Tiny mushroom, unaltered

[oneidapj]

From 2010_06_12

My first critipue. I am new with photography and this forum. What could I do to improve? Maybe not so centered, but this little fungus was on the top of an old growth stump with not much around it to include. Are my camera settings off? Thanks


Canon Rebel T1i
Canon EF 100mm f1:2.8 Macro USM with HOYA PL-CIR
ISO: 800
Exp:1/100 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length100mm
no flash
hand held leaning on the stump

I am with Picasaweb, but haven't figured out yet how to put it at the bottom here, along with my list of camera equipment.

[mrteacherdude]

This looks like it was a tough shot. I can appreciate what you are trying to accomplish because I've seen how tiny these guys can be, but they are way cool. And this one looks like it has fluted edges, which I don't think I've seen quite like this before - neat.

To me it looks like your shutter speed is a little slow for handheld on a shot like this because the edges of the shroom, especially the shaded side are a little blurred (unless it's my eyes going bad on me again). It also looks like there is a lot of light coming from the left which is likely exacerbating the oof. Overall it just doesn't look "crispy" to me.

I'm thinking a tighter crop or tighter framing (if possible) on the little guy would be appropriate to draw more attention to the mushroom. Even though the DOF is shallow and this may be difficult to achieve, I think I would like to see just a little bit of the moss it is growing through to be in focus at the base. Just a thought though. The mass of green in front of the mushroom looks like some of the moss was taller than that closer to the mushroom, so it got in the way of your shot. Perhaps a little "mowing" of that stuff in front would help draw more attention to the mushroom and maybe help with the metering and focus of the camera.

I figure that others might suggest a flash to help out with the lighting difficulties.

I don't know all the ins and outs of using CP's but I'm wondering if it was necessary here.

I like the seed stuck to the side of the mushroom , because for me it gives me a perspective of size when otherwise there is no information other than your title that suggests how tiny the thing is. I think people can figure out most bugs and common flowers just because of their experience with them, but things that most often go unnoticed because they are really small or hidden seems like some information is needed in the photo. Cool shot

[Byron Lentz]

Originally Posted by mrteacherdude

This looks like it was a tough shot. I can appreciate what you are trying to accomplish because I've seen how tiny these guys can be, but they are way cool. And this one looks like it has fluted edges, which I don't think I've seen quite like this before - neat.

To me it looks like your shutter speed is a little slow for handheld on a shot like this because the edges of the shroom, especially the shaded side are a little blurred (unless it's my eyes going bad on me again). It also looks like there is a lot of light coming from the left which is likely exacerbating the oof. Overall it just doesn't look "crispy" to me.

I'm thinking a tighter crop or tighter framing (if possible) on the little guy would be appropriate to draw more attention to the mushroom. Even though the DOF is shallow and this may be difficult to achieve, I think I would like to see just a little bit of the moss it is growing through to be in focus at the base. Just a thought though. The mass of green in front of the mushroom looks like some of the moss was taller than that closer to the mushroom, so it got in the way of your shot. Perhaps a little "mowing" of that stuff in front would help draw more attention to the mushroom and maybe help with the metering and focus of the camera.

I figure that others might suggest a flash to help out with the lighting difficulties.

I don't know all the ins and outs of using CP's but I'm wondering if it was necessary here.

I like the seed stuck to the side of the mushroom , because for me it gives me a perspective of size when otherwise there is no information other than your title that suggests how tiny the thing is. I think people can figure out most bugs and common flowers just because of their experience with them, but things that most often go unnoticed because they are really small or hidden seems like some information is needed in the photo. Cool shot

What he said.

[oneidapj]

Originally Posted by mrteacherdude

This looks like it was a tough shot. I can appreciate what you are trying to accomplish because I've seen how tiny these guys can be, but they are way cool. And this one looks like it has fluted edges, which I don't think I've seen quite like this before - neat.

To me it looks like your shutter speed is a little slow for handheld on a shot like this because the edges of the shroom, especially the shaded side are a little blurred (unless it's my eyes going bad on me again). It also looks like there is a lot of light coming from the left which is likely exacerbating the oof. Overall it just doesn't look "crispy" to me.

I'm thinking a tighter crop or tighter framing (if possible) on the little guy would be appropriate to draw more attention to the mushroom. Even though the DOF is shallow and this may be difficult to achieve, I think I would like to see just a little bit of the moss it is growing through to be in focus at the base. Just a thought though. The mass of green in front of the mushroom looks like some of the moss was taller than that closer to the mushroom, so it got in the way of your shot. Perhaps a little "mowing" of that stuff in front would help draw more attention to the mushroom and maybe help with the metering and focus of the camera.

I figure that others might suggest a flash to help out with the lighting difficulties.

I don't know all the ins and outs of using CP's but I'm wondering if it was necessary here.

I like the seed stuck to the side of the mushroom , because for me it gives me a perspective of size when otherwise there is no information other than your title that suggests how tiny the thing is. I think people can figure out most bugs and common flowers just because of their experience with them, but things that most often go unnoticed because they are really small or hidden seems like some information is needed in the photo. Cool shot

First off thank you for your help.
Shutter speed- the mushroon was in and out of the shade as the wind blew hemlock branches from forward to back, maybe that thru it out of wack. Trying to time the mushroom in the sun took a few try's. And, hand held, I probably moved that fraction.

I deffintally would have liked alittle more of that sphagnum moss around it to be more in focus----but as a newbie, I was concentrating more on the shadow moving and getting the right sunlight on it. learn, learn, learn.

And I think more of the sphagnum moss in focus would have helped to give a bit more info of the tiny size here.

Thank you very much. another macro on its way.