First macro; think I need better glass?

[thatBilly]

Hi folks,

I used to take loads of macro shots of arthropods with my Kodak LS753 and I was delighted with some of the results. I could never get decent macro shots with my Fuji Z10fd or the next camera I got which was a Fuji A860 so it's been a good few years since I did any macro stuff.

Now I've got my Pentax K-r, I'm keen to start again with macro and maybe at some point super macro. This is the best I've managed to capture so far. I quite like the shallow DOF which I could never achieve before but it seems like every macro shot takes some planning due to the weight and size of the camera. I'd like to take photos like this but just a bit closer to the subject, so I think a new lens is required?

Without further ado here it is:

Clover flower at Falls of Clyde by thatBilly, on Flickr

Camera			Pentax K-r
Exposure		0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture		f/14.0
Focal Length		55 mm
ISO Speed		200
Exposure Bias		0 EV
Flash	Off, 		Did not fire
Metering Mode		Spot
Color Space		sRGB
Exposure Mode		Auto
White Balance		Manual
Scene Capture		Standard
Contrast		High
Saturation		Normal
Sharpness		Hard
Subject Distance	Macro

I think I also need to be much more aware of composition. My old macro shots were always dead centred and intended to be more of a study of the subject than art.

[RichardTaylor]

Yes you do need to get closer, and possibly shoot from a lower POV.
Looking down on flowers will not separate them from the background in a lot of cases.

Composition guidelines apply to macro photo's as well

----------------------
Three ways you can go to get closer.

(1) Close lenses that attach to your existing lens.
From personal experience IQ will suffer, especially at wider apertures.

(2) Extension tubes which fit between your existing lens and your camera body.
No loss of IQ, however your focussing range will be limited.

(3) A macro lens. It is the most conveinent solution.

You may find this thread of interest.

http://digital-photography-school.co...ro-budget.html

[thatBilly]

Thank you Richard. Extension tubes sound good to me!

I just realised that there's a load of plastic crap on the right of the scene. I took about 15 shots of these flowers from various angles, that one was the best and it's the only with trash cluttering it!