First real flower macros

[Amp34]

Yep flowers :p

This is the first time I have tried and been resonably satisfied with a flower macro (well 2) so I would like to know how I could improve.:)

The first one is the centre of a Viola, it is a 50ish% crop.

http://www.wildaboutlife.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=514&g2_serialNumber=1

Second is a Lily.

http://www.wildaboutlife.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=516&g2_serialNumber=1

Thanks.:)

[InaGlo]

Dont know if the problem is my end, but nothing is showing for me here. :shrug:

[DarknFuzzy]

It's not you, I can't see anything either. :(

[Amp34]

Hmm, strange, I can see them fine here. :shrug:

How about this thread (different photos, but I just want to check they are showing.) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27442

Anyway here are the photos linked from flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildaboutlife/756452067/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/756452067_6fc6c8ad8d_o.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildaboutlife/757307252/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/757307252_9bfd82cc9d_o.jpg

[Amp34]

So no suggestions on how to improve? :(

[photomad]

maybe cropped a little bit tooooooooo much

[antonroland]

#1 doesn't really do much for me :shrug:

I would have preferred a REALLY tight crop on the very centre or the whole flower with some contrasting or maybe black b/g. Also it appears a bit soft - nowhere really sharp in focus...unless my lappy needs a screenclean AGAIN...

#2 is an absolute corker to me!!:D

Any p/p or straight off the camera?

[Amp34]

I see where you are coming from on the softness, it's a 50% crop of a flower that is one and a half cm across :D. So no your laptop doesn't need a clean.:lol: PP wise it has had a lot done to it, the exposure and contrast stuck right up and then the photo recovered by shadow/highlights and recovery, then some vignetting added round the sides. I'll try and find a pansy and do a similar shot to that, I may be a ble to get some more detail in.:)

The second one is pretty much as shot, with a very small amount of cropping to centre the stamen and then a small amount of curve adjustment to get it looking right.