[smarti77]

If you haven't already had enough of my macro shots please post an honest (I can take it) critique on this one. I've found a few techniques that I find rewarding and pleasing to my eye but I need some perspective from others to keep me on the right track. Please also tell me if the post processing is overdone or suited to the shot.



More to come when my wife forgives me for spending so much time in the backyard and on the PC...

[Russt]

Smarti, in general I like it..........I think it works well on the bug but I find its a bit to harsh on the rest of the shot. I am thinking too much contrast and over sharpened (I could be wrong) It would help if the flower was a bit softer.

I would like to know more about the PP. Maybe you could use a mask?

Having said that..... again I like it........well done!

[smarti77]

Russt - I agree the middle yellow part of flower has too much contrast, I will try to bring this part back closer to the original. Thanks for your advise.

I would like to know more about the PP. Maybe you could use a mask?

My aim was too use create a 3D looking shot get trying to get a HDR from a single raw file. I wanted a full range from bright white to dark grey on each petal while keeping the wasp photorealistic. My last attempt resulted in blown out petals (I don't like failure).

I converted the raw file to 4 jpegs at -3, -1.5, 0 and +1.5EV. I used the Merge to HDR in CS entering EV manually and then played with the 'local' adjustment to convert back to 16bit. I added levels adjustment layers with masks seperately to the wasp, petals and centre. I only sharpened the whole image very slightly, the levels adjustments created the strong contrast.

I was going to post the original but I wanted this version to be judged on its own merits. I guess I am aiming to create an artistic wallpiece rather than a traditionally 'perfect' photo.

[Irma]

It is a very nice picture, I like a lot your post processing... It looks very natural... The composition is very nice as well... I like the colors and details...

The only thing I really don't like is the shadows... but it can be just me...

[smarti77]

I agree with you about the shadows Irma. There wasn't enough natural light to get a sharp image. I'm a beginner on a tight budget so I only have the onboard flash at this stage. I tried to remove the shadows a bit more in PP but they are too dark. In hindsight I would have turned the camera the other way up so the flash was from the left side.

[Peted]

Nice shot, great to see another Pentax DS user. For easy improvement in the light I use some white corrugated plastic, cheap and can be folded to free stand. External flash will be much better than the (pretty good) onboard flash, I bought several older Pentax flashes and they were pretty good and only cost AU$15-20 each, I have since bought a Sigma 500 Super and highly recomend them.

What lenses are you using? I forked out for a Pentax 18-55mm (Australian version comes with Sigma 18-50mm) and have since bought a Pentax 16-45mm F4.0 ED, this is beautiful sharp lens. I also have a Sigma 70-300mm DG APO lens but think I might get the Tamron 90mm F2.8 lens, it is an exceptional macro lens and doubles duty as a great portrait lens.

Cheers.

Pete

[smarti77]

Thanks Pete. I'm really only starting out still but keen to expand my knowledge and equipment. I bought the DS body only about 6 months ago and I've been using two trusty sigma lenses from my old MZ50. 28-80 with macro switch and 100-300. I recently bought a Vivitar 2 x converter from noisy nooodle via this forum and have been enjoying that. The main issue I have at the moment is wanting something wider than 28mm. I've been looking at prices on Ebay for something close to 18-50 but its hard without the knowledge. For example at the minute there is a Sigma 18-50 DC and a 18-55 DA on Ebay and I don't have a clue how they stack up...

Did you buy your Pentax 16-45 new or second hand? Do you notice the difference between 16 and 18mm?

I'll also have to start researching flashes - I'll make sure I start with the 500 super.
You know who to contact if you want to get rid of anything!

[Don Schaeffer]

I like the composition. I am just very bored with pretty flowers and bugs.

[Peted]

I like the composition. I am just very bored with pretty flowers and bugs.

