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memaggiesa · Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 47

I waited very long for my photo’s to get reviewed I worked hard on them and only submit the ones I feel is good enough, it’s just so disappointing to get rejected it was a batch of 4 – all rejected for focus. So is the focus not there? Perhaps I should invest in a better lens - I’m using a CANON Macro Lens EF-S 60mm.

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2919 Location: South Wales

Focus is soft, so I would agree with the reviewer. The 60mm macro is good enough for stock. Do you use a good tripod. It makes a huge difference in getting sharp images.

Mike

rinder99 · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 4:36 pm

Reviews have been bizarre lately to say the least But I also agree with the reviewer on this one.

jeffbanke · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 5:03 pm

PaulCowan · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 4181 Location: Evolving

It must have taken ages to do that cut-out. The rejection is a shame because it is a very usable image, soft or not.
Possible reasons for the softness:
Shutter speed too slow causing camera shake (I assume you shot it in daylight, with flash that woudln't be a problem); aperture too wide and missed focus; aperture too small causing diffraction.

So I'll tell you what I think you have done (wrong) and you can tell me if I am right: In order to try to get as much of the plant in focus as possible, you put the camera on a tripod and then stopped down to f/32, being completely unaware that the diffraction limit on your camera is probably in the region of f/5.6 to f/8. When you are five or six stops beyond the diffraction limit of your camera's sensor, it is impossible to get anything razor sharp whatever lens you use. I posted some examples here http://fotoblogzone.com/2011/01/27/diffraction-can-wreck-your-photos/ (one minor error, I think the effective aperture for those photos was probably f/11 and f/22 as I was using extension tubes, but whatever it was it clearly shows the effect of stopping down to try to increase DoF).

I suggest you get a pot plant, put your camera on a tripod, fix the focus and switch the lens to manual, go to aperture priority mode and (using mirror lock-up and the delayed timer if you have them) shoot a series of shots all the way from f/2.8 up to f/32 and then compare them with each other. You may be surprised.

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2441

semmickphoto · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 12:56 pm

Paul.... WOW

memaggiesa · Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Posts: 47

Thank you, I'll try again - yes wow on that macro - very nice. I use a tripod I use the timer and manual focus F14 but after a good nights sleep its not the end of the world I'll just have to do it again. How people upload 40 images at a time is beyond me. Anyway thank you guys.
Maggie

rinder99 · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 2:19 pm

40 isin't much. Theres some players here that upload 500 a week.it's a job. I try for about 50 a month and 10 Footage clips.

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2919 Location: South Wales

PaulCowan · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 4181 Location: Evolving

Some uploading 26,000 a year? I doubt it, and if there is it is a factory not an individual. Even Alamy's superman has only got about 90,000 images up in a decade, and that's without editing and anything more than a cursory nod to keywording.

PaulCowan · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 4181 Location: Evolving

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2763 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

rinder99 · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 6:39 pm

When i reviewed there were guys sending In huge amounts of files. and yes they are factories or groups of people. there was this group in korea that was mind blowing how many they sent in.And also lots of submitters send in Hard drives instead of ftp with crs files for model releases.There was one guy named scott something that did nothing But Objects that sent a few 100 2/3 times a week.Quite amazing.50 a month is the best I can do.....or did.Back in 2005 sean and Andres had a bet going on the forums as to who would hit 9000 first... Andres won.

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2441