[sejac]

Sandy, #1 looks potentially a good shot to me. F4.5 will give a narrow DOF, but you have focused well on the subject. Nice light, colors too. But why cut off bits of the flower? Why is it pushed over to the far left of the frame? And it would be interesting to see more of the jar in the composition.

#2 looks like you used a flash. Personally, I don't like those close-up flash shots. Harsh light and shadows.

[Jacko]

Yes " Charles " I was going to mention the harsh light and shadow but 2 is the sharpest ,
I thought let see if Sandy can get a sharp photo in the middle of the frame with no bits cut off first .

Then work on the rest

Sandy your D3100 would have a Macro / close up auto setting ( yes ) how about you give that a go , just for because its there
move back just a little , subject smack bang in the middle of the frame without any bits missing ,

[Nikkie]

An interesting journey you are having here sandy, have you tried manually focusing on the point that you want to be in focus when using a wide open aperture?

Hi xaiya nice to see you and thanks for popping in and taking the time for you advice Manual focus is not where I am at working on advice of other's I went back to A using Manual to over ride it. the lens I am using is the nikon 105 that I am learning to use it has M/A........ M switch on it and after making a post it was suggested to me to Use the M/A and over ride it so that is what I am doing this still may answer you I hope

[Nikkie]

Ok better , the pic 2 is the best , pic 1 still not very sharp , f/4.5 would be why .

Is there a reason you framed them the way you have , the first has a lot of nothing on the rhs , and you still managed to clip some of the subject

2nd yep to tight , both photo would of been better taken in portrait ( vertical )

Still say move back a little , give the subject more room

overall a nice improvement , keep at it .

thanks Jacko the light tent has helped I am sure after trying lots and lots of setting and trying to move the flower thing around this just happend to be the one I like the most I just moved the subject to that side at the time I clipped of the bottom because I was trying not too show to much of the Jar the 2nd photo I did not mind showing more of the jar in the shot due to the leaf that was there was I wrong in thinking this way the one that is one the left side with nothing on right was just my adtemp to get it in better light and did not want to complicat things so I KISS if that makes any sense ?

@ Charles yes I understand what your saying but like Jacko has already said I am just trying to get sharp photos rather then trying to do to much I am way out of practice I must say I feel I had forgotten a lot but thanks for your CC its all good CC and will be of help


Also I have a question for you all it came to me last night as I don't know much about cameras I could be barking up the wrong tree but could it be my sensor is dirty ? if so how would I clean it and how would I find it to clean just a thought I did get this camera on Ebay suppose to have been new but when I got it the way it was packed made me think other wise I have had the camera for almost 12 mths and the only sensor cleaning I have done is in camera with the sensor cleaning thingo


@ Jacko again almost forgot the tell you yes the D3100 has a Macro setting also I am not very good at how far I was but I was at least 2 or 3 maybe a tad more away from the subject as I said I found the light tent and set it up temp still in a small space but more space for me to move back and from one side or the other side if you know what I mean but moving back further then that is not possible as it is only a small space and I would have to knock out the wall to do so this is the largest spare space I can use right now as I can't take it into the lounge room as Ivan is still doing things setting the house up and getting in his way is a big no no once my work shed is ready I will have tons of space but not right now

[Nikkie]

I just went back into my files to look at the photos I found this one that I also took at the same time as the one's up top


1/160
M
f/29
ISO 200


Like I said I was just trying lots of differnt settings so this one is f/29









again all like up the top tripod yes light tent yes no PP right out of camera Jpeg file

[sejac]

Sandy, from Jacko's comments, it appears you are using a Nikon D3100?

If so, you have a good camera. Look at Pg 37 to 39 of you manual, or download it here like I did.

Your camera has a macro setting. Use it.

It also has "Liveview" which you should be using for closeups. And the Liveview mode allows you to focus, and it lets you move the focus point during focus, lets you see what you are focusing on. The focus point decides what you want to focus on in auto-focus mode. Manual or auto-focus - try both.

And use self-timer mode, so you don'y have to touch the camera to take the photo. See P 54 of your manual.

Liveview will also let you "see" the photo you are taking, so you can work on your composition - no more cutting bits off flowers.

And use a tripod. If you do all these things, using a very slow shutter speed won't matter. I recently posted some flower shots here. #3 has a 6 sec exposure time! Self-timer with tripod - no problems.

