[daven1986]

Ok so my first entry ever! Don't be too harsh I have barely had my dslr a week. This was taken using a broken mirror and a champagne glass, I used a 70-300 tamron lens on a sony alpha a200 dslr.

Not sure if it really works 100% but I got this idea in my head that a glass reflected in a mirror would be cool, so I had to do it!

Thanks for looking

Daven

[Butch499]

Nice to have new forum members taking an interest in the competition!
Nice idea and it could have worked, but I'm struggling to find the focus point on the posted image. Hope that's not going to sound too harsh, and that you will keep entering the comp!

[daven1986]

not too harsh at all, I agree. I THINK I used auto focus on that one, however I did a few with manual focus, but they were closer up just of the base and stem and I thought it worked a bit better with the bottom of the glass too.

Would you have focussed on the two bases, or somewhere else?

Thanks

Daven

[Butch499]

Now I have to sound as if I know what I'm writing about!

I think I would have focussed on the stem and base, allowing the upper and reflected parts of your image to go out of focus. It really depends on the aperture or opening you set on the lens, because this affects the depth of field, the range of sharp focus of an object. The lower the f number, the wider the aperture, and for a small DOF, as recommended, this is what you need. Maybe more direct rather than general lighting would have helped improve the photo as well. Camera shake is also a factor, and it's worth using a tripod or beanbag or similar when taking photos of still life like this.

Now I wait to be bombed by the real photogs on the forum!

Cheers!

[daven1986]

Ye, I am still learning about aperture etc.! And I need a tripod - it is on my shopping list!

Thanks for the comments - hopefully next month I'll be a bit better!

[iandrews]

Well done on getting an entry in, and good idea. As Butch499 says, it seems to be lacking a point in focus. It's a bit trial and error sometimes. If I was taking this I would find myself changing the aperture and where I am focusing on, and just taking lots of photos, and then seeing what they look like on the computer.

Ian.

[electrolyte]

I agree with Ian and Butch. This is a great idea and almost works. But none of the glass seems to be in focus and lacks some impact. But don't be put off - look forward to seeing another entry next month!

[Antpink]

As per the others, this is good composition let down by technique and possibly equipment (tripod), and as already said, a lot of trial and error (which is what is great about DSLR - you can keep playing as long as you have power and memory) will make sure you get some cracking shots, probably a lot sooner than you think. You clearly have a good eye for this, and this is a very helpful forum so keep snapping and posting.

[daven1986]

Thanks, as mentioned before that was pretty much the first picture I took my my dslr! I didn't have a tripod and probably used the wrong lens etc.! However I think I have improved quite a bit since then and can't wait for next month!

Daven