An attempt to pay attention to subject isolation and background, following some helpful suggestions from here about an earlier, unrelated, picture. I didn't want to blur out the patterns in the background completely because I liked the texture.
There is nothing wrong with doing what you like to do, but the "texture" (not to mention the color) of your background clash is a displeasing way with your subject.
Do you think this composition "works"?
Sorry, but no, not at all.
To begin with, why would you "crop" your image like that? It's too tight on top and it's just a square box rather than maintaining the traditional photographic dimensions. I think you should have taken the shot in traditional "portrait" mode, lengthwise with the flower.
Secondly, you took the photograph in such a way as the shadow of the flower covered parts of itself, which means you chose the wrong time of day to get your shot. Some people like to use reflectors to fill-in the shadows, but I prefer just to get the shot at the right time of day when the natural light enhances the subject rather than detracts from it.
Third, you keep trying to take flower shots with a little bitty 40mm lens. "Subject isolation" will never occur with a lens like that; instead you will forever get so-so shots with huge, ugly, confusing backgrounds. At some point you will simply have to face the fact that it's just the wrong tool for the job.
The centre of the picture is not such an obvious point of interest as it would be some flowers. I wanted the bee to move around towards the middle, but it just wasn't interested - or at least I got fed up of waiting (this was hand held and it was not very comfortable.)
Regards
Rob
This blog article may help you take better flower photos. Even though the article is about photographing butterflies, just substitute the word "flowers" for "butterflies" and the same principles will apply. Unfortunately, if you notice, you will see that your image pretty much falls in line with the "Bad Example" photograph I have in there, almost to a "T" ...
If you make the time of day and color of the light work
for you, you will improve your chances of success dramatically ... but if you make the time of day and the color of the light work
against you, it will be hard to come out with a nice shot ... especially if you're using the wrong tool for the job.
Constructively said,
Jack
.