Testing with Macro Lens

I have been watching this plant grow the buds and eventually bloom, and is now on it's way to dying again - I realized that I had not taken any pictures, so I decided to give it a try with my Macro lens and a trypod . I an really struggling with capturing images with the macro lens as the field of focus is so narrow, something is always out of focus. I know it is practice, but it does at this time proove to be elusive.

I was trying to capture the clarity and distinctivness of this flower, (the shot from the side - as opposed to head on) Any suggestions on other angles I should attempt to shoot this at ? and if there is special lighting I should be using to help soften the background of the shot.

Thanks

I don't know if you are aware of this or not, so here goes.
A standard lens is designed for "Critical Aperture" approx. 2 stops from wide open.
A true macro lens is designed for "Critical Aperture" approx. 1-2 stops from maximum aperture (closed down) due to how these lenses are used.
Critical Aperture is the aperture of the lens where the least amount of internal distortion and maximum DOF occur. If the lens is stopped down more some internal distortions increase, if the lens is opened up more other distortions increase and the DOF decreases. They all affect sharpness of the image. In reality, it's a point where everything is at its best.

Hope this helps.

Using a flash may help the background go dark and the flower pop, especially if it requires an f-stop smaller than the ambient light requires.

Thanks for that - I was not aware how it worked - but now I do an that should help me in getting more depth in these images - I will try and capture more and see how it works out. Thanks again

Glad to help. I was really afraid I would not be able to explain that clear enough for anyone to understand.