Some good points and helpful advice there Bill, I do very little close up stuff,so your comments are most appreciated,thanks.Ade,
I have only been taking close ups for a couple of months but I find that the lack of overall sharpness caused by shallow DOF even at high fvalues is alway a battle (for me) with close ups ……….extremes of highlights and shadows are also quite a common problem
if you then try to compensate even with selective sharpening it can even exaggerate this and if you over do it, it becomes noticeable
I also find that (Nikon) RAW files need quite a lot of processing as they can be very flat and lack contrast as well as needing adjustments in the highlights and shadow areas
For me spot single cell focusing and spot exposure generally works better than any other combination
I also find that "stepping back a little", using a 300mm lens on a cropped sensor body and trying to get as parallel as possible to the subject is the starting point to improving the DOF plus, (as you have done in the above shots), not neglecting the overall composition on the image if favour of trying to get too close
Just my experience
Thanks for that bud, i dunno much about butterflies,so the help is appreciated.Nice collection Ade. May I help in the ID of the butterfly, it is a Small Tortoishell.
Good old manual focus Roger...............Well focused shot ... must have been challenging to get to see him!
(Hare that is )
Cheers, some are good,some are crap, but that is how it goes.Some beautiful shots here fracster.
thanks Dave, appreciate the feedback.You have some really very, very nice pictures amongst this collection. Well done.
pretty crap light, I agree Lee.Your right about the tree in the background, but considering the poor light, still a nice shot.
Looks like it`s been in a few squabbles looking at that ear.
Swallows 2 by Fracster, on Flickr
The oof focus tree annoys me now, will bear it in mind next time I see them. Weather was very dark with very little overhead light coming through,hence settings.
Red Squirrel 1 by Fracster, on Flickr