[Nikkie]

thanks Charles yes I know it has Macro setting and one thing I have been trying to find out is just what you said do you use Macro setting when using Macro lens but that was some time back and did not get a reply to that so I left it as it was in the middle of another post anyway thanks I also have been using Auto timer and will now start using the liveview as well to give it a try I looked at your photos and yes they are great one day with all this help and advice Ive been getting just on this post alone it take's a little while for things to sink in and to rember to change what Ive been doing will be setting my light tent again today and trying what you have just told me thanks so much

[Jacko]

The Close Up / Macro setting on your camera is just one of the Semi Auto settings , Nikon has programed into the camera , for what they think are good settings for close up photos , some settings like Matrix metering you will not be able to change it will pop the flash if it think you need it .

you can use any lens , including your macro lens
its like all the other Auto / semi auto / scene settings ,

I never use any of them . prefer to make all my own decisions , but it wont do you any harm to try em to see what results you get
You asked about a dirty sensor , I don't think you had a problem .

Live View , I personally don't like it but others do and use it , so go ahead and give it a try

Post a photo of you light tent I want to see what it looks like .

[sejac]

Live View , I personally don't like it but others do and use it , so go ahead and give it a try

Post a photo of you light tent I want to see what it looks like .

+1 from me for your comments Jacko.

But what liveview does is also give you mirror lockup for those slower shutter speeds.

And slower shutter speeds will mean you don't have to use that bl00dy light tent.

[Jacko]

Here ya , Kit 18-55 lens , handheld , live view ,I set the focal length @ 38mm , Jpeg basic / small ( lowest quality I could of used ) auto close-up selected , it popped the camera flash , about as close as to point n shoot as ya can get , straight out of camera
all I did was point the camera

Not very sharp ay , but handheld and f/5.6 with kit lens , all things considered probably not to bad

would I have chosen those setting , nup .

[sejac]

Here ya , Kit 18-55 lens , handheld , live view ,I set the focal length @ 38mm , Jpeg basic / small ( lowest quality I could of used ) auto close-up selected , it popped the camera flash , about as close as to point n shoot as ya can get , straight out of camera
all I did was point the camera

Not very sharp ay , but handheld and f/5.6 with kit lens , all things considered probably not to bad

would I have chosen those setting , nup .

OK! Now use a tripod and turn the flash Off!! Maybe move the display near to a window for a bit more available light.

[Jacko]

Its sitting a old Singer Treadle Sewing Machine you know the ones that fold down into a table , its to much trouble to move and I dunno what else I can sit it on

Just had a walk around the House , I cant really find anywhere suitable to take a good photo

For that photo I had my arse backed up against the other Hallway wall , couldn't get any further back

If I do move it , do ya want me to use the auto close up setting and Kit Lens , or do it the way i would .?????

[Nikkie]

I with Jacko I don't like using liveview myself either but will try that I think for me and its only something I have just started to do and still forget at times Is looking around inside the view finder and I mean right around the view finder I will give it a try just wish Ivan would put that cupboard together so I can set up in what is right now the best room to take photos yes new cupboard for the landry unreal anyway I keep coming back on just to see what other new advice Ill try both methods using the lifeview and view finder looking around more and see if I can get sharpish and nothing cut off I am a tryer and don't give up thanks so much for all the help you have all given me

[sejac]

If I do move it , do ya want me to use the auto close up setting and Kit Lens , or do it the way i would .?????

Your way is good. Go for it!

[Nikkie]

Ill try to make this post again



Ok Now Ive taken every thing onboard here these photos have no PP done to them right out camera all using Tripod all using my lighttent but using differnt setting Jacko I got a photo of my light tent for you at the end of this post can you tell me why you wanted a photo of it. Any way today I must have found my brain as I said I could not get further back but I could move the light tent furhter back I think that helped as well. I used my in camera Macro setting and used the liveview for the first 2 and AP on the last one I did not mind using liveview today I did not know that you could move the focus point either however it would not be ideal in all case's but as I have to sit to take my photos now days due to sciatica pain I did find it better today using lifeview did not think I would but there you go



1

SS 0.8
Macro
AP
f/11
ISO 100




2



SS 1/60
f/8
ISO 100





3

SS 1/60
Macro
f/8
ISO 800