Macro Photography on a Point-and-Shoot Camera - Critique Wanted, Please

[mc_razza]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can critique my macro images in my Flickr set HERE. I am genuinely interested in macro and close up photography and I want to become better at it in order to further pursue my hobby that I enjoy immensely. I mostly shoot in my garden so the majority of my images are limited to flowers and insects. The majority of the comments I have received in the comments section on Flickr are positive praise and, although nice, do not offer any constructive criticisms.

I'm kindly asking for any general and/or specific criticisms, pointers I should keep in mind, general thoughts, comments on what I am doing right or wrong and so on. How can I improve and expand on my composition skills for example? How can I be more creative in order to make up for my camera's limitations?

Please take note that I have shot my images on the Nikon Coolpix S8000, a point-and-shoot, travel-zoom camera. This is the only camera I own and use so obviously there are some techniques and criticisms that I cannot take onboard due to the limitations of my hardware.

Your comments in this thread would be most gratefully appreciated. I look forward to your input.

With thanks in advance.

[Lolkat]

Wow! you have quite a collection! I, too, really love macro, and I also learned on a P&S- a little canon elph. You have quite an eye for colors and have some very lovely shots, but the one thing that I saw as a common denominator was a high percentage of centered compositions. Now, some flower shots benefit greatly from centered compositions and give really give a good punch visually. But, I think you may want to find some new and fresh points of view. Experiment with shots taken underneath, and try incorporating the rule of thirds a little more. Also, another idea is to try some different PP than what you usually do. I know it can seem criminal to take a vivid flower photo and convert it into B&W, but some flower photos can be absolutely stunning in B&W, if done properly. Just an idea.

[FJH]

WOW! what a collection.

Looking at a few of your images, I agree on the not centering too much. Your lighting & exposures are "right on".

You've got some great talent and I think the best critique is yourself in time. Your equiptment will grow with you.

As I go on more & more photos get deleted because something better replaces them.

Keep practicing & having fun. You've already got a great start.

Frank

[shocellist]

You have so many macro photos! And the few I looked at look really great. I'll have to make my comments on flickr I suppose.

[windrider86]

Please post one here for us and then link tot he rest, thank you!

[rosarita]

Nice photos there. I'm just getting into macro myself and I like the B&W idea. I think it would look really interesting.

[mc_razza]

Thank you to everyone who replied! Your comments and suggestions was quite helpful. I'll definitely try out your suggestions.

...but the one thing that I saw as a common denominator was a high percentage of centered compositions. Now, some flower shots benefit greatly from centered compositions and give really give a good punch visually. But, I think you may want to find some new and fresh points of view. Experiment with shots taken underneath, and try incorporating the rule of thirds a little more. Also, another idea is to try some different PP than what you usually do. I know it can seem criminal to take a vivid flower photo and convert it into B&W, but some flower photos can be absolutely stunning in B&W, if done properly. Just an idea.

Thank you! Yeah, more recently I have been experimenting with juxtaposition and the Rule of Thirds technique as well as trying out quarters and thirds in a square crop too. A little of that is evidenced in recent uploads on my Flickr stream but I'm mostly still experimenting at this stage. I will continue to keep your advice in mind re. composition.

I've shot at pretty much all standard angles (above, top-down, side-on, ground level, etc) except from underneath and bottom-up. I have recently tried that but I clearly need to work on it more. I can't seem to get it right most of the time but I'll continue to try.

As for B&W, I haven't tried that before in the garden. I'll definitely give that one a go. As it's Autumn where I am (or "Fall" as my American brethren call it) and with the angle of the sun dipping in the sky I could try and exploit B&W in those conditions.

WOW! what a collection.

Looking at a few of your images, I agree on the not centering too much. Your lighting & exposures are "right on".

Thank you for your words and constructive criticisms. Recently I've deliberately tried to get away from centering my subjects unless I'm getting in close and using a square crop e.g. HERE and HERE, where it seems to work best. But you're right, I'll try to look at other compositional techniques.

You have so many macro photos! And the few I looked at look really great. I'll have to make my comments on flickr I suppose.

Thank you for comments on Flickr. It's appreciated. You have some really good macro images too. Keep it up!

Please post one here for us and then link tot he rest, thank you!

Here is my favourite shot. I was fortunate enough to have my image published in my local newspaper:

DSCN5809 by mc_razza, on Flickr

HERE is my Macro & Close Up set on Flickr.

Nice photos there. I'm just getting into macro myself and I like the B&W idea. I think it would look really interesting.

Thanks. Will do.