first-timer shots, pls give advice

asturias105 · 7th January 2005

hi, I've just took some shots this morning.. really newbie here, and the results are far from satisfactory. can anyone pls advise on how i can better my shots?

also, does handshake matter in macro photography (shutter speed 1/60)? i noticed that i was shaking quite a bit when taking.

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Climber · 7th January 2005

yup... ok first i must applause you because you managed to take the first shot which i still couldn't get. Coz butterflies are so active!!! i can't snap them so i think it was great.

But i think your problem was alot like mine. Alot of times when you half press and full press, your hand moved in or out resulting in out of focus pics.

So what i do is i see the insect, i aim, then i half press the shutter. Then i slowly inch the camera forward. When he insect start to get focused, then i full press. Then i start to inch again (with half press) and get to the best focus i can get and full press.
Of course you can just do it once but it is just my thinking: "better shoot smthing blur for memory then to miss it"

And for your other shots all very underexposed i suggest using flash. And 1/60 is ok if the insect is not moving. But if it is active like the log legged fly, i suggest 1/125 till about 1/300 still can. Need to depend on sunlight n your own judgement.

Keep snapping manz (there is no film anyway)

asturias105 · 7th January 2005

Thanks for the invaluable suggestion, climber.

Well, most of the pics (that i didn't post up here) were underexposed too. I think the reason is that the camera was facing towards the ground rather than parallel to the ground level. This may have blocked the sunlight. However, I was puzzled why the internal flash didn't help me getting a brighter picture! Is it because my 50mm reversed lens blocked the flash? But that can't be the reason, since your shots are so well-exposed and u've the same setup as mine! any explanation for my under-exposed pics? :P

Thanks!

Climber · 7th January 2005

did you full blast ur flash?
Err think full blast and small apature.
OR
You can set to Av mode. Then make apature f8.
My lens is canon not relly v big maybe diameter about 60mm max. Didn't really block my flash coz i think the leaves near the insect were helping to bounce my flash too. ( donno if it is true if got pro advice would be better )

Seriously sometimes i'm still clueless. and lucky i think...

Witness · 7th January 2005

1) due to shutter lag in most cams....esp digicams, when u press the shutter the photo does not register instantaneously..... handshake within this time will cause blurness...

solution: try using a tripod or something...

2) underexposure is caused by insufficent...this could be a metering prob.....try using the spot meter or something.... and because for the digicams, they dun really use TTL flash all u can do is control the flash power..... under different circumstances the same amt of flash power can result in overexp or still underexp.....

solution : use the correct flash power, up ISO...... use a wider aperture...i.e f4 or 2.8.....

juz shoot more....... these technical issues will be cleared with experience....

Climber · 8th January 2005

hmm but mostly spot meter would make the picture darker right? esp when what asturias105 is doing is shooting to the ground, where light is mostly absent.
Well using a tripod i think is not so good. Coz if u travel with it all the time, it becomes a hastle just spreading the legs and adjusting the height.
But just my 2 cents la.
Like wat witness said... just shoot more and it'll be better.

megaweb · 8th January 2005

see from your shots, the magnification is quite big. 1/60sec is slow for achieve good quality unless you have very steady hands.

The shots look soft could due to slow shutter speed and underexposed due to flash or ambient lighting is not weak.

asturias105 · 8th January 2005

Originally Posted by megaweb

see from your shots, the magnification is quite big. 1/60sec is slow for achieve good quality unless you have very steady hands.

The shots look soft could due to slow shutter speed and underexposed due to flash or ambient lighting is not weak.

Thanks, megaweb. hmm, will having a slave flash greatly improve my shots? cos i'm using the internal one right now. How much do the slave flash and bracket cost?

megaweb · 8th January 2005

Originally Posted by asturias105

Thanks, megaweb. hmm, will having a slave flash greatly improve my shots? cos i'm using the internal one right now. How much do the slave flash and bracket cost?

Yes, photography is totally on lighting. If lighting not good, shot will never be good in exposure.

Cheap slave flash can cost abt SG$25
My flash L-bracket consist of 2 parts

Normal L-bracket (L-shape - CP should sell it. I got mine from someone who bought it in Japan)
General Brand Straight Flash Bracket
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=93392&is=REG)

mounted together

7th January 2005	#5
Witness Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: www.maverickatwork.com Posts: 6,768	1) due to shutter lag in most cams....esp digicams, when u press the shutter the photo does not register instantaneously..... handshake within this time will cause blurness... solution: try using a tripod or something... 2) underexposure is caused by insufficent...this could be a metering prob.....try using the spot meter or something.... and because for the digicams, they dun really use TTL flash all u can do is control the flash power..... under different circumstances the same amt of flash power can result in overexp or still underexp..... solution : use the correct flash power, up ISO...... use a wider aperture...i.e f4 or 2.8..... juz shoot more....... these technical issues will be cleared with experience.... __________________ w maverick.photography b maverick.blogging

8th January 2005	#7
megaweb Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Posts: 8,106	see from your shots, the magnification is quite big. 1/60sec is slow for achieve good quality unless you have very steady hands. The shots look soft could due to slow shutter speed and underexposed due to flash or ambient lighting is not weak. __________________ See my Photo Gallery at the Clubsnap \| Pbase

7th January 2005	#1
asturias105 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 604	first-timer shots, pls give advice hi, I've just took some shots this morning.. really newbie here, and the results are far from satisfactory. can anyone pls advise on how i can better my shots? also, does handshake matter in macro photography (shutter speed 1/60)? i noticed that i was shaking quite a bit when taking. #1 #2 #3 #4 __________________ My Blog

7th January 2005	#2
Climber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampines Posts: 263	yup... ok first i must applause you because you managed to take the first shot which i still couldn't get. Coz butterflies are so active!!! i can't snap them so i think it was great. But i think your problem was alot like mine. Alot of times when you half press and full press, your hand moved in or out resulting in out of focus pics. So what i do is i see the insect, i aim, then i half press the shutter. Then i slowly inch the camera forward. When he insect start to get focused, then i full press. Then i start to inch again (with half press) and get to the best focus i can get and full press. Of course you can just do it once but it is just my thinking: "better shoot smthing blur for memory then to miss it" And for your other shots all very underexposed i suggest using flash. And 1/60 is ok if the insect is not moving. But if it is active like the log legged fly, i suggest 1/125 till about 1/300 still can. Need to depend on sunlight n your own judgement. Keep snapping manz (there is no film anyway)