I'm struggling with 'light' and where the camera focuses.
I had a little practice today with my macra (I know we have your Macra post coming on Friday night....and I cant wait!) but I gotta sort out something...

I took this today...

And no matter what I did.... I could not get the finer focus on the beetle...the camera would only pick up on the bright yellow behind.. I tried the shot over and over...
I had it on P,
please write what you think may be happening in 'Dummie' form!!!

It would have been the BEST shot otherwise!

I tend to have the exact same problem Mandy.....

HI Mandy. I'm thinking that the light here is just fine. Its mainly the lack of focus where you want it is the issue.

I would say tripod my dear!!! The smaller the object you are trying to get an image of, the harder it is to get it pin sharp with the camera hand held. You would need to tripod to eliminate the minute shake of your hand which is enough to make it focus on something else instead of where you want it.

or......

have a go with manual focus. use auto focus to get it nearly right, then take it off auto focus and use your body to gently move back and forth till the bug comes into focus and shoot the shot. in effect your body becomes your 'auto focus'

again this is better done on tripod, where you move the tripod to the right place and gently move the flower so the bug is sharp.


or....

take a pair of secateurs and prune the flower and take it to a spot inside in good strong light, (window sill) and shoot it. The reason.... even the slightest puff of breeze makes the flower dance and its damn near impossible to get a great shot as its always moving in and out of focus.

hope these tips helps chook.

tiff

WOW they sure do...

LOL the secatuers !!! good grief girl - you are a serious pro! Why did I NOT think of this!!! (and I'm usually so resourceful! ! - obviously not as much as you!)

I've learnt alot - specially with that it isnt the light.....hmnn, I'm going through my head with you've said....

I'm gonna hunt a bug tomorrow.... see what I can manage!

This bugs me (pardon the pun) - I just gotta try get it right!

light is important chick, and you have enough of it here. praps a bit too much in the background where there's a white blown out blob. the light needs to be on the bug as well as the part of the bloom.

don't let the bed bugs bite


t

gotcha! Makes sense..

I had a go at this to Mandy.... here is mine...

love this pic karen

Oh wow thats amazing!!!!

well done Karen. the focus is still a bit soft tho. there is nothing that is pin sharp. do you have a tripod? have a go with that and use the self timer on 2 second delay. Then you can eliminate the camera shake when you press the shutter. or use a remote trigger. good lighting. tho.,

no tripod. no worries. try a chair, a ladder, anything to balance the camera on. sit it on your jumper so its snug and doesnt rock. or a small bean bag is perfect.



and just watch for background objects. that brown prickly stick thingo in the right corner is a distraction. can you break it off so its not in the pic, or hold it out of the way while you taking it.

Thanks Tiff.. will go and have a try.. Had another play with this.. it's good to actually learn something seeing as i have dslr, instead of just using auto all the time...

Cool! we dont have them here

wow really?? they are a pain in the butt at times.. giggle...

especially when they swoop when the nest is full!!!

good going Karen. a square crop would work well here, that should cut out most of the road behind the magpie!!