I’m back on track with Macro Monday. This was an easy one- the blackberry left in the bowl. The only decision beyond white balance was depth of field. I chose a shallow DOF for this one; only the top is in focus. Oh- and another choice I made was to go with a high ISO, allowing any grain present after noise reduction to just BE.
f/4.5, 1/80, ISO 1250 85mm
It’s houseplant macros today! I was trying to capture the new growth on my bamboo and ivy plants. The bamboo (first photo) is also being submitted for the challenge, six, because I was photographing a cluster of six leaves, although the shallow depth of field makes this hard to see.
I am so glad to be back to my beloved macro lens- I just love shooting up close! For my photo of the day, I went with today’s theme, foliage.
There is always something new to learn. I do macro shots at least once a week. My current practice (until today!) was to set up my tripod and check focus first in live view mode and then run upstairs, SD card in hand, to check the image on the computer. Today I had an Aha Moment while photographing my paper whites that bloomed yesterday- I could tether the camera to my laptop and see the photos almost instantly- DUH! It made things so much easier and will be my usual practice from now on- at least for macro shots.
f/16, 1/6, ISO 400, 85mm
A quick trip to the garden to find FOUR of something to satisfy today’s challenge yielded this sprig of rosemary with four blossoms. I took a few shots outside, but the cold wind (yes, there is a tiny bit of actual weather here this morning!) made it difficult to achieve focus. I broke off a little bit and took a couple photos inside using my tripod.
New Year’s Resolution: take my vitamins every day!
Here is a macro of my vitamins D capsules.
Ever since I got my external flash, I have been wanting to try macro water drops again. The tutorials I have seen have demonstrated how the flash “freezes” the image, thus giving the photo better focus.
There must be more to it than that.
I used water coming from the faucet for awhile, with the speedlight off to the side, triggered by the camera.
Not perfect focus here- although I like the image (mostly because of the bokeh. . .).
I then focused on the ripples created by the drops, because the theme today is ripples. I was surprised to see this heart shaped ripple!
I did a little post-processing to give it a bluish tint.
BTW, all the images were at f/4, 1/125- which I think is the problem. I should have used my maximum flash sync speed (1/250) and maybe a smaller aperture- but live and learn!
All of these images were taken in preparation for the big set-up on the kitchen table, involving two crates with a yardstick suspended over them and a water bottle balanced on the yardstick (dripping water into a pie plate). You have probably seen the tutorials. I got it all set up and then was terrified it would come crashing down, soaking the camera and speedlight. I put the speedlight back on the camera, figuring I could jump back with the camera if things went south.
I couldn’t get the timing right. I would click the shutter at the wrong time- or it took longer because of the flash- I don’t really know. At the end, I took the flash off the camera and took a few shots in burst mode- and called it a day.
Here is one of the last series- with no flash.
The whole experience was FUN! I like some of the photos, even though they are technically no better than my previous water drop images. So, I will read more, practice more with my flash- and try again one day during this year of Project 365 plus 1!
Since Christmas I’ve been in a bit of a photography slump, exacerbated by my joining a new Flickr group with weekly themes, high standards, constructive criticism, and some very talented and highly skilled members. I’m not sure it is for me.
Last night I was browsing the forums on Clickin’ Moms, when I came across a post asking for help in taking her photography to the next level, becoming more creative etc. One of the responses was from a CM photographer whose work I admire very much; I’ve tried to find the thread to quote exactly, but can’t find it just now. She basically said to stop trying to take pictures OF things- just go find the light.
So today I took my 85mm macro and looked for the light.
And I found it.
When I pulled into my parking slot at physical therapy this morning, the light was shining on the tree bark in front of me, and I took this shot.
The red in the background is the car in front of me.
Then when I came home and was eating lunch at the kitchen table, I looked out the window and saw light hitting the geraniums on the deck (still blooming in January. . .). These geraniums have been photographed by me many times, but perhaps not with the light hitting them this exact way or from this angle or composed just this way.
Anyway, I felt like I got my groove back!
Having to post daily photos does strange things to one’s sense of perception! An uninspiring visit to the waterfront this morning left me with nothing I wanted to use for my blog, but, as I was unpacking my groceries later, I became entranced by the curves and changing patterns of my oranges in their mesh bag. Seriously.
f/25, 13 sec., ISO 200, 85mm
I decided that this year I wouldn’t post my camera settings unless they were interesting or unusual. They were unusual for me today. The oranges and mesh were so reflective that I had an issue with getting enough detail. I finally turned the kitchen light off and shot away from any window light- thus needing a 13 second exposure. In post-processing, I decreased luminance even more.
Today’s photo is a macro of my father’s cribbage board, which is engraved with his name and rank and the name of the ship(USS Ajax) he served on in WWII. I believe he got the crib board, along with a souvenir plank, at a reunion of the Ajax crew. I keep these items, as well as his other WWII memorabilia, in his old dental cabinet which stands in our entry hall- all future photo subjects, I’m sure!
Macro Monday is here! Here are some mushroom slices reflected in a knife.
Resolving to not be seduced by the Christmas light bokeh again, I went for a macro shot of my husband’s blue jeans to meet the challenge of BLUE for my Flickr group. No, I didn’t use my new flash- I set up the tripod so I could get a 3 second exposure. I am studying flash, practicing flash with my husband and son as subjects (and now my son has left 😦 ), but it might be awhile before my flash photos appear on the blog!
f/10, 3.0 sec, 200 ISO, 85mm
Today’s theme is symbol, and I chose to photograph a detail of the wreath (symbol of the coming of Christ) on our front door. I left the door open, so that I could get some Christmas tree light bokeh in the background. For variation, I used a used a brown toned black and white conversion.
f/3.8, 1/60, ISO 3200! (too lazy to set up the tripod today- too much to do!), 85mm
Before bed last night, I checked to see what today’s topic would be. I groaned when I saw stain– what an unappealing topic! When I told my husband, he immediately said, “Your father’s stained glass!” I had a good night’s sleep, knowing there would be something fun to photograph in the morning.
My father was a man of many interests- music (he played saxophone and clarinet in a Dixieland jazz group), photography, gardening, wordworking, and, in his retirement years, stained glass. He made the stained glass lampshade that hangs in our kitchen, and one year, he made our family a set of stained glass ornaments. His example of being creative during retirement years is one I try to live up to (although I also like to chill out with a book like my mother, a voracious reader).
Here is a detail of a star ornament made by my dad.
f/4, 1/6, ISO 200, 85mm
My friend and fellow photoblogger came to visit and take care of me today- which my husband appreciated as much as I did! I haven’t been able to cook more than toast since my carpal tunnel surgery, and Carol arrived with a gourmet picnic lunch including dessert! Yum!
Today’s topic is Hollow. Carol came up with the bright idea of photographing straws, so, after lunch, we set up straws to photograph, swapping lenses between the two cameras. Our photos are of the same subject, but totally different. You can can view Carol’s photo at http://infocusdaily.com/2011/12/14/day-348-grasping-at-straws/
f/10, 2.5 sec., ISO 160, 85mm
melinda anderson photography 