In the past I had never even wanted a macro lens because even though I would take some flower photos,they were not a particular interest. While I could be pleased enough with some of my flower shots, I was more interested in photographing the wider world.
However, upon recently printing a number of flower photos for a display, I realized what lovely images they could make, especially when printed.
It's not that one can't make nice flower photos with normal lenses, which is what I have done up until now, but I wanted to see where a macro lens might take me. So, after considerable cogitation accompanied by hand wringing and deep gulps, I took the plunge.
For those who don't know, a macro lens allows you to get very close to your subject. When it is in full macro mode, it grabs a close subject at it's exact dimensions. If the subject measures 1 inch in actual size, it will also be 1 inch on the camera's sensor. Therefore, when you expand the sensor image to photographic size, it becomes impressively large,.
My first attempts after some random play, like photographing my smart phone screen, were to head through the snow on the lawn to photograph snow clinging to little seed pods on our silk lilac tree. They are quite tiny but fill the frame in these handheld shots.
We have a hyacinth indoors giving us an early taste, or at least early fragrance, of spring. I took this one using my tripod, which seems to be the default for macro photography. It's tough to get everything in focus and sometimes you just don't want to because a soft focus can also be attractive. In fact, I wanted a very soft background on this photo although it also would have been nice to have the centre of the flower in focus.
There you have, or at least there I have, my first attempts at macro photography, and it is somewhat more involved than normal shooting because setting up the tripod and finding the focus can take some care.
Ah, the good old days. Fortunately I learned about photography following my dad around, with his tripod and ASA25.
ReplyDeleteA great way to expand your hobby, AC. Such detail in the photos!
ReplyDeleteNicely done . I use a macro 60mm lens and a 40mm I love using them in the summer for flowers and bugs really emphasizes and details the little things . Thanks for sharing , have a good day !
ReplyDeleteI like taking macro photos, but my Canon is pretty dated now and doesn't do all that great a job. Yours is awesome. I love how you can see the individual snowflakes.
ReplyDeleteI have a lazy person camera that doesn't have the option to change lenses, which I sometimes regret. Particularly now after seeing those amazing seed pods. I have a macro lens on my pre digital camera and loved to use it. Have fun exploring the small world.
ReplyDeletegorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. I like that first one a lot.
ReplyDeleteI had one, and found I wasn't using it too too much. I traded it in on a new lens, which I'd needed.
ReplyDeleteIt’s always fun to buy something new that will stimulate creativity, AC, and that said I enjoyed seeing these photoes. Years agi I also bought a macro lens for a Canon digital SLR that I had at the time. It was fun experimenting with the lens, but in time bith it and the camera were sold and I’m not sure if it was a 90mm. What tyoe and size were you using in these photos?
ReplyDelete