OT: Random pics...feedback requested

[VoidRaven]

I've been trying to focus a bit more on my photography as of late and really get back into it. Trying to focus on basics such as composition and also trying to learn PS at the same time. Just would like some feedback on a couple shots.

Thanks for looking.



Tiger Lily

Honey Bee on Flower

"Edge of the World"

 

[Bcollins111900]

Sweet Pics. What camera and lens you using?

 

[thor32766]

feedback? the pics are just beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TOURKID]

wowza i could count the hairs on that bee. sweeettt pics!

 

[VoidRaven]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7782629#post7782629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bcollins111900
Sweet Pics. What camera and lens you using?

Thanks everyone! Compliments are always appreciated!


The setup used was a Nikon D200 with 28-105mm zoom/macro lens set in macro mode on a Bogen Manfrotto tripod with 3-axis head.

 

[jwedehase]

First: These are good shots! But I'll nitpick, just so you have something besides kudos.

The lily is a little... cold. It may be the obvious fill flash, but something's a little too sterile about it. It might be underexposed, but I can't tell for sure. I just ran it through PS for about 14 seconds, and couldn't make it right. So maybe I'm crazy. The out of focus tree in the lower right is unfortunate.

The honey bee on flower is nice, as well. However, it's killing me that the front side of the bud is out of focus. More DOF here, I guess. But then you'd probably have a focused background, which is even worse. At least it's sharp on the bee, and tack sharp. Good job!

The last one is obviously a different crop, and it's also nice. I like the empty background. White space makes this photo. I'd have liked to see a little more of the bud though, as it gets pretty corner heavy.

So, hopefully I haven't taken the wind from your sails. These are all very good shots! I just thought I'd nag on anything I might try on the next shot, were they mine.

 

[CrystalAZ]

I agree about the tree in the first pic. It is easy to remove.

Select the Clone Stamp tool... Put your cursor in the middle of the blue sky on the right, and alt-click to select that area as the area you wish to clone.

Then put the cursor in the middle of that bush and hold your left mouse button and drag it around to cover it with the cloned sky.

The only tricky part is where the edge of the flower touches that bush. For that, clone the edge of the flower just above the bush, then go down at an angle, line it up and clone over it.

It takes a little practice, but this tool kicks butt for getting unwanted elements out of your pic.

It also works wonders for removing zits, wrinkles, etc. on people. Just clone some clear skin right next to the imperfection.

AND - if you want to soften wrinkles but not completely get rid of them, clone but turn the opacity down. It looks much more realistic than removing wrinkles completely.

Crystal

 

[CrystalAZ]

Goodbye bush!

Crystal

 

[VoidRaven]

jwedehase....No no no, I GREATLY appreciate the comments. I've been having a problem with my macro photography in regards to DOF. I wish I could have had more of the bud in focus. One of the problems in this shot was the "globe" issue as I call it...the bee was on the "backside" of the bud so the focus was shifted to the far side. As I am still "learning" this lens, I wasn't sure how to adjust to bring the focus back forward a bit.

The corner heavy shot was an issue with flower position. If I cropped any lower I would have those purple flower petals in the shot (I'm not good at cloning out stuff as Crystal was so wonderfully able to do in the lily shot with the tree). But that's just one more thing I need to work on!

Oh, and in regards to the lily shot...I think the other issue was that the sun was setting and I was shooting west. The little bit of fill flash that I used dramatically altered the background lighting. I had noticed this as well but wasn't sure what to do.

Crystal....THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! For that wonderful tutorial. That is exactly the kind of "plain english" explanation of PS function that I needed. I have bookmarked this thread and will practice cloning on my next shots (actually, I'll try it on the lily shot and see if I can match what you ended up with!).


Again, thank you everyone for your comments and critiques! It's precisely what I was looking for.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7783554#post7783554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwedehase
The honey bee on flower is nice, as well. However, it's killing me that the front side of the bud is out of focus. More DOF here, I guess. But then you'd probably have a focused background, which is even worse.

One way around this is to use a post processing technique called image stacking. First take a series of pictures at different focus distances. With shallow DOF, you can capture different parts of the flower in focus (front, middle, back/bee). Then you use a program that pulls the sharpest portions from each shot and blend them together into a single image that is sharp throughout.

I haven't done this, but I've seen a few threads discussing it in a macro photography forum. Sorry I didn't keep a link, but google for "image stacking" and you should find plenty of examples.