4 replies to this topic

[MrWild]

This is my first attempt. I will have a macro lens on Friday, but I am just starting in photography nevermind Macro :-o  

 

Butterfly

D500 with 200-500 f/5.6

1/1000 sec ISO 5600 f/5.6 0EV

 

Flower

D500 with 200-500 f/5.6

1/20 sec ISO 320 f/6.3 +1 EV 

 

To get more of the flower in focus I am guessing higher F stop like 22 and then decrease shutter speed to 1/2 (about) sec and stick it on a tripod to keep the ISO down and eliminate camera blur? 

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[geedee]

I have tried out a few Macro pics, thus am NO expert... I might think of your pics as close-up as opposed to macro, once you either start using extension tubes or your new macro lens you will perhaps discover the difference between getting close with non macro kit and that which you can capture in true macro.

 

I suspect that with macro kit you will also discover just how shallow a DOF is available when you begin to get in really close.

 

Seems like in your moth pic that you cropped it perhaps a bit too tight to the wings though you managed to get detail on the eye, though due to the backlighting and  that the wings seem dense there is little detail captured in the body or wings.... Sure with PP skills some of that could be improved upon..  It is difficult to photograph dark subjects in locations where there is brightness in other areas of the scene, which is where you discover the limitations of a camera`s dynamic range compared to that of  your eye, though you did well enough given the "balance" you achieved between the bright head of the flower and the dark of the wings.   

 

I note you included free space in the direction the insect is facing which seems to work well in most wildlife pics as it does in this one. 

 

The flower pic provides pleasing shapes if perhaps cropped a little tight with not a lot in focus or perhaps more likely camera shake. I tend to fail miserably hand held when following the reciprocal rule (shutter speed equivalent to lens focal length in mm) even with the advantage of VR on some of my lenses... Whereas some folk can be rock steady.

 

Interesting pics, thanks for posting. 

[rdb images]

Your photos are very nicely executed, but as geedee suggested, they are not truly macro shots. I think you will enjoy the macro lens. Which one did you buy? I really enjoy flower macro shooting. I am soon to pull the trigger on a 90mm macro to replace my 40mm one. It will give me a little more distance from my subjects. The 40mm can be tough. I chalked it up to a learning process! I sold it back to B&H.

 

My experience has been that a tripod is necessary (at least for me) for macro to avoid blur and you will find yourself using very small (high f stop number) apertures to get the DOF you want. That is another reason for the tripod, with apertures in the f22 range you are not letting in a lot of light so your shutter speed may be long for hand holding at a low ISO. With outdoor flower photography your biggest enemy may be the breeze . And overcast days provide excellent soft lighting.

 

I see you have a NIKKOR 16-80mm lens. How do you like it? I bought one for my D7100 a few months ago to replace the kit lens and it is now always on my camera. Very happy with it as my everyday lens.

 

Bob

[MrWild]

Thank you Geedee and Bob,

 

    I have not used my 16-80 lens yet. It came as an option upgrade with the camera body. It does seem well made though. Sorry      I will be getting the https://www.bhphotov...0mm_f_2.8D_Lens on friday and I am debating whether to jump right into the extenders    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/375238-REG/Kenko_AEXTUBEDGN_Auto_Extension_Tube_Set.html   or to just learn with camera and lens first. I also purchased this cheap ring light..   https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1226653-REG/Universal_Macro_LED_Ring_Flash 

 

    ~ Edward 

[Reciprocityrules]

Nice shots!  Personally, I don't like "true" macro; my shots are mostly close-ups.  I also like natural light as opposed to a ring flash.  It's all a matter of preference as to what you want to achieve as a photographer.  Give them all a try and realize that people have differing tastes; not everyone likes everything.  I think it's about expression.  Whatever you like, have at it.  I wouldn't sweat the "true" macro label; just post them as "close-ups", and you avoid the semantic argument.  I guess that makes me "anti-semantic" .  Shoot away Edward!