Flower Macros

I decided I needed to cheer mysef up after a particularly unsuccessful stint with the 50mm lens and so went back to my Sigma 105mm Macro. I like these they are different to my usual insects. The 2 Lillies were taken last night after arain shower and the passion flower this morning

[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5744PassionFlower.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5716LillyCloseUp.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5721rainonleave.jpg[/IMG]

Have tried cropping the stamen picture a little tighter not sure it works as well though

[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5716LillyCloseUptighter.jpg[/IMG]

That Passionfruit is far beter J. You prob want to run a noise filter over it but looks far beter to me. Well done

Stunning photos an all of them very different

Like Andy said about the noise in the first one, quite a shame.
Did you used a tripod or else get one, it will really help you with these kind of shots.

The second one the colours are so great and I like the water on the "leaf" that's why I don't like your crop of it, you miss althose things in it.

3th photo also very nice but just a bit to dark brighten it up just a little bit to make the colours more vibrant.

Jeanette I hope you don't mind I played with them but this is what I meant.

[IMG]http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk244/Anvh/IMGP5744PassionFlower.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk244/Anvh/IMGP5721rainonleave.jpg[/IMG]

Hi Stefan,

Thank you so much for your comments. I am glad you like them.
You know I don't mind, but so that I learn something I have had a go at improving the images in the way you have. Didn't manage to lighten no3 like you though. You will have to let me know what you did please.

Passion Flower after noise reduction
[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5744PassionFlowernoise.jpg[/IMG]

Lilly Stamen with a much tighter crop
[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5716LillyCloseUpCropped.jpg[/IMG]

Water on Lilly Leaf my attempt!
[IMG]http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/PentaxBabe/IMGP5721rainonlillyleafadjusted.jpg[/IMG]

Those look better Jeanette, what kind of noise reduction did you used?

I quite like what you did with the last photo of the leaf, I was pulling to hard to make it bright

What I did was the basic noise reduction and sharpening.
Then converted it to black and white and copy the coloured photo and let it blend with the black and white.
So the coloured photo colours in the black and white photo but did it in such a way that I still could change the B&W.
With the B&W option you can say how bright or dark, yellow, red, blue, cyan, purple and green must be and that has effect on how bright it colours in that colour.
Do you understand that?
You don't have photoshop right or else I could send you the file and see for yourself.

Hi Stefan,

I use Corel Photoshop Pro for all my pp. I have no idea what you did to the leaf! Nor would I be able to copy it I am not that advanced in pp yet. I think all I did was either adjust the levels or the curves! I did try histogram strech and equalisation but didn't like it so undid it and tried something else until I was close to the colour in yours.

Hi Janette, I only use Corel Paint shop Pro for all my processing, once you get to know it you will not need anything else, so keep using it and get to know it.