second annual plumeria pictures

[basker]

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

[Frank Fremerey]

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!

[basker]

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.

[Thomas G]

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

[Jakov Minić]

Sam, all I can say is continue further and don't stop shooting and don't stop posting more
I love photos of flowers

[basker]

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.

[basker]

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.

[basker]

Time to change the subject is getting close.

[Jakov Minić]

Sam, the second to last with the miniature spider is splendid!

[basker]

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.  

[basker]

Some buds and new leaves from yesterday.

[basker]

translucence and imperfection

[basker]

 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.

[Frank Fremerey]

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?

[Fons Baerken]

The 105mm f/4 a wonderful close-up lens