I'll probably never see this again...but: If I ever do, how should my camera be set? I used my Sigma DG70-300 with the Macro button set to macro. Try as I might,I never seem to get a...

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

If I ever do, how should my camera be set? I used my Sigma DG70-300 with the Macro button set to macro.

Try as I might,I never seem to get a brilliantly colored,sharp photo, but I love to try. I guess you really cannot teach and old dog new tricks. Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,Bettie

Shot in Raw

Changed to black and white

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Your Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens cannot focus closer than 37-inches, which is not close enough to capture true macro, which is 1:1 magnification (life-size). Just sliding the switch to "Macro" does not guarantee a macro image. http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/70-300mm-f4-56-apo-dg-macromotorized-nikon

As far as your images: I believe that you have missed proper exposure of the web, so tweaking in PP has caused your highlights to block-up, losing definition.

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Nikonian72 wrote:

Your Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto... (show quote)

Try changing lens, thats why we have a choice of lens.You could have used a 50 mm lens and got what you wanted.

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

gonate wrote:

quote=Nikonian72 Your Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG A... (show quote)

Thats what I call lens abuse.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

gonate wrote:

quote=gonate quote=Nikonian72 Your Sigma 70-300m... (show quote)

Nikonian is correct. The camera's meter averaged the scene resulting in an over-exposure, so the highlight detail is gone and the colors appear washed out. If you check your histogram, the highlights are clipped.

Second issue: if you had positioned yourself so that the plane of the web was perpendicular rather than angling away from the camera position, your chances of getting the entire web sharply focused would have greatly increased.

WhiteEagle Loc: Waycross, GA

valleymiss wrote:

If I ever do, how should my camera be set? I used my Sigma DG70-300 with the Macro button set to macro.

Try as I might,I never seem to get a brilliantly colored,sharp photo, but I love to try. I guess you really cannot teach and old dog new tricks. Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,Bettie

Bettie, turn the focal length down closer to the 200mm setting will get you a tighter picture. This babys face was shot at a football game using the same lens seton the 200mm mark in macro mode, EXIF say 190mm.

Blue Pacifier

BillBrennan Loc: Tucson, Az.

Find another spider web early Am or Pm use a spray bottle of water set to fine mist and give it a few sprays and try again, I do this all the time as we don't get much rain in Tucson.
Bill

Dr Rae Loc: Sarasota Florida

I ran it through Easy HDR Basic2 - a free trial download.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

valleymiss wrote:

If I ever do, how should my camera be set? I used my Sigma DG70-300 with the Macro button set to macro.

Try as I might,I never seem to get a brilliantly colored,sharp photo, but I love to try. I guess you really cannot teach and old dog new tricks. Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,Bettie

and the spider said " location,location, location.

wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA

I have two of these lenses (the auto focus is easy to damage), and the one that works sometimes is permanently mounted to my Pentax. I have taken many excellent closeups, but have never had one of a spider web turn out the way I wanted. The slightest breeze will move the web out of focus, and the lighting is difficult to catch. Just wanted you to know that these are very good (inexpensive) lenses, and you should not give up because a difficult subject did not come out well the first time.

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

Thank you.That looks good.

Mocking Bird

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

This web was almost to the top of a dogwood tree. Our lawn is extremely steep and I couldn't really position myself where I wanted. But I will print all this good advice and try again when I see another.
1 kit lens,(28-55mm EFS,) a plain 28-55mm that came with my RebelXT,(which is now gone)a 28-90 EF lens, in addition to the Sigma. I also have a Canon 75-300.

Thanks to evrryone for all the help. Bettie

carlysue Loc: Columbus

Bettie, the instruction is helpful, but with all that being said, it was a difficult angle, lighting and distance. The photo is beautiful and your perseverance is remarkable.

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

Thank you so much.

Rob O' Loc: Freakin' Hot Arizona

Nikonian is a smart man

The macro switch on a DSLR only sets the shutter speed and aperture that would commonly be used for a macro shot, but unless you have a macro lens, you won't get a macro shot. True macro, as Nikonian says, is 1:1 magnification - the image projected on the sensor is the same size as the subject, but lens and camera manufacturers have fudged that so many people accept 1:2 or even 1:3 magnification as macro.