Just a fun little macro from a Lemon Lilly my mother in law planted out in her yard. Seeing this shape come out of that yellow looks to me like either the head of an alien or maybe even a Praying Mantis. Thought I would share.
I've beem lurking over in this forum for some time and really am disappointed with the postings on here compared to the other Regional Forums. Let's try and change that somewhat?!!
Chuck,
This photo taken with
Canon 20D
Sigma 150 2.8 Macro @ 5.6
Tripod / Cable Release
Mirror Up
Slight crop, USM, and speck cloning in PSE4
Jack,
I'm sure this forum will hate to see you go. I think I read in earlier threads you may be headed West, Oregon maybe? If so, I am so envious in a way. That area, and their forum has many, many, many great photographers on this site, and I might add, it seems like more diverse areas to photograph
I am a complete newbie when it comes to Macro lenses. I've done all my closeup with either a 17-85 or, to my own disbelief, with a 70-300 at 300. My bee shots in the Wetlands-New album in the link below were done at 300 handheld with IS.
What macro lens do you recommend? Are there different techniques with a Macro lens, such as always use a tripod?
You don't need a macro lens to shoot closeups, as you discovered. Compositional technique isn't that different from landscape photography ( rule of 3rds, etc) and exposure is the same. The main difference is all the things we deal with ( wind, hot spots, etc) are magnified when shooting macro.
You MUST use a tripod, a good steady head, lens shade, cable release, mirror lockup, depth of field preview button ( if you have these) as well.
Macro shooting is lots of fun and opens up a whole new world.
As far as macro lenses go, like anything else, but the best glass you can afford. These is a large difference in price between the manufactures ( Nikon, Canon) vs the 2md tier ( Sigma, Tamaron etc)... and there is a difference. There's a reason the John Shaw's of the world use manufactures lenses (if you can afford them, You have to weigh how much macro work you will be doing vs. the cost.
Please check out my article at www.jackgrahamphotography.com titled "Macro Photography in Nature".
Mitch, interesting shot - I'm definitely going with the alien interpretation.
I won't argue with your comment that we could post more, and more often here. I'm definitely guilty of not posting as much as I should or would like, but my time is such that something has to give and frequently it's scanning/posting etc. I'll take your comment as a personal challenge/inspiration and see what I can do.
I WILL argue with any comments about the alleged lack of diversity of landscape in the Midwest though. We may not have SIZE of natural areas, but we have plenty of diversity - it just takes a bit more persistence to find.....
This is neat, there's a foreign world that's open to us if we look close enough. I'm with CJ regarding the diversity of the midwest, though I know where you're coming from. As far as posting goes, it's tough for those of us who shoot film (myself and a few others) since a larger amount of time is required and oftentimes there's a significant wait between the actual shooting and the film processing (I'm holding about a month's worth of film at the moment until I have a large enough quantity for processing)...so it goes though. Keep posting!
Discussion
11 repliesI've beem lurking over in this forum for some time and really am disappointed with the postings on here compared to the other Regional Forums. Let's try and change that somewhat?!!
To start, I'd be interested in learning more about the technical aspects of your image. I've never seen anything like it.
You are right. I am moving but as long as I am here I will try ( as I have to shake the trees!. There's lots of good photog's here.
JG
This photo taken with
Canon 20D
Sigma 150 2.8 Macro @ 5.6
Tripod / Cable Release
Mirror Up
Slight crop, USM, and speck cloning in PSE4
Jack,
I'm sure this forum will hate to see you go. I think I read in earlier threads you may be headed West, Oregon maybe? If so, I am so envious in a way. That area, and their forum has many, many, many great photographers on this site, and I might add, it seems like more diverse areas to photograph
I am a complete newbie when it comes to Macro lenses. I've done all my closeup with either a 17-85 or, to my own disbelief, with a 70-300 at 300. My bee shots in the Wetlands-New album in the link below were done at 300 handheld with IS.
What macro lens do you recommend? Are there different techniques with a Macro lens, such as always use a tripod?
Thanks.
You don't need a macro lens to shoot closeups, as you discovered. Compositional technique isn't that different from landscape photography ( rule of 3rds, etc) and exposure is the same. The main difference is all the things we deal with ( wind, hot spots, etc) are magnified when shooting macro.
You MUST use a tripod, a good steady head, lens shade, cable release, mirror lockup, depth of field preview button ( if you have these) as well.
Macro shooting is lots of fun and opens up a whole new world.
As far as macro lenses go, like anything else, but the best glass you can afford. These is a large difference in price between the manufactures ( Nikon, Canon) vs the 2md tier ( Sigma, Tamaron etc)... and there is a difference. There's a reason the John Shaw's of the world use manufactures lenses (if you can afford them, You have to weigh how much macro work you will be doing vs. the cost.
Please check out my article at www.jackgrahamphotography.com titled "Macro Photography in Nature".
GO get em!
JG
I won't argue with your comment that we could post more, and more often here. I'm definitely guilty of not posting as much as I should or would like, but my time is such that something has to give and frequently it's scanning/posting etc. I'll take your comment as a personal challenge/inspiration and see what I can do.
I WILL argue with any comments about the alleged lack of diversity of landscape in the Midwest though. We may not have SIZE of natural areas, but we have plenty of diversity - it just takes a bit more persistence to find.....
OK, off my soapbox now!
CJ