NikonGear'23
Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: basker on June 26, 2016, 02:32:36
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The kindness and honesty I have seen here is impressive, and I am asking for some of each. If you can help me learn to properly diagnose my work I would be grateful. I am overawed by the images on this site.
These pictures were taken yesterday with an AIS 105/4 and a Df. They are handheld because my tripod is too short for this high angle. I like them, but want them to be better. Please ask me anything.
Best regards,
Sam
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Welcome to Nikongear. Please also take the time to introduce youself in the "introduce yourself" thread.
I love both pictures. Colors and textures give me the feeling of a summer light. Intense and friendly. Well done!
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Frank,
Thank you for the suggestion and encouraging comments. You are right about the early summer light here. I sometimes forget how far south we are. After posting I noticed that the colors are similar to the site theme.
Now that I am past the initial stage fright, I still owe you all an introduction. I shall go do that.
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Hi Sam, welcome to NG.
The spider looking down on the spectator: intriguing. (not sure if these are actually eyes, nature has it's tricks sometimes).
An extra touch would be some more light on the spider to enhace the perception and guide the eye down from the upper left highlight.
A little reflecting thing, pocket light or flash can help with that.
The second photo has that extra light, it's very smooth and warm illuminating the flowers.
Background is lovely, nice out of focus light and shadow play.
Shooting natural light you seldom get the perfect moment presented - chasing that can be very satisfactory :)
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Sam, all I can say is continue further and don't stop shooting and don't stop posting more :)
I love photos of flowers :)
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Thomas,
You are right about the distracting upper left highlight. I cropped closer and worked on the exposure. Best I can do until I find a better spider. :) Hope the reworked attachment comes across ok. Thank you for the good advice and insight. Sometimes I think myself into a dead end.
Jakov,
I promise to stay with it, and I will remember you told me to do so. Thank you for saying that.
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Did not want to start a new subject for "Cypress tree reenacting scene from Alien" so I am adding it here. These were taken by the Sabinal river near Utopia. Comments or critiques are appreciated.
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Time to change the subject is getting close.
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Sam, the second to last with the miniature spider is splendid!
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Jakov,
I was looking for a better way at a different time of day with another lens. Your words are very helpful and much appreciated. I hope I'm finally learning something about where to stand. :)
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Some buds and new leaves from yesterday.
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translucence and imperfection
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There are small multicolored bullseye shaped spots that show up around 200% in this image. If anyone can tell me what are called, I will look it up. My guess is that I should have used some kind of diffuser to shade the subject, but still want to understand what they are. Thanks.
September 13, 2016 update: I think may be spherochromaticism. Looks somewhat like examples shown on the diglloyd.com blog.
September 14, 2016 update: Spherochromaticism may not be an actual word. I cannot find it used anywhere else. It may be a typo, but he definition of spherochromatism does not seem to apply to the example.
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Sam. The camouflage of the last spider is so good I had to look
three times and I had to look very carefully.
Bullseye shaped spots? I do not see them.
Are you sure your sensor is clean? All lenses clean too?
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The 105mm f/4 a wonderful close-up lens
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Frank, I thought it was an odd looking bud until I touched a leaf and saw it move. The spots I mentioned look sort of like specular highlights on the tips of the shiny green buds. If you zoom in they show up mostly as concentric circles of different colors, but a few are somewhat different. I have never noticed this before and did not know what to call it in a search. Thanks for the input.
I will check for dirt. I always have some. :)
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The 105mm f/4 a wonderful close-up lens
Fons, when I see your name I make a point of checking to see what you have to say or show me. Thanks. I agree about this old AIS lens. Bought it new in... Wow, has it been that long? About 35 years later I bought a DSLR, joined NikonGear and started using it again. Now it is time for me to get a more detailed understanding, and a lot of practice.
Sam
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If you can help me learn to properly diagnose my work I would be grateful.
You have got a great lens, Sam. It appears, however, that you don't use all its potential.
What Frank pointed out is a clue : some of your pics are slightly blurry. Just because you handheld you camera.
Your pics are good, but perfectible. That would be easy, just use a good and stable tripod, and you'll get razor-sharp images. That will allow you using longer exposure shots, but never forget : the tiniest breeze or draft will ruin your image (tripod or not), even more with large reproduction ratio.
Also, you could use a flash, but the images won't be as nice with natural light.
That said, you have already a very good habit : you take your macro/close-up shots in the shade (or diffused light) which produces the best lighting. The sun is my second enemy after the wind in macro-photography. ;)
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Welcome to NG !
The last series is fantastic , the yellow/white flower looks great shot with that lens
The trees on the sabinal look very similar to ones I have shot in lake Camecuaro , Mexico
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Camecuaro/i-QT6dvTc/0/M/_DSC9882-M.jpg)
and here is noather place called Sabinal
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/El-Sabinal-Aguascalientes/i-hWLqpLp/0/M/_DSC0545-Edit-Edit-Edit-M.jpg)
Looking forward for more of your images
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You have got a great lens, Sam. It appears, however, that you don't use all its potential.
Your pics are good, but perfectible. That would be easy, just use a good and stable tripod, and you'll get razor-sharp images. That will allow you using longer exposure shots, but never forget : the tiniest breeze or draft will ruin your image (tripod or not), even more with large reproduction ratio.
Also, you could use a flash, but the images won't be as nice with natural light.
That said, you have already a very good habit : you take your macro/close-up shots in the shade (or diffused light) which produces the best lighting. The sun is my second enemy after the wind in macro-photography. ;)
Francis, thanks for the good clear input. I like your images, so I trust your advice. Wind was a problem, and I should have used some shade. I am shopping for better support, and will also try to use better discipline.
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The trees on the sabinal look very similar to ones I have shot in lake Camecuaro , Mexico
and here is another place called Sabinal ]
Armando, I remember your images of the lake. I just now returned to admire them again. Thank you for showing me these two new ones. I certainly enjoyed seeing them, and they do look like the local Sabinal.
I should go visit some cypress trees soon. :)