foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

I've been experimenting with aperture settings & DOF with mixed results. I took the same hand held image of this rose using each aperture setting from f/3.5 to f/11 in direct bright sunlight with a Sigma 105mm F/2.8 - Ex - DG - Macro - OS lens with the focus area set to Dynamic. I now wonder if closest subject would have been a better choice since sharpness seemed to be lost on some at smaller aperture settings and on the fringes of others like this one. At f/10 - 1/1200 this one seems to me to be the better one of the lot. It has only been cropped with no PP. I would appreciate any critiques, good or constructive, that anyone would like to share.

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Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia

From my limited experience, it sounds like you are actually trying to accomplish what I believe can only be done with focus stacking, and not by varying the F stop. No lens (afaik) can do what you are trying to achieve. Focus stacking requires you to move your focus point around the object, taking multiple shots and combining them with some post processing program. This results in an image where the apparent depth of field goes from the closest element of the target all the way to the farthest element. Google will give a more detailed explanation. Good luck and let me know how you make out. PS: it is not hard to do, even with an average quality lens.
Regards

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

In addition to what Einreb offered, you could look at this depth of field calculator to better understand the distance-to-subject issues with focal length and aperture:
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

I personally think the image is more enjoyable with the softer focus behind your closest petals. I feel if you had the leaves in sharp focus they would detract from the beauty of the flower. The square crop is great! I know some dislike, but for a single blossom I've always found it enhances.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Einreb - Thank you for your suggestion & input. I will delve into focus stacking.

Linda - Thank you very much for your insight and for the link. I seem to be the kind of person who deals in "square corners" rather than "flowing curves". Often in my efforts to make something better, or so I think that's what I'm doing, I tend to mess up something that really needs no changes or improvements. My wife tells me that it is a guy thing. I do like to crop flower blooms in order to bring out the small details. Thanks again.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I frequently do focus stacking but I agree with Linda that this image is fine just as it is. You have sharp focus on the forward and central petals with a little softness on the rear outer petals. That helps keeps your eye on the center of the flowers and is a pleasing way to handle a flower like this one. It could also be stacked for sharpness throughout. It would be fine but it would be a completely different look.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice one.