First Macro Shot!

[FJT]

Just been trying out my new macro lens. Had great fun but had to bin a lot of shots because of DOF problems and a breeze that just wouldn't go away leading to lots of blurring. I would like your opinion on the depth of field on this one and the composition too please.

Exif:

ISO: 100
f/2.8
100mm
1/500

[barabe]

I will try to help out with what i know about macro.

First, you need to be on a tripod for stability, then you need to have as litle camera shake as possible so use a remote or self timer for trigger, if you can use mirror lock it is better.
The wind is never a good thing for detailed macro, i have a few good macro with wind conditions but i used a quick shutter speed to compensate and they are not as sharp as i would like them to be. Focus needs to be adjusted manually. I see that you used a 2.8 aperture, this will never let you have a deep DOF, i would go with the smaller aperture value possible depending on what DOF you desire mabe f11 or even smaller. The blurring might just be a shallow DOF with the wind pushing the twig in and out of the focal range because at 1/500 you should have frozen the image.

I hope i helped out.

[FJT]

Thanks Martin. I'll have another go in the next few days and see if I can get some crisper shots. The advice is much appreciated.

[mikedugganphotography]

Depth of field is dependent upon your desired out come. You have a smooth blanket of a background for the most part which is pleasing with most macro shots but in this instance the other blade in the background is caught in between sharp and obscured. The breeze was not any help and could be lessened by adding a wind block. This could be as simple as a reflector or a piece of card board. As mentioned it is essential to use a tripod with macro photography since you want the image to be as crisp as possible.

[FJT]

Thanks Mike. I hadn't thought about blocking the wind!

Today has been much calmer, albeit the light wasn't so good, so I dragged my camera and tripod back out to the field (good exercise!) and had another go. Really struggled to get enough light inthe camera and this has been brightened considerably in PSE, but overall I think the results are sharper even if this isn't a stunning image (\i'm going off ears of corn having taken 100+ shots and discarded most of them!).

I have to say that this small thumbnail looks dark and colourless compared to the larger image in PSE...

Exif:

100mm
f/11.0
1/400
ISO 200 (I tried many different ISOs and shutter speeds and this ended up being the best combo for today's conditions)