Cut Rose

Jon, I'm not very good at still lifes, so the only advice I can offer is keep trying. I find them to be the hardest of any photo subject I've tried. As you say, getting the focus and the right point of view is very hard. But I find it highly rewarding just to try.

Thanks Alex. I truly appreciate your words of encouragement. Jon

Jon,
Hang in there, don't let it get to you, give it your best effort and enjoy yourself!
On my monitor, which is nothing special the image looks on the dark side, but the content has a good feel to it. Perhaps you might want to try a contrasty device that you can stick in your arrangement to focus on, then remove it just before exposure.

From time to time over the years I had shots that were difficult to focus on and have cheated by using a boom and stand to hold a card with a black X on a white ground (anything that is easier to see on the ground glass ) attached to the boom with tape, focused on the X then swung the boom out of the frame then made the exposure.

Don't let it frustrate you!!!! Will be waiting to see your next photographs.

Charlie...............................

Thanks Charlie. I truly appreciate your advise and supporting comments. I follow many of your comments on apug and they truly help me improve my efforts. The X is an excellent idea!