

I have not even been inspired in quite some time. After seeing Candices previous post I was inspired! Finally. She got me itching to play with my new macro lens that I really haven't used very much. Another bonus the rain finally stopped!
Well here is what I came up with:
Here is a shot of The Beauty

I'm still going to post my "crap." Not for the sake of posting something, but for the sake that I might get an actual critique today.
But no, not flowers. Maybe something even more trite and despised. Leaves and waterdrops *gasps at the horror*
Oh dear god no! And not only that, but I have the words to a cute little disney song as the titles in the slideshow.
Oh please, stop the insanity.
Drip drip drop little April Showers
Ok, I'm done. Critique the shots without being personal please. I promise they'll slide right off my back like water on a duck.

I have nothing else to show, so I'm going to warn you guys ahead of time. Due to many numerous reasons (work, gas prices, time restraints) I have very little time to photograph. But I have been going out at least once a week and taking some shots of the numerous flowers we have growing in and around my house. So for the time being, you guys will just have to suffer through my flower shots (I'll try and make the posts quick, simple and hopefully bearable).
Today, Amaryllis!
Tomorrow, irises. And don't worry, this shouldn't last too long. I went to Bailey's 2nd birthday party yesterday and I hope to have those images edited for next week. Also, this weekend I'm heading down to Tallahassee for some roommate reunions and serious beach time. This is by no means the only week that I'll have flower shots, but I hope this will be the last week where I only post flower shots. Thanks for looking and bearing through this.

You know what that means? Fresh cut hay and the promise of blackberries.
And this last one is a little deceptive. Although taken just last weekend, it looks a lot like it could have been taken in the fall.
Thanks for looking. Comments, critiques and all that good stuff are always welcome!
First off, big thanks to Buggin for the wind challenge. Everyone did a fantastic job interpreting the challenge in their own unique way. I hope to see just as great results in my challenge.
I have to say I didn't really come up with the idea, I'll admit it. Classy presented this at flickr back a couple months ago and when I saw a link last week for photographic games involving the same guidelines, I figured it might be fun here too. I thought about doing something more traditional but I'm hoping this will be fun for both the artist and the viewer and will get people commenting.
That being said, I'm challenging you guys to go out, get up close and personal and ask us (the viewers) What the Heck is It?!?
Take the macro out and distort reality. Or use a long telephoto and an odd angle to make something big, unusual. Try not to use anything obscure that people won't even know what it is, but everyday objects looked at in a new light.
The rules: Let people guess (that means GUESS PEOPLE). Don't give it away in the story. If it can't be guessed after a day, give a hint. Try and post a picture of the object in the comments after it's been guessed (or no one can figure it out). Participate and review stories often for the unveiling of the object. Please limit Photoshop work to cropping and exposure. And lastly, HAVE FUN!
Our next host with the most... The Old Guy!
P.S. Here's a hint for what my next story will be (and it's specifically for pyguy!)
EDIT: Answers (starting with What numbered as 1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11I don't have a full scale image of the fan.
I want to thank everyone who played and is still playing. You guys are really making this challenge a huge success!
Today we're going to do a 180. From fun to art (or at least I think it is). A small backstory... I got the idea to shoot this subject back during Spring Break. Playing with a dead leaf while michael was working on his car at his house, I realized I could literally pull a vein out of the leaf. It was no wider than a strand of hair and no longer than 1/2 inch. I looked at it, studied it and then it hit me... Macro + extension tubes! I quickly ran inside and attempted to make an impromptu shoot outside where I lost the thread due to the wind, so I gathered some more leaves to play with later in the week.
That day came, I set up something black to lay it on, picked at the leaves until I got another satisfactory vein and did a shoot with natural light. I posted 2 on flickr and got some feedback. The two biggest suggestions I applied to my next shoot (early this month) was increased DOF and different backgrounds (oh and focal point). I'm quite pleased with the way they came out this time around.
Shot at 11 p.m. at night using an external flash with a hand-fashioned bounce card at 90mm macro + 78mm of extension tubes, these are my results:
Thanks for looking and sorry I talk so much. I just thought the backstory might help in viewing them. As for the festival, I'll return to it next week sometime. I only have jousting, human chess and Paolo Garbanzo left. Have a great day and comments, critiques and suggestions are always welcome and taken with a smile!
I'm taking a break from the zoo today. But I promise you lots of exciting and beautiful big cats next week. But for today, I'll tide you over with some flower shots (hopefully they're not boring).
Thanks for looking and all comments are appreciated. Have a great weekend everyone!
The bonus shot is a mural from a small historic town nearby. I will be starting a new job on Monday there and am planning to keep the camera in the car because I can see the possibilities...
All comments and suggestions are appreciated. I am having trouble getting as close as I want to the subject matter without losing the focus. Ideas are welcome.
gazing into green and blue...
coneflower, I think
pretty orange
emerging fingers of red
Bonus:
Bell Buckle mural I couldn't back up any further because of the building right behind me.
ISO64
F8
I/100
FLASH
DESCRIPTION_HERE
After a short drive on a gravel road and a quick walk down a path through the woods, you reach the gorge that gives the area its name.
Gorge Overview And a closer view of the Gorge:
Closer View
The creekbed that runs through the Gorge has "potholes" that are circular holes worn in the rock by the current and its load of gravel and rocks.
Potholes in Creek Bed
Continuing along the creekside trail are ferns, both this year's
Creekside Ferns, and last year's
Last Year's Ferns, and some interesting fungus
Fungus on Dead Log
Small Mushrooms in B&W, and then some more ferns
More Creekside Ferns.
Finally, you reach a small, picturesque waterfall.
Waterfall
View from the Side
Another View and also a close up view of the falling water
Close View of WaterFall
Then it was time to turn around and walk back out.
This area is managed by the Nature Conservancy, and here is a link to their site. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/indiana/work/art7920.html
Most of the flowing water photos were made with the camera on a tripod using a very slow shutter speed, one half second or more. This gives the water the smooth silky appearence. Here are some external links that provide additional information on this technique if you are interested:
http://www.outdoorphoto.com/guides/waterfall_photography.php
http://www.hkwaterfall.net/hk_falls/hkwf_tqu.htm
http://www.outdooradventurecanada.com/photo-v2-1.htm
http://www.hankinslawrenceimages.com/newsletter/articles/waterfall.htm.
It helps a lot to have either a polarizing or neutral density filter to aid in getting the slow shutter speeds necessary during the bright parts of the day.
There are an amazing range of colors and textures also.
Peaches in a Basket
Berry Basket
Red and White Potatoes
So, if you desire a interesting and productive photo session,I would recommend a trip to your local Farmers' Market.
More Berries It will provide ample opportunity to hone your Macro photography skills and techniques.
Onions in B&W
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Dan