Bugs on water lilly flower

[dstanl]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88769151@N00/2221305991/" title="my lilly flower by piha nz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2221305991_43fa3662b0.jpg" width="500" height="403" alt="my lilly flower" /></a>

Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Can't do a true macro with this lens, so crop afterwards.
Question: Should I be striving for no shadow in this kind of shot?

[peeperita]

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Can't do a true macro with this lens, so crop afterwards.
Question: Should I be striving for no shadow in this kind of shot?

ideally, yes...

which can be accomplished a couple of ways out of the camera......choosing a not so sunny day to shoot.....using using a fill flash to counteract the sun's position...or even bouncing light back with a light colored or white object.....your t-shirt for instance....

by the way, beautiful subject.....i hope that it's somewhere you can revisit...

peeper

[dstanl]

by the way, beautiful subject.....i hope that it's somewhere you can revisit...

Yes, its my pond just outside the back door!

Thanks for your reply. I'll try different lighting situations. Won't get the bugs again though!

[Murtasma]

i actually like the shadows in this image because the tones are so similar with the lilly pads in the background. If you didn't have that show I think the image would lack depth and look rather dull and flat.

[jiminyClickit]

dstanl,

Composition is a powerful part of a photo. Here your subject seemed awkward on left. The diagonal (lightest petals) was centered and horizontal. Right half seemed empty.

Thought this had more interest, brings you in to photo to subject, holds you here. Explore, move around, read about composition, rule of thirds, etc.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47146451@N00/2223709528/" title="LilyX2 by jiminyClickit, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2223709528_557fdf9ea3.jpg" width="500" height="365" alt="LilyX2" /></a>

[dstanl]

The diagonal (lightest petals) was centered and horizontal. Right half seemed empty.
Thank you for your thoughts. I can see what you mean.

[jiminyClickit]

dstanl,

Anytime. For a few weeks last Spring, everything I shot seemed to have a bug on it. Do you agree it adds a naturalness, or a distraction?

[dstanl]

I think it gives it an added interest. Something to look for.