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11/05/2007 03:29:12 PM · #26 |
Interesting. Your edit does work. The original shot was skewed and I had straightened it. I also see from your example what was suggested earlier about my applying the rule of thirds too casually to this.
Is neat image a plug in? |
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11/05/2007 03:30:40 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by yospiff:
Interesting. Your edit does work. The original shot was skewed and I had straightened it. I also see from your example what was suggested earlier about my applying the rule of thirds too casually to this.
Is neat image a plug in? |
It comes in standalone and plugin versions. Plugin works very well with Photoshop, as you an apply it to selections within the image.
R.
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11/05/2007 04:31:44 PM · #28 |
Don't get me wrong - It's not easy to shoot macro spiders! It took me two weeks of spider-chasing and asking questions in the forums to go from this;
to this;
Compare the apertures between these two, and you'll see why I was emphasizing the aperture as being of key importance. The other critical thing is light; as soon as you start going up to f/16 you'll need a *lot* more light, as longer exposure times don't work with living things. I used off-camera flash in the second one. |
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11/05/2007 05:02:43 PM · #29 |
Awesome detail on that guy!
I did another spider during the same session that came out nicely, but did not fit the challenge. I'll upload it later when I get home and see what you think.
It often seems that my great shots either don't fit the theme, or if they do, I took them last week, so can't use them. I'm sure that's pretty common! |
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11/05/2007 05:03:36 PM · #30 |
To amplify what jhonan said about macros and aperture....it's very hard to take a good macro without using a tripod. To get enough depth of field, you end up with a small aperture, which slows down the shutter speed. The close proximity to the subject magnifies any camera shake, and also makes focusing hard, because the slightest movement will throw things out of focus.
It's hard enough to get those things right, even with a tripod. This shot:
Was shot on a sturdy tripod in bright light. The 640x version works okay, but the full size version isn't usable, because the spider isn't quite in focus.
btw, it took a macro photography workshop and weeks of practice to get some good spider macros. Keep practicing. |
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11/05/2007 06:02:57 PM · #31 |
| Ummm...it's a spider! That will cost you half a point right there. Some people just hate spiders and American flags. |
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11/05/2007 06:05:21 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Here's the same image with with neat Image in blue channel, cropped and skewed for a little more dynamic flow, and sharpened a little:
R. |
but then he'd lose marks for an unlevel horizon. welcome to dpc! lol
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11/05/2007 09:32:38 PM · #33 |
Here's the other spider shot I did during the same session. I did some others that were pretty good for me, but these were the two that I really liked.
[thumb]609366[/thumb]
I think it's way better technically, but I felt the waving guy (Gal) was a more unique spider shot and fit the challenge better. |
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11/05/2007 10:32:33 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by annpatt:
To amplify what jhonan said about macros and aperture....it's very hard to take a good macro without using a tripod. To get enough depth of field, you end up with a small aperture, which slows down the shutter speed. The close proximity to the subject magnifies any camera shake, and also makes focusing hard, because the slightest movement will throw things out of focus.
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You're totally right about the tripods. But, in a pinch, if you don't have a tripod at hand, a couple things that help -- and I hope I don't stick my foot in my mouth again :) -- are:
- If your camera has it, set it to burst mode and shoot 3-5 at the same time. Likely one of them is going to be in better focus than the others;
- Don't focus with the camera per se, but set the camera at the focus length you want, and move the camera (and yourself) closer/further away. Combine this with burst mode, and it really helps.
- Use higher ISO, deal with noise later, or say, "Hey, I LIKE noise!"
- Use improvised tripods-like contraptions, like, lean the camera against a rock or tree to steady it, even a branch you find laying around (prop the camera on it), use the camera strap as a sort of weight (hook your foot or knee in the strap and pull down, pull up on the camera while shooting - it gives you more stability), use your bunched up sweater as an improvised beanie-baby support, stuff like that. I'm terrible at bringing along my tripod (getting better, slowly), so I've learned all sorts of tricks to help with focus without a tripod :) |
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11/05/2007 11:31:09 PM · #35 |
Little cameras allow you to worry much less about dof with macro shots, due to the smaller sensor and tiny aperture.
I took this shot with a little p&s with one hand while speaking on my mobile phone with the other!
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11/05/2007 11:32:25 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by yospiff:
Here's the other spider shot I did during the same session. I did some others that were pretty good for me, but these were the two that I really liked.
[thumb]609366[/thumb]
I think it's way better technically, but I felt the waving guy (Gal) was a more unique spider shot and fit the challenge better. |
I think I'd like it upsite down! A great shot. |
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11/05/2007 11:43:55 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by ursula:
Don't focus with the camera per se, but set the camera at the focus length you want, and move the camera (and yourself) closer/further away. Combine this with burst mode, and it really helps. |
This is invaluable advice: by FAR the best way to shoot handheld macros is to set the lens to MF and move the camera in and out as you shoot.
R.
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11/06/2007 12:17:54 AM · #38 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by ursula:
Don't focus with the camera per se, but set the camera at the focus length you want, and move the camera (and yourself) closer/further away. Combine this with burst mode, and it really helps. |
This is invaluable advice: by FAR the best way to shoot handheld macros is to set the lens to MF and move the camera in and out as you shoot.
R. |
Oh, good. I was worried there for a moment when I saw you posted :) |
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11/07/2007 04:50:06 AM · #39 |
Threadjacking, sorta... this finished at a nice almost dead-center 52%. I thought it a nice fit for the challenge (and actually shot it for it), and a decent composition with some actual color in it (which is a whole 'nuther challenge in my case...) So... hack away. What could I have done to finish at, say, 60%?
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11/07/2007 05:36:00 AM · #40 |
| Deb, left you a comment on the photo page. |
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11/07/2007 07:12:15 AM · #41 |
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