Macros From The Garden (7 Images)

[NikonUser]

Hi there,

Went out into the garden today armed with the Sigma 180mm macro and Sigma 1.4x tele. This is what I came up with.

Had heaps of trouble getting sharp images for a number of reasons... There was a slight breeze, magnification was really high and I find it hard to do manual focus with the small viewfinder.

Please let me know what you think (as usual I'm thick skinned and welcome tips for improvment).



[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/250"
F Number = F10
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 13:22:12
Shutter Speed Value = 7.97 TV
Aperture Value = 6.64 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 428
Exif Image Height = 700
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm






[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/25"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 14:28:47
Shutter Speed Value = 4.64 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 452
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm






[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/15"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 14:30:49
Shutter Speed Value = 3.91 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 467
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm





[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/125"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 13:57:59
Shutter Speed Value = 6.97 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = -1.67EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 556
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm




[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/60"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 13:59:59
Shutter Speed Value = 5.91 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 556
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm



[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/60"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 14:02:26
Shutter Speed Value = 5.91 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 555
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm





[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/80"
F Number = F13
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Date Time Original = 2005-09-13 14:33:19
Shutter Speed Value = 6.32 TV
Aperture Value = 7.4 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 250mm
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 700
Exif Image Height = 555
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 375mm



Thanks for looking
Paul PS... Any proper ID's on the insects/spider would be great

[phillipb]

These are great Paul, I especially like the second one. Not much to critisize, well done.

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Paul
looks like you're doing well with these. Focus on most of them is almost there. My favourites are #'s 1 & 2.

Are you able to post the EXIF info, which might help people to comment/critique your images a bit better.

It certainly is fun trying to capture macro when zoomed in that much, isn't it ?!? The slightest breathe or movement and focus is out the window.

Perhaps one comment I will make, which is probably not what you're looking for in way of a critique, is that in the Title info I personally would include the whole name of Victoria, instead of just having Vic, Australia. For some reason it just doesn't look right to me (but that's just my personal opinion - and please ignore it if you disagree)

Look forward to seeing more....

[NikonUser]

EXIF posted under each image in the original thread...

It certainly is fun... although I find it quite frustrating when I get back to the computer and find that almost every image is underexposed and not sharp (when I clrearly remember it being sharp in the viewfinder). I used tripod on most of these to try and help but it didn't seem to do much.

I think you might just be right on the VIC thing. Will see what it looks like in future pics to see if it looks any better

Paul

[Aussie Dave]

thanks for posting the EXIF Paul.

A couple of things I would suggest you watch out for in future would be:

Your shutter speeds. At 250mm, a couple of these are shot at 1/60th sec. which is pretty slow (even on a tripod). I've found with the Sigma I use, (between 200 & 300) is it's pretty hit & miss when using shutter speeds so low. It's always best to try and stay around (or prefereably a bit higher) than your focal length. However, in saying this shooting at f13 with a shutter of 1/250th sec will demand some serious lighting. This is where a good flash can help (do you have a SB800 or 600 ??)....and also bumping the ISO can help too. I see all these shots are on ISO200.

I have a bad habit of leaving it on ISO200 all the time, but I'm trying my best to up it when the time calls for it.

You may also find that a bit more DOF may help on some shots, so using smaller apertures might be of benefit as well (f22). Remember, with macro, you're talking about the focal depth in mm, not ft or meters.

Nevertheless, composition, post processing etc.. all looks good. Now it's just the battle to get those crisp, sharply-focussed images.....but that's the fun of it. If it was easy, the forum would be full of unbelievable macro images and what would we strive towards

...and I know what you mean by getting back to the PC only to see blurry, dark images. Been there done that, still do it from time to time

[NikonUser]

I thought with a tripod the slower shutter speeds would be ok (although I was worried about the wind). I will try and keep them up next time.

I do have the SB-800... but I find if I use high shutter speed, small appatures and the flash I get a black background. That's fine for some shots but I really like the creamy green look. Is there something I could do with the flash that would help out there?

How much does a macro flash bracket help with lighting? At the moment I just use the hotshoe... I've looked into the brackets that you can move around but they are all so darn expensive!!

The reason I haven't gone to a smaller appature is because I've read about defraction. I've read that below about F16 images start to get soft... I could be wrong however as I haven't actually tested that for myself.

If it was easy, the forum would be full of unbelievable macro images and what would we strive towards

Yeah but I want the images that everyone aspires towards to be MINE lol

Thanks for your help

Paul

[Aussie Dave]

I thought with a tripod the slower shutter speeds would be ok (although I was worried about the wind). I will try and keep them up next time.

You have to remember that the slightest movement of the subject, mainly from the wind will not help you. Using faster shutter speeds will help to combat this. The tripod cuts out the possiblity of handholding blur, but you still have to worry about the moving subjects.

I do have the SB-800... but I find if I use high shutter speed, small appatures and the flash I get a black background. That's fine for some shots but I really like the creamy green look. Is there something I could do with the flash that would help out there?

How much does a macro flash bracket help with lighting? At the moment I just use the hotshoe... I've looked into the brackets that you can move around but they are all so darn expensive!!

Have you tried setting the SB800 as a remote and using the onboard flash as a commander ? This way, you can move the flash closer to the subject, or behind it, or below it, or to the side etc... and experiment with different lighting setups. A large reflector may also aid in getting more light to bounce back into the shot ?!? I've just started experimenting with this, but I would think it will help you. To what degree depends on the scene (or amount of light present at the time of shooting).

The reason I haven't gone to a smaller appature is because I've read about defraction. I've read that below about F16 images start to get soft... I could be wrong however as I haven't actually tested that for myself.

To a point I believe this to be true, however the amount of softness would depend on the quality of the lens. The softness may not be as bad as you think, compared to the partly OOF image. Also, shooting with a teleconverter is compromising image quality anyway. I wouldn't worry about the defraction too much.

Yeah but I want the images that everyone aspires towards to be MINE lol

Thanks for your help

Paul

Don't we all ?!?

[NikonUser]

Thanks for all your help Dave...

With this knowledge I will go out next time ready to kick some insect butt!! (Or just take a few photos)

Paul

[Alpha_7]

Some great shots here, (I looked at the earlier but got distracted by work, shame on me). Dave thanks for the suggestions, I'm sure a few of us here will find it very useful.