Reading mode: Light Dark

Practice Practice Practice

Go to last post
D

dboogie

Veteran Member
Messages
3,658
Reaction score
8
Location
US
Adhering to those 3 words I'm getting more and more comfortable taking macro shots.
Here's one:



dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
Okay now tell us about the bran flakes...I wasnt thinking of bran flakes when I saw the flower but John saved me from what I was going to say.
Now tell me what do you attribute your success to practice or ????
Looks very good...
dboogie said:
Adhering to those 3 words I'm getting more and more comfortable
taking macro shots.
Here's one:



dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
Click to expand...
--
Bob WB7SBW
Olympus C2100
http://members.cox.net/robert.myers1/
 
Thats a good one John!! It does look like bran flakes :O)

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
Thanks 3D. I ain't gonna get too happy just yet (excuse the bad english)!!

I feel I have improved, but I need many more practice sessions under my belt before I can even ask for an application to get into the 3DTIM School of Macro Flower Photography. :O)

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
the other flower I commented on!!

--

It might look like I'm doing nothing but, at the cellular level I'm really quite busy.
 
Thanks Bob. I'm trying to figure out what you were gonna say before John saved ya............go ahead, whisper it to me in my ear...no one else will hear :O)

I really think practice is what helped me improved. I kept seeing fantastic macro photos posted by other folks and I wanted to be able to take those types of shots as well. I realize everyone has different skill levels, but I just knew I could take them. So I'd try and they looked like cr@p. I tried some more and I got more cr@p. Continuously failing kept pushing me to try and try again! I also have to say that asking questions and getting good advice from the wonderful people here on the forum was also crucial in my learning process.

dboogie

--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
Cool, I can see that too! Thanks Julio!!

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
dboogie said:
Adhering to those 3 words I'm getting more and more comfortable
taking macro shots.
Here's one:



dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
Click to expand...
That is really an exceptional macro shot. Very well done. I'd like to be able to take shots like that someday.
Rich
--
RB - pbase supporter
 
dboogie,

Wow, your macros keep getting better and better. I can see the pollen dust on the petal! What was the biggest tip/trick you learned for getting these improved macro shots?

Doug
 
Thanks for the compliments Doug. I believe if I had to pick just one thing in paritcular that has enabled me to get these shots, I'd have to say making sure there is enough light on the subject. Natural or artificial, sufficient light is a must. Previously, I tried shooting flowers indoors with what I thought was enough light and they just didn't come out that good (although at the time I thought they were, until the folks here at the forum told me they needed work). I had also tried shooting outdoors, but the sunlight on those days was also rather poor. The last few days we've had nice bright sunshine and I positioned the flowers so that they were able to get some good rays. The better lighting allowed me to use faster shutter speeds which helped me avoid any camera shake I may have been experiencing with the slower shutters. Once I had the lighting, I just kept practicing practicing practicing. I can't really explain it, but there is a certain "sweet spot" or "in the zone" feeling I'd be in when the flowers were in focus. I'd use a little zoom and then physically back away from the subject OR use less zoom and physically move in on the subject. These movements were incremental and small, but once I got into that "sweet spot" of focus I could tell. Sometimes the flower would be closer to filling the entire frame than it would on other occasions.....it just depends. I hope I explained that so you can understand what I'm trying to say. Up to this point I've been practicing with flowers I bought from the store, now I'm gonna have to go out in the "wild" and see if I can capture them in their natural habitat.........that should be challenging.

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
YEAH, thats what I said :O)

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
I was surprised myself that I was able to capture the pollen on the petal.
This photography thang, is soooo much fun!!
Are YOU havin' fun with that D-60 yet???

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
I appreciate the comments Rich, thanks. The ONLY way I've been able to get shots like this was to just keep trying them. It was frustrating and at first I don't think I saw any improvement. But with persistence, desire and experimenting with different settings and techniques, I eventually began to see better result. I also can not go without saying that whenever I had questions or asked for critiques on my earlier attempts, the wonderful folks here at the forum provided me with much needed help and support. I believe they saw how hard I was trying to get better and I REALLY felt they were in my corner!!

keep shootin', keep tryin' and keep askin' questions until ya get satisfaction :O)

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
Thanks Sand!!! Advice and tips from the good folks such as you at the forum, have really helped me!!!

dboogie
--
If ya don't use ya head, you'll end up using your feet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top