Macro shots 23 Feb 08

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 01:15

Sharing 2 shots taken today.

Nothing good, quite a bad day.

Cheers!

**Simon** · 24th Feb 2008, 08:45

you should be shooting with the sweet spot of the lens, the striped albatross will be nicer if you crop the photo drown removing unwanted spaces

**trident** · 24th Feb 2008, 09:12

benetay,
the 2nd butterfly is very pretty, pity the wings a bit missing.
sweet shots

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 11:02

Originally Posted by Simon

you should be shooting with the sweet spot of the lens, the striped albatross will be nicer if you crop the photo drown removing unwanted spaces

I want to, it was 530pm, it was looking for a place to rest for the night under a thick growth of plants. What i could do is boost my iSO up to 800 & up the aperture.

Yes i think i got to agree on the cropping part. The left most leaf is an eye sore. It was straight from the camera

. It's a pity, the angle was rather bad, it was under such a dark place that i was force using Manual Focus. I almost couldn't see the butt in focus and AF was hunting for tomorrow.

It's my first time seeing a female striped albatross.

Plum judy. Hiding among the undergrowth.

**Simon** · 24th Feb 2008, 19:42

again, too much space on the right, will be better shot at a lower angle or at the same plane and lower the ISO to 800. Or else you will be at the mercy of the wind and many out of focus shots.

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 19:56

Noted on the ISO selection, this picture was crop, guess got to crop further. On the plane issue, i wish i could do something better. Was on the stairways leading up and the butt was on the left perch tree. Angle was totally out. Enough excuse.

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 21:46

Sharing another but in vertical format.

Cheers!

**Goondoo** · 24th Feb 2008, 21:48

Originally Posted by benetay

I find this picture too fake.

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 21:55

Lighting too harsh? stop down -2/3 Ev already i think. How does it look fake so i can correct it properly the next time i shoot. Don't want to lose a chance to shoot a rare butt & eventually turn out unwell.

Or is it cropped in an uneven manner?

Will post a original uncropped copy.

Here it is.

Cheers!

**Simon** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:02

I know why billy mentioned about the authenticity of that photo, along the edge of the forewing is a thin dark edge along the wing.

benetay, that composition is so much better, however, part of the subject is out of focus

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:06

I always got a problem with the top part of the wings to be Out Of Focus. Even when i shoot the autumn leaf at home also got problem with the top part. Got to use around f/13-16 in order for it to be clear.

Guess i shouldn't have crop in the first place.

Forewing thin dark edge?

**Simon** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:15

that is because you were shooting it at f5.6 and you ain't parallel to the subject

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:35

Okay, next time will try harder. The position is not compromising.

**Goondoo** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:39

Originally Posted by Simon

that is because you were shooting it at f5.6 and you ain't parallel to the subject

The whole butterfly look superimposed, sort of "cut-&-paste" onto a background. The parts that are "over lapping" the leave are especially obvious. Especially the shadows and the leg.

PS: Not implying "you did it", just "it look like it" on my screen. Anyone else feel the same? Maybe overly PSed?

OT: Why did you shoot macro with red-eye reduction anyway?

**benetay** · 24th Feb 2008, 22:56

Hmm, Red-eye reduction is on all the time, must it be turn off? Will it make any difference if i shot a red eye skipper?

I'm still very new so view my exif file and point out the mistakes.

I think it's the angle that makes it look fake, the slight cut on the leaf makes it even worst.

Thanks!

Cheers!

**Goondoo** · 24th Feb 2008, 23:17

Red eye reduction will have an extra flash before the pre-flash if I remember correctly. Might cause your subject to move its wings or change its orientation if it is true.

You mentioned you are very new, I must reply that I am not a "resident" or "frequent" photographer as well. I am just letting you know how I "feel" or "what my eyes perceived" the picture to be as a viewer. I can't really give you suitable recommendations with my very limited knowledge.

Simon, please take over....

**wasabi8888** · 25th Feb 2008, 00:04

Actually quite true. I did not realize when i 1st looked at the pic, it does not look as if the butt was pasted on the leaf....I cant however tell you what is wrong with the skills or technique that caused this though

**Simon** · 25th Feb 2008, 00:10

given that the flash is that strong, it should create some shadows around the subject, however in this case, none can be seen. Only logical explanation is that the angle of which it is show hides those shadows. Having said that, if one is to PS this subject on another background will normally do it on a better background, so I don't see otherwise