Twisted 

Curled 

What is it? 

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:

Elegant 

Ruffled 

Fuzzy 

Spotted 

Jagged 

Peaceful 

Divided 

Twisted 

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!

1    2     3     4     5

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.

This has been fun - I find myself looking at all sorts of things and wondering . . . . would I recognize that from just this little part????  See if you do:

macroA 

macroB 

macroC 

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!

Just a few macros of dandelions and waterdrops.

1            2              3              4

Thanks for looking and have a great day

Taken with the D200 and 90mm sigma macro.  I think there was an extension tube on also, but I can't be certain

Back yard macro one Back yard macro two Back Yard Macro three Back Yard Macro four 

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:

1    2     3    4     5     6

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!

 

Pick 

Violet 

Mumma 

 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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).

Room for more 

What a Beautiful Bunch

Thanks for looking and all comments are appreciated.  Have a great weekend everyone!

No Licking Required

Bondage Baby

Felt Up

I decided I needed more practise with my macro lense so I went out into the garden.  (those who are flower-phobic:  BEWARE!)  So I tried to photograph things that were colorful and in different angles.  I attempted all this while serving as a buffet for all the mosquitoes in a 5 mile radius.....I had to go in and take 2 benadryl after about 20 minutes!  

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.  

Just tried out my olympus c770 in macro mode for the first time.

ISO64
F8
I/100
FLASHDESCRIPTION_HERE

Sunflower Pod
Sepia
B/W

Bonus Bug

Indiana is certainly not known for its interesting topography, but there are a few areas that present a contrast to the endless corn and bean fields.  I visited one of these areas, Fall Creek Gorge, in June.

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.

I visited our local Farmer's Market this weekend. It is a great place for some Macro photography.  Some of the displays the farmers come up with are very artistic. Squash Display Onions in a Basket

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

Rain Drops 1
Rain Drops Too
Rain Drops Three
Rain Drops Phour