Critique please-1st pic.

Well, here we go. My 1st real effort since I got my 100mm macro.
From previous posts I learned I needed a tripod and more light when using it on an xti indoors.

Was watering plants yesterday and noticed one of my rose bushes blooming, so set it on a table w/the setting sun.

f/32
.6 sec
ISO 100
tripod/cable release

What do you think?

(I'm new to this, so hope the picture attaches )

Lisa - I think you probably meant to post this to the Flora forum, not the discussion forums.

(But as long as I'm looking - it definitely looks soft. Not sure if it's a focus problem, or could just use some sharpening in software. I like the perspective and the water drops, but the dark center is a little bothersome. The simple black and red colors are nice too.)

Thanks David. I wondered about it perhaps being a bit soft, but then thought it might be my slowly failing eyesight! Oh well. I'll try again this aft. if I get in early enough and post my next photos on the appropriate site. I sure am having fun learning.

Lisa

I think this is one of those images that would look sharper with less depth of field. F32 is generally not a good idea with a crop sensor unless you are trying for some soft focus effect. A diffusing filter is a good idea for soft focus-looks better-seems to glow. A couple of the lower water drops look a bit funky with their reflections. You probably need to lower the brightness and bring up the contrast to make it look more like evening light. Some people hate black backgrounds. Some people love them. At any rate, they don't look very natural.

Lisa: Do post this in Flora and you'll get a lot more feedback. This is actually a sound capture. As I hope you can see with my repost the softness is in the processing and a bit of unsharp mask fixes that nicely. Since you are a member you can use the site's upload service for your shot. Just review the posting guidelines and then come join the fun. >=))>

Hi Bill, thanks for sharpening it up-I sure do have a lot to learn! I'll take some more and play w/the contrast as RL suggested and see if I can get a crisper image.

The black background just happened that way. West facing window and setting sun; one of the white parrot cages is actually behind it, but it just turned up as black-I thought it was kind of neat myself, since I certainly don't know (yet) how to do that intentionally, as I've seen in other posted photos. .

What software do you use?

Thanks again,

Lisa

Hi Bill, thanks for sharpening it up-I sure do have a lot to learn! I'll take some more and play w/the contrast as RL suggested and see if I can get a crisper image.

The black background just happened that way. West facing window and setting sun; one of the white parrot cages is actually behind it, but it just turned up as black-I thought it was kind of neat myself, since I certainly don't know (yet) how to do that intentionally, as I've seen in other posted photos. .

What software do you use?

Thanks again,

Lisa

Which software? Now there is a topic. I use Lightroom and Elements 5.0. But when most folks talk manipulation on the net or magazines, they are speaking CS3. CS3 is challenging, but if you have the dedication for it, take it with a class if you can. Learning the software that came with your camera well first will help. Lightroom is pretty easy to understand, but generally makes adjustments and is a great organizer. For manipulating pixels, you need something else. My complaint with Elements which does most of the things that CS does is that it converts to eight bits for a lot of the things I really need it for.