some macro shots

[Allmost]

Hello,
was prety nice out yesterday so decided to take some pics.

need to know what you guys think, and how I can make the images look better ? these were shot free hand, do you guys think if I exchange my macro lens to one with IS [Image Stabalizer] I would get better results ?

they were shot in Raw and I havent changed anything on them yet.

with a macro lens, and 3 kenko tubes.

I think IS would have helped alot with this pic ?

 

[swjim]

I like #s 1 and 3! IS will help with stabilizing movement on the focal plane but it won't do anything for front to back movement.

 

[Allmost]

thanks, and yes that's exactly where I am having ISsues, my hands shake on a plane too much, 5th and 6th pic u can see how my hand was shaking a bit and making the image not so sharp ... even blutty.

I guess I should rent a IS lens to try first.

 

[Reef Bass]

They make these things called tripods that help a lot with stability of shots, particularly macros. IMHO, might you possibly be mixing up razor thin depth of field because of the tubes with out of focus due to instability?

 

[plantastic]

What Reef Bass said...

...I am impressed with how "sharp" they are, handholding the rig you described!

When going in that close, you have to limit all movement...so even a remote trigger, with a tripod would be ideal. And, not that you can control it, no wind.

 

[SushiGirl]

They make these things called tripods that help a lot with stability of shots, particularly macros. IMHO, might you possibly be mixing up razor thin depth of field because of the tubes with out of focus due to instability?

Yep. The last 2 would probably benefit some from IS, but the rest are DOF issues.

 

[Recty]

I agree with what the others said, plus I'll add that if you want to get sharper water drop shots you'll need a much faster shutter speed. That drop moved a lot from when the shutter first started opening to when it closed, that's what is causing the blur and no amount of IS or $1200 tripod will stop that.

I've had ridiculously poor look photoing water drops, the only time I can get a tack sharp image I have to use an external flash. I suppose on a nice sunny day it would be possible but a real bright sunny day causes all kinds of other issues Not to mention that we dont get many of those in Alaska.

 

[swjim]

I agree with what the others said, plus I'll add that if you want to get sharper water drop shots you'll need a much faster shutter speed. That drop moved a lot from when the shutter first started opening to when it closed, that's what is causing the blur and no amount of IS or $1200 tripod will stop that.

I've had ridiculously poor look photoing water drops, the only time I can get a tack sharp image I have to use an external flash. I suppose on a nice sunny day it would be possible but a real bright sunny day causes all kinds of other issues Not to mention that we dont get many of those in Alaska.

Recty brings up a really good point here, sharp water drop shots really are much easier if you use settings that limit or eliminate ambient lighting then freeze the droplets with flash. You can add colors easily with this method as well. Just a couple examples, taken at 1/200th, f/13, ISO800. (and a tripod)

 

[Misled]

Also if you look at what Jim posted, the stop is at f/13. You can see there's a good DOF. With flashes, you can forget about available light. As a matter of fact, when shooting things like drops, turning off other lights gives you the ability to control light, color, (with gels or flash color covers, and the DOF without worrying about getting a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action.

Nice stuff Jim.

 

[swjim]

Thanks Jesse!

 

[Preston7]

Love the first shot; I'm going to have to steal that idea and take a few myself. Macros shots are a lot of fun. I don't have the best SLR, but it takes decent shots. I starte using a monopod and it helps a lot and is a lot easier to lug around than a tripod. That and the tripod got ran over, so I have little choice!