Sorry if you weren't looking for input. I'll just enjoy and comment on what I like if you say so.
I'll take any constructive criticism thrown my way =) I appreciate hearing both good things and those that I can improve on! Especially since I'm debating making some of the best ones into a cheap little coffee table book that I can maybe sell a few copies of on Etsy. Some friends have suggested it, but I still have to decide if they're good enough for that.
Like I said, I'm reworking my muscles that have been slacking in the name of science for the last 9 years. So, I definitely know I need some improving. The first one, honestly I think I need to crop some more as well. I don't like the full out of focus one on the right, I think its distracting and maybe if I had only part of it wouldn't be a problem. My main goal in that one was to get around the backlighting, which I seem to have managed a little. With the other two, I tend to like things going off frame, but I do agree that the one with the modified leaves for flowers (pic 2) is a little more cut off than I like myself even.
It just makes me miss being a darkroom, where I could sit and tweak things for hours to get it right.
I have a surprising amount of control on the focus of the camera I'm using, but not as much as I'd like. I'm looking forward to Xmas to get myself one that I can really adjust to use the way I want. . . do you have any recommendations on brands (it seems like you're pretty knowledgeable)?