All of these images have been captured using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS8 compact camera rather than a DSLR. It doesn't give the same level of detail that a good quality macro lens would, but I think the close-up /macro ability of this camera is still great!
With the above images, I simply focussed on the centre of the flower in an attempt to capture lots of clarity and detail at the centre of the photo with a blurred background. I did not consider the light at this point, as it was so early in my photography practise, but as there is a lot of light reflecting off of the flowers, if I were to recreate this, I would use a reflector to bounce some of the light away, eradicate some of the shadows, therefore showing more natural colour and detail.
I like the amount of light that's hit the rose in the image below - the shadows give the image a 'darker' feel which is often associated with red roses, and it gives the petals a rich, velvety, textured look! This was simply taken at home, with the same Panasonic compact camera and with the camera's own flash.
