click to enlarge, or see it on Flickr
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55 mm
Tripod
I'm pretty unsatisfied with this shot, actually. I used the screw on the bottom of my tripod column to mount the pan head. This gets me in a really good position to do macro work, though at the cost of a little ease-of-use. Oh, well. Worth it. That's not really the problem. The problem was the intense, direct sunlight. I really should have brought something out to diffuse that. An 8.5x11 sheet of printer paper would have done the job with a subject this small. Also, it's a bit overexposed. The white-balance is off in this shot, because I had left it on Tungsten and forgotten to change it. I corrected it afterward shooting this one, but that messed up my focus, something I didn't realize until I had packed up. Which brings me to another point: I should have shot in RAW. Oh, and I should have used Mirror Lockup. And been more careful with the manual focus.
Anyway, I'm being pretty hard on myself here, because I know I can just head out later and try again for a much better result. In fact, I think I'll do just that. But not right now. Some other time.
I think it looks fine! I took a picture of our first spring sproutings today, too, except ours are only teeny tiny shoots. Can't wait til we have actual flowers to shoot!
ReplyDeleteI'm 100% with you on the macro-lens-lust. Want. Badly.
despite the harsh sunlight, the shot is nice and crisp, and nicely composed. It's not really being hard on yourself if you've learned a lesson and know what to do for the next time! We are all our own biggest critics!
ReplyDeletefunny story - while shooting my goose today (hehe shooting the goose).. There was a guy there who was out on his first shoot with his brand new xsi. He asked if mine was the xsi, (I have the t1i), but the bodies are pretty much the same. Get this... he had the kit 18-55 stock lens AND a zoom lens that came with the body for a really good price. Did you get a zoom lens with yours?
Anyway, he looked so excited to be out shooting on such a gorgeous day with his new gear. I thought about you and your new xsi. I hope you are enjoying it!
In a macro thing, you can combine these tricks:
ReplyDelete1. Use a tripod
2. Use mirror lock-up
3. Use 2 seconds timer
4. Use cable release
For me, sometimes I just use a 2 seconds timer and a tripod. It always works...
I think you're really get into macro things... Have tried something called reverse ring? :D