Macro Forum Manager wrote:
The second photo (pussy willow?) appears to be 1:1 (life-size), which is a true macro-photograph.
Unless the flowers in your first photo are the size of a match head, the image is a close-up photo, not a macro. Any lens, including telephotos & macros, can take a close-up photograph. As per our definition in the Introductory thread, this forum is strictly for macro-photography.
Both photos were taken with the lens listed on the original post. I can send a photo of the front of the lens and you can see it is as posted. Please advise.