Tamron macros and SB600 flash

[ozimax]

G'day all in D70 land.

Been away for a while (again) and unable to spend any time on D70. Life gets too busy! Anyway, took a few macros yesterday with Tamron 300mm lens in macro mode and manual focus, used tripod and my new SB600 lens in my left hand, using the D70 in commander mode.

Here are a few results after a little bit of postprocessing:









Any comments welcomed!
Max

[kipper]

Love the first two. The first could be used as a desktop

I'd like to see the second extracted (eg background removed) and having a bit more space added around it and centered.

[sirhc55]

Max - I like all of the shots but #1 would be a lot better IMO if the shadow was removed

[Glen]

Ok Max, what can't you do with your Tamron? I am sure I haven't seen a wide angle or fisheye shot from it

[PiroStitch]

That first one looks like a 3D model Love the 2nd pic, nice and bright

[cameraguy21773]

First one is stunning! How about removing the shadow and changing the background to black? Killer!

[Poon]

Like all shots.
Second one is my favorite.
-------
Rgds
Poon

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Max
you have posted some very nice photos here....well done.
My comments for each are:

#1
I really like the graphical illustration look about this shot. My only critisism is that the shadow seems to play with your eyes and takes some attention away from the petals of the flower. Perhaps the shadow could be faded/muted so it doesn't stand out as much, but is still evident to portray the 3D look ?!?

#2
A beautiful, crisp photo which stands out well from the nicely OOF background. Great use of DOF in this one. The darker background areas really help to lift the brighter petals towards the viewer. Again, my critisism is the blown highlights at the ends of the petals. More definition by exposing them for less time, I feel, would make this image even stronger.

#3
This is a really nice photo and I like the exposure on this one, though the DOF could have been a touch shallower, to blur the background (just my preference). The flower in the top left is partially cut out of the frame. This image would have looked stronger if the entire frame was moved to the left to include the whole "top left" flower, and remove some of the space from the right side of the orange flower....IMO.

#4
The OOF flowers in the centre of this image detract from this too much, for my liking. It also looks too busy. The Lorikeet seems to get lost in all the fine detail of the multitude of smaller flowers. Perhaps a crop around the Lorikeet, leaving some of the flowers to border the image may work well here (although I guess it depends on what YOU are trying to achieve with this photo). The bird could be the secondary point of interest in this image (the flowers being the main point of interest), in which case, my suggestion would lose it's merit.

Please read this as constructive critisism

[ozimax]

Thanks all for the comments, will definitely have a go at some of the suggestions, thanks Dave for your detailed analysis. Funny thing Poon, everyone likes the 2nd one it seems but I don't!?

Anyway, it's all lots of fun. I will try a black background for #1, although it seems everyone uses black these days.

I must correct re the last photo. In hindsight, I realise that this one was not taken with the Tamron but with the kit lens and Sb600 attached to the camera in manual mode. Funny thing is, this one has already been given yesterday to a local newspaper who want to use it in some advertising for the local botanic gardens!?

I wish I had more time to get back into D70 land, oh well, that's life!

Max

[KerryPierce]

All are nice shots, Max, but #3 is the one that gets my eye.

[O1]

Max
these are all great shots
A great advertisment for tamron and the kit lens

thanks

Owen