Symmetry attempt in a macro shot

[NotQuite]

Hi guys this is my first post and a first attempt at macro photography... well actually it's a first attempt at DSLR photography too since upgrading my P&S.

In this photo i was trying to capture the symmetry between the flower in the foreground and the one in the background. i wanted to appear like the one in the background is a canvased painting of the one in the foreground. i wanted to look like there is a connection between the two like one is a fading memory of the other.

I'm still learning to move beyond the "auto shoot" feature of the camera and this site has helped me significantly in that department . for this photo i used the camera's aperture priority feature with manual focus, i was actually aiming at the bottom petal but it was a breezy day that day and the focus shifted to the threads as the flowers began to move with he wind.

I know I'm my own worst critic, and there is much that i can improve on this shot (which I'm happy to hear all criticism just in case there are some i missed as it will help me learn and evolve)

anyway before i waffle on, here are my questions. if i closed the aperture a bit more would i have been able to keep more of the flower focused without sacrificing the canvased like background? how can i improve the over-exposed petals to the right of the flower in the foreground (both with camera and post-production)? did you like the shot? as in did i portray my intention?




EXIF Data
Camera- Nikkon D3100
Lens- NIkkon AF-S DX 18-55mm
ISO- 400
F/ 4.8
Shutter Speed 1/1250
no flash

Cheers and thanks for looking

[JFSanders]

Get lower, use a scrim of white cloth to soften the light, bring your aperture up to 5.6 and adjust your distance to subject so that the background flower is still soft. You can also build a hoop house temporarily with PVC pipe and a king size sheet or some white visquene. This will cut the wind to nil and provide a very soft light with which to work.

Nice idea. Good luck.

Jim

[EmyB]

I think the composition of this shot is great.

I find the shadow falling on the front flower to be really really distracting though.