i cropped it, need to pay closer attention next time.

vk2gwk wrote in post #11575242
I have to agree with Mu Eugene.
OOF is easy to avoid when shooting in a whitebox where you have all parameters under control.
I am frequently using my tape measure and DOF calculator (application on my iPhone) but also available on line.
Use one focal point (not necessarily the central one). Your compositin is off centre.
Did you shoot RAW and did you check your white balance?
Keep shooting.

I did shoot in RAW but dont know how to fix the white balance in PS Element, found some videos on youtube on how to correct but it was for CS and it appears to be different in element. I tired all the different white balance on the camera and the "White" setting worked the best. Appreciate the link and i also have an iphone so i will have to look into that app.

Thanks for the feedback guys im 5 wks into photography and trying to learn as much as i can.