some macros

[mwfair]

Just got some extension tubes today, absolutely awesome addition. Took my first cracks at some macro's. Feel free to critique, would love to hear thoughts and or how to do them better.

[AgingEyes]

would love to hear thoughts and or how to do them better.

First thing I would suggest is to stay away from the sun The second thing is to watch the background. The third thing, if your ethics allow you, is to try to post-process the photos.

One good way to learn how to improve your photos is to look at good photos. Two examples:

http://www.tinylandscapes.com/

http://www.macroartinnature.com/galleries

[Anbesol]

flower pics are way overdone. The best way to set them apart is to hone in on a small part of the flower, tilt the angle and get a unique look. Also - those shots aren't true macro, they look like 1:4 at most, 1:1 macro is substantially different.

[mwfair]

thanks for the suggestions, I've taken some focusing on different aspects and from angles and can see the difference. As for the Macro, perhaps my lens is not a true Macro as the Sigma suggests but with the extension tubes there's a difference than when I don't use them. Looking at getting the Canon 100mm IS Macro to cover that issue.

[Frog]

Which extension tubes do you have? You can focus much, much closer with them with any lens, whether its a macro or not.
Here is a good thread started by Loupey on extionsion tubes. Extension Tubes - Full Disclosure

[caleb]

I have Kenko extension tubes and highly recommend them! with my 70-200mm lens the tubes "bend" a little from the weight, although they are fine with a 50mm.

This was taken with all three tubes from the Kenko set and a 50mm lens. Gold thumb tack and piece of hair

[mwfair]

I bought the kenko's as well and was using them with my sigma 17-70, I may try with my Canon 100-400L but the talk of the extension tubes flexing with heavier lenses worries me a little.

[caleb]

I don't see it as a big deal but apparently light will leak. Just recognize it and don't add excess weight (with hands/objects/whatever) and possibly reinforce it.

The tubes will provide much more magnification to lenses with smaller focal lengths. I believe the effective magnification is:
(Focal Length + Tube Length) / Focal Length. Not 100% sure on that, but the meaning of it is that with a 50mm lens and 50mm of extension tubes, you will have a much more "magnified" image than with a 200mm lens and 50mm of extension tubes.

[caleb]

PS: Have you looked into stacking yet?

[AgingEyes]

I think I read that if you want 1:1 magnificationt, the extension should equal to the focal length of the lens used. Using extension tubes on tele is just a convenient way to allow you to focus the lens closer.