Phonantiphon

Thanks for that, I imagine some decent lighting doesn't hurt either!!

Great stuff, how do you get the background to be so WHITE. It's something I always struggle with...

Beautiful shot, love the DoF.

Congrats! Loving that composition, and the lighting is lovely.

Congratulations! That is lovely, I clocked this one earlier and remarked - (to myself) - how much it stood out...

Cracking shot! Congrats.

Oh wow! Thank you ever so much! That's really brilliant, I am genuinely and completely thrilled!!

Beautiful shot! I have no qualms about admitting to my seething jealousy at seeing this shot!!

Oh wow guys! My first ever POTW! That's Awesome! Thank you very much.

Seems to me that his you go about it is basically dependent on the context in which you're doing it. I've taken pictures of streets with people in without batting an eyelid, but my intent is different and that gave me pause for thought, hence the question. As I said, all good advice and as usual I've come away with plenty of information and having learned some stuff. Oh and Fuji, that's a cracking shot! :)

Excellent advice as ever from all I'm uncomfortable with actual portraits and stuff so it's really just general street photos - candids I guess but nothing specifically OF people. I wanted to make sure I was all good to go! :)

Ah ha, I see. Thank you very much all. As I'm not planning on selling anything - (and no one would be more surprised than me if I actually sold anything anyway!) - I guess that means that Phon's adventures in street photography can continue apace! Cheers all. :)

Not sure if this is a stupid question or not...! If I am out and about and I take some photos in a high street or whatever and there are people who obviously recognisable in those shots, what's the deal with me then taking those shots and posting them on a forum. Is it a problem...? (Told you it was a stupid question!)

Well as soon as I have worked out how to best combine them I shall be off and away!

So I went for, and got some Meike extensions - 10 & 16mm. Arrived today, we shall see!!

Sadly those are for Nikon only, but I did find these which are cheaper and (obv.) for my camera! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00BY0F0P0/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?qid=1424848800&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=mieko+extension+tube+olympus

They are very good, you can get loads of detail!

Well I think I shall get the electrical ones, that way I have flexibility and more options open to me. I think that's probably the best idea!

Maybe if I got the powered ones and just flicked to manual on the camera, then I have the best of both worlds...?

I really would like to give a go. In other spheres of photography I know I have come on in leaps and bounds, and I want to branch out and explore...

Well, good advice as always! Um I will I think go for some low cost tubes. I was going to get some unconnected tubes as they were cheapest, but I thought in the back of my mind that maybe connected ones with autofocus and so forth would be easier for me. A point confirmed in large part, now. I have seen a set of Meike ones on Amazon on Amazon for £20.00, which I think is a good price for me to spend, under the circumstances. Should I want to continue down the Macro root then I can add on the Macro Converter for my camera later. (I've got an Olympus pen e-pl5).

Not at all, I wouldn't have asked otherwise. The cheapest option is unpowered and so I think I'll go with that and see how I get on. The macro converter for my Olympus is not hugely expensive but it's expensive enough for something I might not use as much as I thought. Thanks for your comments, very helpful! :)

So I'm a beginner, and I'm looking at getting into macro photography. Diregarding for a moment the macro converter I can get for my camera, my question is this: Macro tubes - powered or unpowered? Any thoughts gratefully received! :)