instect macro pictures.

ok im new here, and thought id post a few pictures i have taken to get some constructive critisism.

i hope that worked. here is another

and another.

by the way i dont have a true 1:1 macro lens yet, i have a D80 with the 18-135mm lens that i fit with a macro lens filter. i also do no photoshop yet because i am currently with outa computer(i use my ps3 for internet)please be honest in your critisism. thanks cody kerr

Welcome to the board cody! All-in-all, very good photos.

One thing you might consider is your framing. Composing with your subject dead center doesn't allow for much flow to your photo. See the postings on "rule of thirds" technique. Composing with a bit more space in front of the subject, and less behind, gives more of a feeling of flow.

Another thing, you could look at is what aperture you're using. A smaller aperture (higher setting) would bring more of the subject into focus and still be able to blur out the background. You can experiment using trial-and-error, or some cameras have a depth-of-field preview to see what is in focus and what is not when you're shooting. I'm not sure about the D80, but Orcabob (a regular here) uses one and would probably be able to shed more light on the subject than me.

ON the other side, your photos are technically sound and show you have a good sense of color use.

Very well done.

thanks floppydog, i will definatly try the flow you are talking about. and yes the D80 has a D.O.F. button. but i am still getting the feel for the switch to dslr. i used to use a fugifilm fine pix s5000(thats what got me into photography) but i got this camera last febuary an im still on a learning curve. i mainly like taking pictures of insects, arachnids and all round nature.(i am a tarantula keeper/insect keeper) so naturally i love nature. i am always working on getting the best shot and getting better at it. so ll tips are appreciated! i there anyway you can give me an example of the "flow " your talking about, while still getting the most of the subject(in my case insects)?

codykrr wrote:

by the way i dont have a true 1:1 macro lens yet, i have a D80 with the 18-135mm lens that i fit with a macro lens filter. i also do no photoshop yet because i am currently with outa computer(i use my ps3 for internet)please be honest in your critisism. thanks cody kerr

You could keep working with that filter or try setting the D80 in Macro Mode if it has one, use the flash, with Manual Camera Settings (M) at around 1/125 sec. @ f/10 ISO 100 or 400. Use the 135mm setting at its closest focus, that is set your lens at its closest focus distance and adjust your distance or focus by moving the camera an yourself back and forth until a sharp image is seen in the viewfinder, then take the shot. As for imaging software, Goggle Picasa, Infranview, and GIMP are a few very good "freeware" digital photo processing programs available on the web, many people are using them with great success. So, before you go spending money on stuff like Photoshop, gives these free programs a try first to whet your appitite and your skills.