Experimenting with new lens

microcollector · Post by **microcollector** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:39 pm

I bought a Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 105mm2.8G ED VR lens to use for photographing my larger mineral specimens. As I have not completed the setup for that, I gave it a try outside today. These are flowers from our yard on a somewhat cloudy day. All are hand held shots.

bleeding heart f3.5 at 1/50

mustard f3.5 at 1/320

pansy f8 at 1/80

I will have to find my tripod from the mess in the garage.

Doug

salden · Post by **salden** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:35 am

They are all very nice, but I like the second one best. The selective focus and blurred background compliment the subject and holds your attention to the subject instead of roaming around to other objects in the image.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:08 am

Sue wrote:

The selective focus and blurred background compliment the subject and holds your attention to the subject instead of roaming around to other objects in the image.

You know I never thought of it that away but your right Sue.

Well I guess I don't have a particular favorite in the series of images there Doug but the lens seems to be doing a great job. The images are nice and sharp and the colors all seem to be quite natural looking. Nice work. I hope your new set up to photograph your mineral collection works out. It will be interesting to see.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:38 pm

Ah, the flowers of spring, captures rather nicely Doug. All three are beautiful.....I love Bleeding Hearts

The panzy looks 3D

microcollector · Post by **microcollector** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:39 pm

Had a break from spring today, it was snowing on the way home from work. Looking back at it, the pansy looks like it was cut and pasted to the background. I should have opened up the lens more to put the background more out of focus. I agree with Sue's comment about the second photo. I will have to pay more attention to that as I like that effect.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:13 am

You know Doug, both you and DougB brought up some interesting points about the Pansy.

One it does look 3D as DougB said and it does, as you commented, look pasted on to the background. I have taken a few shots of subjects like this and have gotten pretty much the same result and have wondered whether or not that I should have shot them at a different angle, maybe have increased the DOF, or both. Interesting situation here. There seems to be a bit of "bokeh" in the background, I believe that is the term and the correct spelling, I am not sure but it seems as though there is a bit of detail in the background that wants to command some attention, so increasing the DOF might be an alternative to reducing this "pasted" appearance as you noted. It would be interesting to read what some others may have to say on this subject.

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:24 am

The comments so far show people's different approaches to photography, Sue prefers the second shot which to me is the poorest of the three because very little is in focus other than virtually a single floret. I find the other out of focus florets distracting.

To me the Pansy shot is your best, the first one is good but spoilt by the very bright out of focus white branch behind the flower.

You will seldom please everybody Doug. I posted my previous dandelion shot also shown on this site elsewhere and got the following remarks:-

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... php?t=2184

"Don't like the vertical arrangement it should be horizontal"

"Not sharp enough."

"Too sharp, I don't like really sharp images."

"Should have used curves and adjusted the mid tones more."

"Lighting too flat."

"Far to bright and colourful on my monitor."

"The tight crop cutting through the flowers does nothing for me."

"I would have liked to see all the group of flowers"

"I like the very tight crop and bright colour."

"I liked the original just as it was."

In short listen to the criticism and learn from what you think was correct. But in the end it's your picture so just please yourself Doug, unless it is for a competition when all you have to please are the judges.

You will find the Nikkor's resolution improves considerably when you do find your tripod and use it!

As to the 3D effect with the Pansy that can often be due to a contrast in colour with the background.

DaveW

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:59 pm

Dave is right you know. Its your image and what pleases you the photographer is what's important here. Like the song says, "you can't please everyone, so you might as well please yourself."