Tiny Rose Macro

[Entropy]

Hello all... I'm new here and this is my first post, so sorry if the post doesn't come out looking ok

I've just gotten into photography in the last few months, and have been slowly building up my gear. I borrowed my friends Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro lens as I've been wanting to add a nice macro lens to my equipment and was simply amazed at what this lens can do. The following picture was taken of a rose no bigger than my thumb. I'm looking for some feedback (good or bad).

Before:


After:


Exif:
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 20 sec (20)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Thanks!

[navy.wife_2004]

it's a good start, i like the lighting you added to it.

[prince]

The pp changed the whole photo. nice work..

[Entropy]

Thanks for the kind words! I was truly amazed at the level of detail this lens could capture.

[Itanium]

Nice picture definately.

"Before and After" requires you to post some description of your post-processing method. You missed that. It would be really helpful if you can tell some details.

[Entropy]

Oops sorry.

I used Lightroom 2.0beta to do all the lighting adjustments. I then took it into Photoshop CS3 because I didn't like the way the light was reflecting off the wood grain below the flower stem. I used the quick select tool to select the flower, which took a while. I had to zoom in real close to make sure I captured the flower and not the background.

Then I saved the selection and created two new layers. I pasted the flower only into my top layer, and I inverted the selection so I only had the background and copied and pasted into the middle layer. I used the Gaussian Blur filter on the middle layer (background) and used Unsharpen mask on the top layer (Flower only).

I'm a newb when it comes to Photoshop, so I don't know if this was the "best" way to do it

[Sir Alain]

Very nice postwork

[commongrackle]

The post processing makes for a very lovely photo.

[dlaf]

Great transformation!

[Mstee4eva]

It came out lovely and yes the lens seems to be great!
I sought of liked the texture of the table or whatever it was on aslo, but with the pp you removed it, still a great shot though.