1st dabble at Macro

***Dave*** · 11-05-2008, 19:29

after such an excellent Macro photography tutorial by Marcin, I just had to have a go. Didn't have much time to play (12 shots only

) & shot in midday sun, with SB800 to side of lens

Follow me Kids

had to use a 100% crop to get to this size, with the Sigma 105mm Macro, so not perfect.

Eye Eye , Eye & a few more

I did try to catch some ants, but boy do they run fast when looking through a macro lens

JMitchell · 11-05-2008, 19:39

Ok Dave, you're trying something out new, so I will be as mean as possible

They are very close up, but they seem to lack detail and look smeary. There also appears to be some form of ghosting or something, like seen when using bad extension filters on a short dSLR lens. There is also some noise, and generally sharpness isn't amazing.

On the plus side, the comps look good, and some more experimentation will help a lot!
Sorry if I've been mean, and probably many will disagree, plus you didn't have much time...

EDIT: And the crop whilst clearly a crop shows an amazing level of detail in terms of nature, but not photographically. Cool comp and capture nonetheless

P-E · 11-05-2008, 19:40

Excellent first effort.

JMitchell · 11-05-2008, 19:42

LOL @ the difference in the replies. Sorry Dave

fgates · 11-05-2008, 19:43

I like the first one and its title. Great first attempts.

P-E · 11-05-2008, 19:43

Shows you how much I know

JMitchell · 11-05-2008, 19:45

Or how much I don't

**Markulous** · 11-05-2008, 20:39

Must admit I'm secretly impressed with the first effort! Comps are pretty good, flash is well controlled - I take it these were handheld? Personally, think #2 is the best - comp and execution

j sotelo · 11-05-2008, 23:56

I think you did a very good job being your first attempt, as we all know macro isn't that easy.
I like #1 judging from that one, i'm sure you will post very good macros in the near future.

silkstone · 12-05-2008, 00:39

Sorry Dave - first chance I've had to look at these.

Not bad, not bad, but next time knock the exposure down.

They both have some blown highlights, and the first doesn't have much in the lower part of the tonal range. By using some -ve EV (flash and camera) you're also giving yourself more latitude on aperture, speed and ISO. (Can't see the EXIF as I guess you saved-for-web in PS.)

Still pretty gruesome though.

Charlotte · 12-05-2008, 01:13

Yep, I think you did a good job here Dave, and certainly a very good first attempt.

I don't see any blown highlights (Silky). I thought the first one could do with a contrast boost. Second one looks good exposure-wise, but could've done with a bit more DoF, but I realise it's a heavy crop.

Great effort

***Dave*** · 12-05-2008, 08:42

Cheers for comments. Fully appreciate I have a way to go , although being an impatient type I might find macro a bit

marcinklysewicz · 12-05-2008, 09:51

Dave it's a real pleasure to see that my tutorial gives some inspiration.

no 1 - nice colours, no reflections. little bit of noise. composition is not bad but you cut this creature legs. generally i'm impressed - i know how small they are, and i've even never tried to get so close to them. but my advise is - try something bigger for practicing. and at the beginning try objects that you don't need to crop too much.
no 2 - nice try but we don't really see to much. with spiders like this one the problem is that they like to sit on stones and they have good camouflage. i would say - practice your skills with finding sharpness.

i'm waiting for more

.

***Dave*** · 12-05-2008, 09:57

Will also create a home made diffuser like you did as next project

chrisa · 12-05-2008, 10:56

Great first attempts at small bugs, really impressed with no.1 as you've got a good composition on exceptionally small bugs. Admitedly more leg would be good but the shot still works well.

The second I think could be a bit sharper but still some great detail in the shot.

