again, nature shots

[kiley9806]

with the exception of the grasshopper, who was photographed in Saskatchewan Canada, the other 2 shots are taken at the Peace River in Northern Alberta.

[tegan]

Your first shot is pretty good technically but from a composition standpoint it is necessary to isolate your subject from a "busy" foreground and background.
This is done by in some cases by holding back or having someone else hold back other flowers etc. that are in the way. It is done by moving in closer too or changing the camera angle. Afterwards cropping and cloning out may be necessary and in this case that means the green piece that cuts diagonally across the front of your subject leaf.

Tegan

[tegan]

The second shot is blurred in the distance and the sky is overexposed with a colour that does not seem natural. This is where a graduated neutral density filter would have helped get the correct exposure for the sky while at the same time giving more exposure to the foreground.

Tegan

[tegan]

For the third one, I would have used a close-up diopter. A macro lens may not be worthwhile for someone who only takes occasional very close shots.
That is when the less expensive answer is a close-up diopter. They look like filters and come in kits of +1, +2, +3, +4, which indicates their magnification. The kit might cost $30. The diopters can also be used on top of each other for a really extreme close-up.

Tegan

[kiley9806]

thank you for the tips tegan - hopefully with some training and some time my technique and ability will strengthen. (as well as some good filters/lenses/etc)

heres a copy of the grasses shot with some re-touching done. a little better?