A Few Macros

[LiveSquid]

Hey Im new, and I wanted to share a very small sample of my macros. I currently have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 but Im getting an FZ50 soon..

Let me know if you see a way I can improve, please!

[windrider86]

Not sure what to tell you to do differently as your colors are vibrant. The first one is abot out of focus int he wings but those pesky lil critters are tought to shoot.
The last one is mighty scary looking. You are abrave soul

[LiveSquid]

Thanks for the compliments.

Here's the one thats missing.. I wonder why that happened..

[wulf]

The main problem with all of these, from my perspective, is that the light is rather harsh. Were they all done with flash? I think turning down the power of the light and perhaps using some kind of diffuser would improve the results although you might need to keep the shutter open a little longer (raising a different set of potential problems!).

Focus and composition are great though.

Wulf

ps. could you limit your pictures to no more than 600px on the longest side (I tend to use 500px, as per the Flickr medium size) - that reduces the download time for people on slower connections and makes it easy to see the whole picture even on a lower resolution screen.

[LiveSquid]

Thanks Wulf..

The problem with your suggestions is that this little camera doesnt give me all those choices. And I had to get really close so even though I do use a diffuser (just a plain white business card held over the flash) the flash is like an inch from my subject. My camera has practically no manual settings to play with. (Thats why Im moving up to the FZ50).

I'll remember to keep them a bit smaller for my next posts..

[wulf]

How about turning the flash off and using an external light? It won't be as bright as a flash but might give enough illumination but in a more diffuse fashion.

Wulf

ps. I know all the joys and pains of struggling with a limited camera - I moved into the world of DSLR photography last Christmas. Struggling with a point and shoot camera was good training to appreciate the control that a more advanced camera gives.

[LiveSquid]

I'll give that a try. For the wasp and the chameleon, there was no flash as I recall. But I totally agree with you on that little bug..

Im looking at the FZ50, but Im also looking at a couple of canons, actual SLRs, not a bridge. The XTi/400D and the EOS 30D. They have great IQ at 800 and 1600. But Im hping for something with image stabilizing features. Any affordable SLRs out there with it besides the sony alpha?

[wulf]

Doesn't one of the lower-end Pentax models provide that? I think we have a few owners on the forum so hopefully one of them can chip in.

Wulf

[LiveSquid]

I shall seek it out. Thanks!

[sunsetter]

Nice shots except as Wulf says. I just got a set of extension tubes for my Olympus E330. I had extension tubes for my old Milolta film camera but could not use on new camera. Macro photography is so interesting.