11-05-2008, 19:29	#1 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,659	1st dabble at Macro after such an excellent Macro photography tutorial by Marcin, I just had to have a go. Didn't have much time to play (12 shots only ) & shot in midday sun, with SB800 to side of lens Follow me Kids had to use a 100% crop to get to this size, with the Sigma 105mm Macro, so not perfect. Eye Eye , Eye & a few more I did try to catch some ants, but boy do they run fast when looking through a macro lens __________________

11-05-2008, 19:39	#2 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,427	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Ok Dave, you're trying something out new, so I will be as mean as possible They are very close up, but they seem to lack detail and look smeary. There also appears to be some form of ghosting or something, like seen when using bad extension filters on a short dSLR lens. There is also some noise, and generally sharpness isn't amazing. On the plus side, the comps look good, and some more experimentation will help a lot! Sorry if I've been mean, and probably many will disagree, plus you didn't have much time... EDIT: And the crop whilst clearly a crop shows an amazing level of detail in terms of nature, but not photographically. Cool comp and capture nonetheless __________________ Jack Mitchell "We accept the reality with which we are presented" - - New website, online, but still in progress!

11-05-2008, 19:40	#3 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,414	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Excellent first effort.

11-05-2008, 19:42	#4 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,427	Re: 1st dabble at Macro LOL @ the difference in the replies. Sorry Dave

11-05-2008, 19:43	#5 (permalink)
fgates Been here a while Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 429	Re: 1st dabble at Macro I like the first one and its title. Great first attempts.

11-05-2008, 19:43	#6 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,414	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Shows you how much I know

11-05-2008, 19:45	#7 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,427	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Or how much I don't

11-05-2008, 20:39	#8 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,598	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Must admit I'm secretly impressed with the first effort! Comps are pretty good, flash is well controlled - I take it these were handheld? Personally, think #2 is the best - comp and execution

11-05-2008, 23:56	#9 (permalink)
j sotelo Feet under the table Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego, Ca. Where the Surf meets the Turf Posts: 1,547	Re: 1st dabble at Macro I think you did a very good job being your first attempt, as we all know macro isn't that easy. I like #1 judging from that one, i'm sure you will post very good macros in the near future.

12-05-2008, 00:39	#10 (permalink)
silkstone Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Silkstone Common, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 3,283	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Sorry Dave - first chance I've had to look at these. Not bad, not bad, but next time knock the exposure down. They both have some blown highlights, and the first doesn't have much in the lower part of the tonal range. By using some -ve EV (flash and camera) you're also giving yourself more latitude on aperture, speed and ISO. (Can't see the EXIF as I guess you saved-for-web in PS.) Still pretty gruesome though.

12-05-2008, 01:13	#11 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,682	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Yep, I think you did a good job here Dave, and certainly a very good first attempt. I don't see any blown highlights (Silky). I thought the first one could do with a contrast boost. Second one looks good exposure-wise, but could've done with a bit more DoF, but I realise it's a heavy crop. Great effort

12-05-2008, 08:42	#12 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,659	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Cheers for comments. Fully appreciate I have a way to go , although being an impatient type I might find macro a bit

12-05-2008, 09:51	#13 (permalink)
marcinklysewicz Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sturminster Newton Posts: 598	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Dave it's a real pleasure to see that my tutorial gives some inspiration. no 1 - nice colours, no reflections. little bit of noise. composition is not bad but you cut this creature legs. generally i'm impressed - i know how small they are, and i've even never tried to get so close to them. but my advise is - try something bigger for practicing. and at the beginning try objects that you don't need to crop too much. no 2 - nice try but we don't really see to much. with spiders like this one the problem is that they like to sit on stones and they have good camouflage. i would say - practice your skills with finding sharpness. i'm waiting for more . __________________ my website - macrophotography and my music. new gallery - exotic butterflies. macro photography tutorial

12-05-2008, 09:57	#14 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,659	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Will also create a home made diffuser like you did as next project

12-05-2008, 10:56	#15 (permalink)
chrisa Been here a while Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 412	Re: 1st dabble at Macro Great first attempts at small bugs, really impressed with no.1 as you've got a good composition on exceptionally small bugs. Admitedly more leg would be good but the shot still works well. The second I think could be a bit sharper but still some great detail in the shot.