Just lately I had made a conscious decision to do some macro work.
I decided to go along to Narborough Railway embankment a recognised site for Butterfly locally.
On arrival I proceeded to load up all the gear(enough to sink a Battleship)and at the last minute suddenly remembered my new toy "The Plamp".
With wife in toe carrying said plamp, oh and a bean bag and a rucksack we set off.
I was quite excited at getting here and looked forward to the prospect of not only photographing but seeing the odd Skipper or two etc. Brilliant.
Having reached what looked like a suitable area we downed the gear. It wasn't to long before wife spotted a Common Blue.Great were off to a flying start.
Bugger there's a breeze about a job for "The Plamp" Only problem was I hadn't practised to well.
Oh it wont clamp around the tripod leg as its too fat the base plate will have to do.
I wrestled and I fought with it. It was like one of the tentacles of some Octopus and it had a mind of its own.
Finally got it clamped on the grass stem when off went the CB never to be seen again.
Mmmm must try harder.
Another subject a delightful Grasshopper(Feel I can hear David Carradine coming on) came into view.
I know, this time I will try and remove the stem its on and then clamp it. The fiasco started all over again.
This time it seemed to take the strength of ten men to try and tear that stem. What on earth is going on.
Eventually I got through and to my amazement the Grasshopper had hung on for dear life but he was going to have a bit of a laugh with me and I swear he had a sense of humour.
Subject in position and this is something else. I have a fantastic BG and a subject that is just posing.
But wait a minute something strange is going on. Suddenly the subject is behind the stem. Did it twist in the breeze?
I turned the stem. Head to viewfinder and it crept round again. The little bugger is he taking the P or what.
He could do it that quick I hardly had time to blink.
Bingo he finally sat still. Cable release mirror lock up this will now be a doddle. Fire, what the hell the image shook like there had been an almighty earth quake. This calls for drastic measures.
What can I clamp it to? Well I will just lay it on the ground clamped to the stem and if I bend it into position(The Plamp that is) it will surely stay there. It flopped miserably. I was getting desperate a stone weight would be ideal. Bet most of you youngsters have never seen one. In the finish I used my loepro bag a poor substitute but I got away with it.
Bye now I was boiling( it was hot that day)
I looked around was any one witness to this charade or had I got away with it.
Looking back some distance I could see my wife slumped head in hands. I thought to myself bless her and I hoped she had enjoyed every minute of our little trip.
Well I hope you enjoyed that little story and I am sure one or two can relate to it in some way.
I sure have learnt from my mistakes.
Fantastic story
Now, did I ever tell you the tale of how I got grizzly bear repellant pepper spray on my genitalia in the rocky mountains of Montana......?
It still hurts to think about it now.
excellent Major, I can relate to many parts of that story, including the wife with her head in her hands.
In fact, I've tried to remove one of the frustrations of all the macro gear that you describe so well by replacing my cable release with an infra red remote release. It arrived today so I'm hoping there'll be no more swearing as the cable release gets tangled around the tripod legs.
Matt
Posted by Scott Tilley on June 22, 2009 at 3:08 PM
All too familer I'm afraid, happens to me at least 50% of the time I go out.
Great stuff ! Beats birds though eh major !
With me the wife has my head in her hands !
I,ve recently had some good results using the camera timer release with mirror up before shot (delay )mode.
Cheers
John
Thanks for the replies gang and am pleased to note its not just me that has all the problems.
Got the pocket wizards Matt but opted for the cable release at the time but yes when it dangles it sure gets in the way and when you want the end of it it to can lead you a merry song and dance trying to find it when it matters most.
Poor fella, did you jump up and down on said plamp afterwards?
Wife sounds a good'un did you get her from warehouse express? I guess from the accessories section, or camera bags
Discussion
10 repliesI decided to go along to Narborough Railway embankment a recognised site for Butterfly locally.
On arrival I proceeded to load up all the gear(enough to sink a Battleship)and at the last minute suddenly remembered my new toy "The Plamp".
With wife in toe carrying said plamp, oh and a bean bag and a rucksack we set off.
I was quite excited at getting here and looked forward to the prospect of not only photographing but seeing the odd Skipper or two etc. Brilliant.
Having reached what looked like a suitable area we downed the gear. It wasn't to long before wife spotted a Common Blue.Great were off to a flying start.
Bugger there's a breeze about a job for "The Plamp" Only problem was I hadn't practised to well.
Oh it wont clamp around the tripod leg as its too fat the base plate will have to do.
I wrestled and I fought with it. It was like one of the tentacles of some Octopus and it had a mind of its own.
Finally got it clamped on the grass stem when off went the CB never to be seen again.
Mmmm must try harder.
Another subject a delightful Grasshopper(Feel I can hear David Carradine coming on) came into view.
I know, this time I will try and remove the stem its on and then clamp it. The fiasco started all over again.
This time it seemed to take the strength of ten men to try and tear that stem. What on earth is going on.
Eventually I got through and to my amazement the Grasshopper had hung on for dear life but he was going to have a bit of a laugh with me and I swear he had a sense of humour.
Subject in position and this is something else. I have a fantastic BG and a subject that is just posing.
But wait a minute something strange is going on. Suddenly the subject is behind the stem. Did it twist in the breeze?
I turned the stem. Head to viewfinder and it crept round again. The little bugger is he taking the P or what.
He could do it that quick I hardly had time to blink.
Bingo he finally sat still. Cable release mirror lock up this will now be a doddle. Fire, what the hell the image shook like there had been an almighty earth quake. This calls for drastic measures.
What can I clamp it to? Well I will just lay it on the ground clamped to the stem and if I bend it into position(The Plamp that is) it will surely stay there. It flopped miserably. I was getting desperate a stone weight would be ideal. Bet most of you youngsters have never seen one. In the finish I used my loepro bag a poor substitute but I got away with it.
Bye now I was boiling( it was hot that day)
I looked around was any one witness to this charade or had I got away with it.
Looking back some distance I could see my wife slumped head in hands. I thought to myself bless her and I hoped she had enjoyed every minute of our little trip.
Well I hope you enjoyed that little story and I am sure one or two can relate to it in some way.
I sure have learnt from my mistakes.
Major.
Now, did I ever tell you the tale of how I got grizzly bear repellant pepper spray on my genitalia in the rocky mountains of Montana......?
It still hurts to think about it now.
Regards
JohnS
www.jesone.co.uk
In fact, I've tried to remove one of the frustrations of all the macro gear that you describe so well by replacing my cable release with an infra red remote release. It arrived today so I'm hoping there'll be no more swearing as the cable release gets tangled around the tripod legs.
Matt
Scott
With me the wife has my head in her hands !
I,ve recently had some good results using the camera timer release with mirror up before shot (delay )mode.
Cheers
John
Got the pocket wizards Matt but opted for the cable release at the time but yes when it dangles it sure gets in the way and when you want the end of it it to can lead you a merry song and dance trying to find it when it matters most.
Major.
Des
Wife sounds a good'un did you get her from warehouse express? I guess from the accessories section, or camera bags
Tim
Major
John