It has been a while since I have had such a difficult time getting a shot. These are called Coral Bells. The plant itself is substantial. But the actual flower is very tiny. They are probably less than the size of an unpopped pop corn. I could not get the lens to allow me to focus. It could not pick them up. I know older eyes and hands were playing a role also. So what do you all do when you are trying to focus on something relatively tiny compared to what is around it? I like what I finally came up with but I have no idea how many were just instant deletes.
Well Cathy that is just a beautiful capture, I love the colors and dof. When that happens to me I will switch my auto focus to manual, but that is on my camera. I then manually focus.
Beautiful shot Cathy. In response to your question about HDR and exposure bracketing. I suggest you check your camera's manual, I'm quite certain that your camera will allow you to bracket at least three different exposure values. After they are in the computer you then overlay/blend/merge the three exposures with either Nik HDR Efex Pro or Photomatix, which make it very easy.
Gorgeous! Love the DOF! When my lens gives me a hard time (usually when the object is moving or when it's very tiny ) I turn the autofocus off and focus manually.
The other thing you can do is focus on a solid object like the branch in this picture and the camera will do this. Hold the button half down in this focus and move to the flowers. Think this works!
@rmkgreene Thank you Ruth. I was thinking that might be the answer and I will have to try it. @gerry Thank you Gerry. @redrucksack Thank you Eva. @marlboromaam Thanks Maggie. @simon0128 Thank you Simon. @ladyjane Thanks Jane. @ronphotos365 Thank you Ron. So pretty expensive programs to try it. This is no hobby for the faint of wallet. I love what you are doing. @bleakhounds Thanks so much. @jenniferruge Thank you Jennifer. @rwhite Thanks Rosie. @sugarmuser Thank you Sharon. @jesperani Thank you Jennifer. @yonnie Thanks Yvonne. @doorknee71 Thank you Dawn. @timandelke Thank you Elke. I am going to have to try that. Hope it works.
Beautiful capture, lovely composition, colors, focus and dof. Often I find that autofocus fails. In that case, switch to manual. I grew up with manual focus - modern DSLRs, unfortunately, are not nearly as easy to manual focus as the old fully manual 35mm SLRs from the 70s.
@gerry Thank you Gerry.
@redrucksack Thank you Eva.
@marlboromaam Thanks Maggie.
@simon0128 Thank you Simon.
@ladyjane Thanks Jane.
@ronphotos365 Thank you Ron. So pretty expensive programs to try it. This is no hobby for the faint of wallet. I love what you are doing.
@bleakhounds Thanks so much.
@jenniferruge Thank you Jennifer.
@rwhite Thanks Rosie.
@sugarmuser Thank you Sharon.
@jesperani Thank you Jennifer.
@yonnie Thanks Yvonne.
@doorknee71 Thank you Dawn.
@timandelke Thank you Elke. I am going to have to try that. Hope it works.
@cindymc @snipsnap @janets @seanoneill @wannabe @peadar @sangwann @sabine @carolmw Thank you folks. I appreciate. I really have to play more with manual focus on the tiny things.