Franky's macro shots

frankyrivera

frankyrivera

FUP&A Member
Figured I'd start a new thread with a better title of what will actually be found within it. My last one read macro lens advice. So from now on ill post new pics and any new corals I add to my system here. Thanks for looking and please feel free to comment and give advice on how to make my pictures better, wether its tips and tricks or useful software. Here's a shot of a bubble gum chalice I bought this weekend. Not the greatest shot but it is my newest pic so figured I'd start my thread with it. Enjoy!

DSC_8404_zps4fa51a11.jpg
 
You're on a roll and I can feel your enthusiasm! You're getting some nice corals together and "developing" some good photo skills! ;)

For me there is a synergy between reef keeping and photography. I like each plenty on their own, but when I produce what I feel is a good shot of one of my corals looking fine, there is extra bonus joy.

I suggest avoiding center composition as it tends to be weaker visually. Strong composition makes for a powerful shot before one even evaluates the subject. And since you're specifically going for macro shots, I suggest losing the "whole piece" frame of reference, along the lines of your Red Dragon shot versus the others. Whole subject shots are great for a wysiwyg image of a colony for guaging overall health and appearance, but are less effective as visually interesting macro images, IMHO.

Technically, I'd probably add 1/3 stop more exposure as a group, and probably 1/2 stop more to the hammer. Just my opinion. Your shots look a touch underexposed to me on my calibrated screens.
 
Reef bass thanks for the tips really appreciate the feedback I try and always take full shots for the sake of tracking growth almost like a photo journal for reference lol. But I will venture onto some more creating composition, but to me that's next level stuff I was still working on simple things like image blur, familiarizing myself with tripod and remote shutter release. Now that I'm a little more comfortable I will work on better composing my shots lol. As far as under exposure goes I shot all of those using a circular polarizer so maybe that's cutting my light. Ill try again without and see if I can get a few stops back
 
I hear your point about cataloging growth, and whole subject shots are great for that. And I hear your desire for mastering your equipment and proces before delving into more advanced composition.

Yes, your filter is cutting your light some. And removing it will make the image brighter if no other exposure parameters change. Not suggesting you do that though. If you were trying to duplicate settings from previous photo shoots, then that might be important. Use the filter if that's what you wish to do. My suggestion was when evaluating the overall exposure in your final print, you might consider bumping it up a tad, as in a fraction of a stop.

Your images are refreshingly free of marine snow, btw.
 
Ha ha ha yeah I turned my pumps off so it helps a bit scrapped the glass squeaking clean and went to work. I will try the increase in the exposure and overall brightness but my screen could be a big factor into final outcome since mine is not calibrated. I only really use iPhoto to process my images so not too many controls either. Soon ill be getting Lightroom 4 and after that learning curve maybe it'll show some improvement
 
frankyrivera said:
Ha ha ha yeah I turned my pumps off so it helps a bit scrapped the glass squeaking clean and went to work. I will try the increase in the exposure and overall brightness but my screen could be a big factor into final outcome since mine is not calibrated. I only really use iPhoto to process my images so not too many controls either. Soon ill be getting Lightroom 4 and after that learning curve maybe it'll show some improvement
Click to expand...

Looking good Franky. I think you'll find LR4 an immensely helpful tool in PP. I see you've figured out the black background!
 
Nah just got lucky on those especially the red dragon. If i shoot the lenght of my tank the background is farther away and it renders it black without any post processing or faking in photoshop. I found an aperture and shutter speed combination that helped in blacking it out for me lol. Thanks to all the good tips I've gotten from you and everyone else that has chimed in
 
In general, I find a dark background easy to obtain without any post processing. IME, simply positioning a well lit subject without anything behind it causes any background to appear dark. The reflected light off the subject is so comparatively bright that a properly exposed subject yields very little exposure of the background. And whatever is captured gets creamed out in the bokeh.
 
It's also a lot of fun experimenting. Like said above about lightroom, it's great for seeing what you did on a shot as you go through them. After a bit, it comes natural. A couple stops here or there really affects what shows on the sensor. It will really hit you when you see something and you can determine what the camera will see before taking the pic. I love playing with light, be it from a flash or from the sky.
 
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