You want ugly flowers with no bugs?? :o

[NT73]

Wrong post

[Peted]

Thanks Pete. I'm really only starting out still but keen to expand my knowledge and equipment. I bought the DS body only about 6 months ago and I've been using two trusty sigma lenses from my old MZ50. 28-80 with macro switch and 100-300. I recently bought a Vivitar 2 x converter from noisy nooodle via this forum and have been enjoying that. The main issue I have at the moment is wanting something wider than 28mm. I've been looking at prices on Ebay for something close to 18-50 but its hard without the knowledge. For example at the minute there is a Sigma 18-50 DC and a 18-55 DA on Ebay and I don't have a clue how they stack up...

Did you buy your Pentax 16-45 new or second hand? Do you notice the difference between 16 and 18mm?

I'll also have to start researching flashes - I'll make sure I start with the 500 super.
You know who to contact if you want to get rid of anything!

I also have an MZ-50 and an MV and am waiting for a KM to arrive in the mail. I have both the Sigma 18-50 and the Pentax 18-55, they both have their strengths to be honest and are reasonable lenses especially when you look at the price, I bought the Pentax for about AU$100, the Sigma was included with my kit. The 16-45mm is a really nice lens when absolute sharpness is everything and is a constant F4.0 so is a little faster at the narrow end, I paid AU$600 locally through Fletchers and was cheaper than buying online overseas. 16mm versus 18mm is not enough to worry about. I have the 28-80mm from the MZ-50 and find it soft on the DS, I also have a 28-105mm F2.8-4.0 Sigma that is handy but again is a bit soft wide open. I will take a few shots today from the lenses if I get a chance and post some crops here.

The older flashes I have are the AF260Sa and the AF240Z (these cost $15-20 each on Ebay), both are quite good in small areas but the big Sigma is just amazing for all round shooting and well worth the extra, the off shoe shooting using either the inbuilt or another flash to remotely set off the Sigma is a nice feature if you can use it, some are more than happy with the basic Sigma and a friend bought the 360FGZ for use with a D but the extra features and power of the Sigma 500 Super swayed me and I have been very happy. I have also got a Pentax 400FTZ but the battery door broke and because it is so big and heavy I decided that I would replace it with something better. I looked at the Pentax 540 but they are expensive and not as good as the Sigma although the Pentax build quality may be a bit better.

Okay so I just took a few quick shots with the different lenses and here is the crops, no post processing has been done other than the crop.

Pentax-16-45



Pentax-18-55


Sigma-18-50


Here is the original reduced to 20%.

[smarti77]

Pete - Many thanks for all the info. You see a flurry of shots from me here if I buy anything...

[Peted]

Here is some of my gear, a lot of it was cheap but it is fun to experiment.

[smarti77]

Here is some of my gear, a lot of it was cheap but it is fun to experiment.

Wow ... so much PENTAX..... I'm GREEN with envy.
What I would do to have a set like that!

[Peted]

Most of it is older gear and cost relatively little. The 50mm primes were $6.95, the MV1 was given to me and included a 35-70mm zoom and a flash, the flash units were less than $20 each. Ebay is your friend. I bought a complete KM for US$35 that included a 2x converter and a flash and a 55mm F1.8 lens just like one that I used to have, this should arrive in the mail this coming week.

[Toad]

I think what is best about this shot is the leading lines (the petals) which lead the viewer's gaze naturally from the bee to the center of the flower. The fact that the center of the flower is not in the center of the picture really aids the composition and takes this shot to the next level. Nicely done.

[Don Schaeffer]

I like the composition. I am just very bored with pretty flowers and bugs.

You want ugly flowers with no bugs?? :o

Yeah unpretty flowers shaped like worms.

[Russt]

Smarti thanks for the info on your PP I understand what I am looking at now........:/ I have not seen any HDR macro shots before.........well done

[smarti77]

Thanks everyone. I've had a very mixed response about this one from everyone I've showed. I really like it but I want to fix a few things I'm still not happy with. I'm gonna start from scratch using the same RAW image to try to get softer petals and also to try to get the yellow centre of the flower closer to the colours on the wasp...