After too long a break, I picked up my camera again tonight and had a play around with my macro lens. I came to realise 2 things:
1. I know nothing about macro photography
2. I have no idea how my flash works....
Anyhow, after a lot of experimenting, I came up with 3 pictures I like. They're not technically perfect though, so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Specifically:
1. How do I avoid the "big bulb" appearance on reflective subjects? e.g. the reflection of the tungsten lamp in the glass thingy.
2. I'm shooting on a black velvet surface/background. No matter what I do, the surface comes out with incredible detail (including the weave of the fabric and all the tiny dust specks!). What's the best way to avoid this effect? As it stands, I've been ramping up the blacks in pp to mask it.
p.s. the subject of the photos is a one-dose wine decanter "Centellino", given to us by the owner of the villa we recently got married in (Hence the card in the picture). I was thinking I might surprise the wife with the photo
I like the last one best. It shows a complete object with good depth.
The first is too blurred with card cut through for my liking. The 2nd is too dark with bad reflections in light.
The last has good focus throughout. I would like better if you got the corner of the card. It seems to have brown cast that I would try to remove.
I am not that good at lighting - I don't think a flash is the right way to do this because of the strong reflections. I would try daylight through window.
Thanks for posting. I agree that the 3rd image is best
I realise that diffuse daylight would probably give me a more technically correct image, but a large part of the reason behind the image was to try to understand my flash a bit better. No joy there!