Macro flower photographs

[Letrow]

[TobyMac]

Some amazing pics here, thought id share one of my macros, unfortunately its winter here now.


Purple flower by Tobias Weber, on Flickr

P.S does anyone know what flower this is?

[BJ Denning]

Damn that insolent bee, he should be honored to pose for you.
What lens did you use on the last three photographs, the 100mm as well. It is a nice effect from a bit further away.

Yep, the 100mm. At 1:1 the DOF is thin. I'm practicing the "rocking" method to capture insects, using tripod for plants. However it was so sunny on the day I took these, that I could get shutter speeds I could hand hold.

[Katy Noelle]

These are nice to see in the light box (by clicking on the image.) Thanks!

Columbine and Lady's Mantle



Astrantia



from my garden C&C is always welcome.

[Clactonian]

Beautiful Katy. If I were to be pickie, and I of all people shouldn't, it is a pity you didn't remove the two dead pieces of petal (?) from the Astrantia which do tend to catch the eye.
I'm afraid I never see gliches like that until it's on the screen.

Mike

[Letrow]

These are nice to see in the light box (by clicking on the image.) Thanks!


Astrantia



from my garden C&C is always welcome.

Beautiful. I see Mike's point on the two pieces of petal, but TBH I always leave the flower as is. It's how it is and anyway if I get to spend more than a minute on any flower it's much and time is precious, so... beautiful.

[Katy Noelle]

I very much appreciate your thoughts, Gentlemen! I was starting to have similar thoughts, in my watery head, when I posted the astrantia, last night. At first, I was thinking Peter's thoughts about "au naturel" when I posted this but, also, had the baby, beginning inkling that, it's even better when the falling petals tell more of a story or, else, get out of the way. Like this one that I took last year and is so disappointing in a lot of ways but, still....

Japanese Anemone



To be truthful, I didn't see the dead petals on the astrantia until it was on the screen - I was very distracted by the gargantuan mosquitoes and not attentive for very long as I was snapping/snatching the photos.

You know, I can just go out and try again!

[ScoutR]

Dahlia


Some kind of Daisy with a name I can't spell or pronounce.


Wendy

[TobyMac]

WOW that last pic is amazing

[ScoutR]

Thank you Tobias, I don't get many WOWs, in fact I think this is a first for me. I will have to credit the fact that I broke down and used the tripod, and I will admit it is a big help. It's such a bother though, but after awhile everything looks the same when shooting with the lens wide open to get a fast enough shutter speed for hand held, so I had to break down and use the silly thing.

Wendy

[Dave Humphries]

I will have to credit the fact that I broke down and used the tripod, and I will admit it is a big help. It's such a bother though, but after awhile everything looks the same when shooting with the lens wide open to get a fast enough shutter speed for hand held, so I had to break down and use the silly thing.

Hmmm, there's probably a lesson for me here too

Hi Wendy,

That second one is something special, (definitely better viewed in the Lytebox)

Well done,

[Letrow]

Some kind of Daisy with a name I can't spell or pronounce.


Wendy

Note to self: start practising with lighter backgrounds in Gimp.
It's a beauty Wendy

[Letrow]

Allium with bumblebee on it. Two of my favourite subjects. These bees are the best looking of their sort in my part of the woods.

[ScoutR]

Note to self: start practising with lighter backgrounds in Gimp.
It's a beauty Wendy

Thank you Peter. All of my white backgrounds except for the red dahlia (can't remember where I posted it; one of the mini comps I think) were shot with a sheet of white artboard carefully placed behind the flower. I've tried other colours, but always prefer the white. I do have to lighten it in PP though.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

Hmmm, there's probably a lesson for me here too

Hi Wendy,

That second one is something special, (definitely better viewed in the Lytebox)

Well done,

Thank you Dave, I still have to be in the right frame of mind to use the silly thing, but I spent the morning futzing around with it and it doesn't take me as long to get it sorted out now. I even used the remote. LOL, that's very high tech for me.

Thanks again for the feedback, the encouragement is appreciated as always

Wendy

[JohnC]

Sunflower anther. (for Katy re. Jiro's Small visitor post') Love your top shot there,Katy- Columbine /Ladys Mantle. It's really very striking and made so, in no small part, to the effective bokeh.

The Dahlia (Wendy's) is a superb shot too ,I really like that one and same with Peter's Allium with Bumble Bee. The bee is so intent on nectar gathering it pay no attention to having a photographer right there.

Katy-re. 'bending' a stem of a sun flower-perish the thought lol.. we do have a problem with breezes here and 'wafts' of wind (infact it's blowing a gale now as a new Low comes in) I photographed a poppy field earlier this week and I almost missed them (they're finished this week) because of having to wait for a no-wind day and a least some decent light-it shouldn't be like this in June but that's our weather for you - a maritime climate.

Here's what's recommended for outdoor macro work here. The Wimberley Plamp.http://www.ephotozine.com/article/th...p--review-4059

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...imberley+Plamp

I'm new to macro and these sunflower photos are just about the first macro photos I took and opportunities are few and far between due to those weather conditions I mentioned if wow's doing outdoor work.ASs you know, these sunflowers are so tall.... I had to have the tripod at eye-level and even extended the centre column for a couple. Any cc would be appreciated to help me on my way.

I've taken these with a Canon 180mm F3.5 macro lens and using the Manfrotto 454 Focusing rail.

[Letrow]

another bumblebee (type in bumblebee on Google and be surprised: transformers pops up first, both in internet and pictures)


nigella

[Letrow]

I'm new to macro and these sunflower photos are just about the first macro photos I took and opportunities are few and far between due to those weather conditions I mentioned if wow's doing outdoor work.ASs you know, these sunflowers are so tall.... I had to have the tripod at eye-level and even extended the centre column for a couple. Any cc would be appreciated to help me on my way.

I've taken these with a Canon 180mm F3.5 macro lens and using the Manfrotto 454 Focusing rail.

John, how did you process these photographs? It seems that there is just a bit of sharpness missing in the top one. I like the heart of the flower at the bottom.

[Katy Noelle]

another bumblebee (type in bumblebee on Google and be surprised: transformers pops up first, both in internet and pictures)


nigella

Oh! What is that first flower, please? Peter, may I please suggest that this first photo is a bit "messy" with the parts on the right? Also, could you boost the color or the contrast or something on this one? What do you think?

The love in a mist is really lovely! Between your nice use of dof, the pattern on the petals and bokeh, once again, the comment can be made - it looks like a watercolor - meaning, it has a lovely softness in its clarity.

Oops! I'm not supposed to be commenting - I have to go! John, I will be back later - thanks, again!

[rob marshall]

WOW! Wendy (there's another one) Where did that come from. Excellent. Did you use the G1 by any chance? Looks great.