Macro Tiny ant

fishnuts · 06-24-2011, 08:11 PM

My first try at Macro photos. I've only just cropped this photo, nothing else. It's straight out of the camera. Any hints or tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
Cheers Darren

Name: Macro ant (Medium).jpg
Views: 436
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Name: Macro ant (Medium).jpg
Views: 436
Size: 158.6 KB

hcc · 06-24-2011, 08:25 PM

Nice colour contrast. The relative position of aunt in the shot could be reframed: It seems a little bit 'outside' (too far left) of the frame IMHO...

**Schraubstock** · 06-24-2011, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by hcc

Nice colour contrast. The relative position of aunt in the shot could be reframed: It seems a little bit 'outside' (too far left) of the frame IMHO...

That's true, as a macro shot I always feel the rule of thirds does not apply so much, after all the very closeup of the subject matter is the centre of attention. (Or should be).

I am intrigued though, what is this very red timber ?

Greetings

fishnuts · 06-24-2011, 10:48 PM

Thanks guys, Do you think it looks a bit better like this. Schraubstock the timber is a bit of Australian River Red gum .
Cheers Darren

Name: Tiny ant (Medium).jpg
Views: 887
Size: 128.3 KB

Name: Tiny ant (Medium).jpg
Views: 887
Size: 128.3 KB

edgedemon · 06-25-2011, 12:30 AM

They are both good, I personally like the 1st better, I think the dirt in the bottom right adds something, but that is purely my opinion.

**Schraubstock** · 06-25-2011, 02:53 AM

Originally posted by edgedemon

They are both good, I personally like the 1st better, I think the dirt in the bottom right adds something, but that is purely my opinion.

Personal taste for sure. But make a test. Move the slider on you monitor down to put the cropped version on screen and look at it. O.K. wait a moment and now move up and look at the original. You will notice that your eyes dont focus immediately on the ant but on the piece of timber, yet the ant is or ought to be the centre of attention, namely the very reason for the close up macro shot in the first place. I believe a frame filling macro shot is just that a frame filling shot where the object is magnified for closer inspection.

So in my book the cropped version appeals to me more. That's my take of it, but thankfully we are all different.

Greetings

Wombat · 06-25-2011, 05:51 AM

That's a great shot for your first effort! Definitely prefer the cropped version, which also brings out a little more detail in the ant. It's terribly difficult to get all of a moving creature in focus at that level of magnification and I think you've done really well. Did you hypnotise it?

Schraubs, river red gum can really be that red. That's why it's so prized by wood turners.

fishnuts · 06-25-2011, 02:29 PM

I tried your test Schraubstock and yes I think your pretty much on the money. My attention was drawn to the wood in the first photo and it's definately drawn to the ant in the second photo. The extra bits add a bit of interest to the photo in the original one but for what I was trying to achieve the second photo is closer to the mark now.
Wombat I think I just got lucky

Cheers Darren

06-24-2011, 08:11 PM	#1
fishnuts Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 26	Tiny ant Lens: D FA Macro 100mm Camera: K5 Photo Location: Home ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/150s Aperture: F11 My first try at Macro photos. I've only just cropped this photo, nothing else. It's straight out of the camera. Any hints or tips would be appreciated. Thanks. Cheers Darren

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06-24-2011, 08:25 PM	#2
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,004	Nice colour contrast. The relative position of aunt in the shot could be reframed: It seems a little bit 'outside' (too far left) of the frame IMHO...

06-24-2011, 09:38 PM	#3
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Originally posted by hcc Nice colour contrast. The relative position of aunt in the shot could be reframed: It seems a little bit 'outside' (too far left) of the frame IMHO... That's true, as a macro shot I always feel the rule of thirds does not apply so much, after all the very closeup of the subject matter is the centre of attention. (Or should be). I am intrigued though, what is this very red timber ? Greetings

06-24-2011, 10:48 PM	#4
fishnuts Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 26 Original Poster	Thanks guys, Do you think it looks a bit better like this. Schraubstock the timber is a bit of Australian River Red gum . Cheers Darren

06-25-2011, 12:30 AM	#5
edgedemon Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Photos: Albums Posts: 309	They are both good, I personally like the 1st better, I think the dirt in the bottom right adds something, but that is purely my opinion.

06-25-2011, 02:53 AM	#6
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Originally posted by edgedemon They are both good, I personally like the 1st better, I think the dirt in the bottom right adds something, but that is purely my opinion. Personal taste for sure. But make a test. Move the slider on you monitor down to put the cropped version on screen and look at it. O.K. wait a moment and now move up and look at the original. You will notice that your eyes dont focus immediately on the ant but on the piece of timber, yet the ant is or ought to be the centre of attention, namely the very reason for the close up macro shot in the first place. I believe a frame filling macro shot is just that a frame filling shot where the object is magnified for closer inspection. So in my book the cropped version appeals to me more. That's my take of it, but thankfully we are all different. Greetings

06-25-2011, 05:51 AM	#7
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	That's a great shot for your first effort! Definitely prefer the cropped version, which also brings out a little more detail in the ant. It's terribly difficult to get all of a moving creature in focus at that level of magnification and I think you've done really well. Did you hypnotise it? Schraubs, river red gum can really be that red. That's why it's so prized by wood turners.

06-25-2011, 02:29 PM	#8
fishnuts Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: AUSTRALIA Posts: 26 Original Poster	I tried your test Schraubstock and yes I think your pretty much on the money. My attention was drawn to the wood in the first photo and it's definately drawn to the ant in the second photo. The extra bits add a bit of interest to the photo in the original one but for what I was trying to achieve the second photo is closer to the mark now. Wombat I think I just got lucky Cheers Darren