OT: Japanese Maple Leaf

[Kinetic]

Just playing around to get some good bokeh. I've been reading about bokeh lately, and realized how important it is, especially in macro photography. Here's my try by taking about 20 shots of the same thing with different settings, and from different angles to finally get something with "ok" bokeh. PLease post some C&C and tips on how to improve bokeh!

 

[louist]

Off to a good start. IMHO, the branch crossing the leave detracts from the composition, and the white background doesn't compliment the red of the leave very well.

One advantage of shooting a telephoto, i.e. a 100macro, is that you can be very selective with regards to your background. All you have to do is shift your angle of view very slightly, and the background changes very dramatically. As for improving bokeh, well that's a bit harder, but avoiding bright background is a good start. Many people argue over a len's "bokeh" from a technical point of view, but in practice good composition is as much about the background as it is about the foreground, and isolation is the key! If there's a color in the background that's very similar to your subject matter, then avoid shooting from an angle that causes the subject to intersect with that part of the background. Always be mindful fo your background and the edges of your frame when you are composing.

I don't want to steal your thread, but here's an exmaple of something you could do with a Japanese maple seed, which is shot in very similar circumstances to your shot. I had to put the tripod to its limits to get this background.

 

[Kinetic]

Hi Louis!

Thanks for the C&C!! Yes the branch definately intersects the leaf! Wow you have a good eye. I need to look at more pictures!

I see what you mean about the background, that picture could have easily been taken with the branch going through.

Thanks again for the help! I'll keep plugging along

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Well I thought it was a misspelling, but what is "bokeh" ?

Ok, googled it:
"Bokeh describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light.

Bokeh is different from sharpness. Sharpness is what happens at the point of best focus. Bokeh is what happens away from the point of best focus.

Bokeh describes the appearance or "feel" of out-of-focus backgrounds and foregrounds. "

 

[Kinetic]

yes...

 

[louist]

No problem. This kind of stuff comes with practice, and eventually you don't even think about it all that much. However, if you are chasing insect around, sometimes it's easy to forget about composition when you are all excited with a new find!

Have fun!

 

[Petie]

So it's like Feng Shui for pictures. :rollface: