The reports down here said it was headed for the Carolina's.
Clovis' Nikon Nuggets
- Thread starter Clovishound
- Start date
Clovishound
Senior Member
Trying to get some more macro shooting in before the insects disappear.
I've said this before, but I really need to try shooting some more available light macros.
This one was somewhat backlit by morning sun. I took a few with the flash and then switched the flash off, cranked up the ISO and opened up the aperture. A little more DOF would have been nice, but I needed to keep the shutter speed up. I really like the quality of light in this one.
This is another available light. I had some really nice foliage and flowers in the background that blurred out to just some blotches of color. A lot of that would have been lost with flash. Again, I would have liked to get a little more in focus, but again, that's the price of available light.
This one didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, but it does have some interest. I had to use flash here, as it was in deep shadow. I did crank down the shutter speed to get some of the backlighting exposing the shadow created on the leaf.
I'm still fascinated by the small tree frogs.
I've said this before, but I really need to try shooting some more available light macros.
This one was somewhat backlit by morning sun. I took a few with the flash and then switched the flash off, cranked up the ISO and opened up the aperture. A little more DOF would have been nice, but I needed to keep the shutter speed up. I really like the quality of light in this one.
This is another available light. I had some really nice foliage and flowers in the background that blurred out to just some blotches of color. A lot of that would have been lost with flash. Again, I would have liked to get a little more in focus, but again, that's the price of available light.
This one didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, but it does have some interest. I had to use flash here, as it was in deep shadow. I did crank down the shutter speed to get some of the backlighting exposing the shadow created on the leaf.
I'm still fascinated by the small tree frogs.
What's on its back?
Our tree frogs are showing up now. Yesterday I got a few that still have their tadpole tails.
Clovishound
Senior Member
I think it's just some trash. Here's another angle on it.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Here you go, I tracked him down and brushed it off.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Decided to set the macro aside this morning and head over to Magnolia Plantation and be there around sunrise. I really hate to get up early, but managed to drag myself out of bed and make my way over there.
I don't know if I'm just out of practice, or there just wasn't much going on. I know, the birds are more concentrated and doing more interesting things in spring when so many of them are nesting and raising young.
Anyway, this was the best. Often the big blues are really not too concerned with you getting close. I was close enough that I had to back off of 500mm a little to get the entire bird in frame. I was almost too tight to clean up minor composition issues in crop.
I really like how the background came out in this one, but I'm not entirely happy with the web. I should have taken the time to swap lenses from my long tele, to my normal lens. I had room to move in close enough.
And for something a little different. I've been wanting to get an early morning shot of the "slave" cabins near the swamp for a while. I took a little time this morning to do so. Unfortunately the sky was a sickly gray color. I went ahead and used the PS sky replacement and used one of my early morning shots from Boneyard Beach to fill in. I wonder if I should use a more standard blue sky with white clouds?
And finally, one of the little blue herons, laser focused on breakfast.
I don't know if I'm just out of practice, or there just wasn't much going on. I know, the birds are more concentrated and doing more interesting things in spring when so many of them are nesting and raising young.
Anyway, this was the best. Often the big blues are really not too concerned with you getting close. I was close enough that I had to back off of 500mm a little to get the entire bird in frame. I was almost too tight to clean up minor composition issues in crop.
I really like how the background came out in this one, but I'm not entirely happy with the web. I should have taken the time to swap lenses from my long tele, to my normal lens. I had room to move in close enough.
And for something a little different. I've been wanting to get an early morning shot of the "slave" cabins near the swamp for a while. I took a little time this morning to do so. Unfortunately the sky was a sickly gray color. I went ahead and used the PS sky replacement and used one of my early morning shots from Boneyard Beach to fill in. I wonder if I should use a more standard blue sky with white clouds?
And finally, one of the little blue herons, laser focused on breakfast.
Sky looks fine. Might try a gradient mask a put a little red in the buildings.
Clovishound
Senior Member
This guy was posing for me again.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Another trip to Cypress Gardens this morning. I went to try out my new ND filter on some moving water, while I was there I checked out the trails and swamp.
Found an easily accessible wasp's nest. I grabbed several images, but decided to exercise the better part of valor when they started acting a bit annoyed at me sticking a camera less than a foot in front of their nest. LR did a great job of removing the stray antenna that was sticking in front of the main subject's head.
I think the front duck is a teal. Pretty duck despite very little color.
This guy looks like he got a really, really bad haircut.
Found an easily accessible wasp's nest. I grabbed several images, but decided to exercise the better part of valor when they started acting a bit annoyed at me sticking a camera less than a foot in front of their nest. LR did a great job of removing the stray antenna that was sticking in front of the main subject's head.
I think the front duck is a teal. Pretty duck despite very little color.
This guy looks like he got a really, really bad haircut.
Clovishound
Senior Member
I normally try and get birds from eye level as much as possible. The big issue I have with that is that often there is foliage growing along the banks and it can be a choice between getting the shot from a higher angle, and not getting the shot at all. The last was shot through a small gap in the foliage. You can see it out of focus on the edges of the image. Even when there is no foliage, often the banks are muddy, and weedy. I would like to lay down and shoot right off the ground. I don't particularly fancy getting wet and muddy over the entire front of my body, and more to the point, in my area, we are blessed with several species of venomous reptiles that prefer wet environments. I normally wear snake boots, but those provide little protection when laying on the ground.
I was surprised to see many of the males in breeding plumage. They molted out of that earlier in the season. I need to go back in the next couple weeks and stake out in my "special spot". It's a place where they often congregate in the mornings, and let me get close enough to get some shots.
My wife told me I need to get my ducks in a row, so....................
Here's one from a while back that had a clear, dry bank and I was able to lay flat out very close to the water level.
I was surprised to see many of the males in breeding plumage. They molted out of that earlier in the season. I need to go back in the next couple weeks and stake out in my "special spot". It's a place where they often congregate in the mornings, and let me get close enough to get some shots.
My wife told me I need to get my ducks in a row, so....................
Here's one from a while back that had a clear, dry bank and I was able to lay flat out very close to the water level.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Looking at the full sized version under magnification, I would say the eye is as sharp as the rest of the bird.
This was one of the first few images I used Topaz on, and unfortunately I over sharpened it a bit. Like many, I got carried away with the new software toy before settling down. Not really noticeable without magnifying it way beyond normal enlargement. Also, unfortunately, I lost the RAW file earlier this year, so all I have is the edited version.
This was one of the first few images I used Topaz on, and unfortunately I over sharpened it a bit. Like many, I got carried away with the new software toy before settling down. Not really noticeable without magnifying it way beyond normal enlargement. Also, unfortunately, I lost the RAW file earlier this year, so all I have is the edited version.
Clovishound
Senior Member
I was going to do a quick wash of the car today and discovered this guy sitting on the roof. I quickly dropped the hose, and grabbed the camera. I wish it were a better background, but decided to try and get angles where it didn't look like it's sitting on a car.
OK, this may not look like a car, but it definitely doesn't look like something natural. I included it, because it was the only one that included the entire animal, and it was a decent pose. This is a focus stacked image.
OK, this may not look like a car, but it definitely doesn't look like something natural. I included it, because it was the only one that included the entire animal, and it was a decent pose. This is a focus stacked image.
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Clovishound
Senior Member
The Pup wanted to go downtown for a photo outing this weekend. Street photography isn't my strong suit, but a day out with my daughter is. 
This may not be too special, but I like the geometry in it for some reason.
One of the restaurants had a bubble machine out front. It captured a lot of attention.
This falls in the category of "I want to like this image". I find elements of the painting behind the window compelling. The sun was behind me and I moved to get the sun centered on the forehead of one of the images in the painting. Not sure it works, but aspects of it have appeal for me.
This may not be too special, but I like the geometry in it for some reason.
One of the restaurants had a bubble machine out front. It captured a lot of attention.
This falls in the category of "I want to like this image". I find elements of the painting behind the window compelling. The sun was behind me and I moved to get the sun centered on the forehead of one of the images in the painting. Not sure it works, but aspects of it have appeal for me.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Got back out to Cypress today. Not a red letter day. The woodies weren't very cooperative, and not much seemed to come together.
These are about the only three worth posting, barely.
I had high hopes for the wasp nest photos. I edited a bunch of them, but while interesting, most were just too busy to be very good.
These are about the only three worth posting, barely.
I had high hopes for the wasp nest photos. I edited a bunch of them, but while interesting, most were just too busy to be very good.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Had a day at the Center For Birds of Prey with the Pup. Got some decent shots. Nothing to alert the press about.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Got a few more edited. This was a photography day at the Center which was arranged by the Carolina Nature Photographer's Association that the Pup and I are members of. We had 4 hours with the handlers bringing the birds out and putting them through their paces with the idea of letting us getting the shots we wanted. The light was challenging, but we had fabulous access to lots of very interesting birds. They also do great rescue work with injured/sick raptors. They are treating around a thousand birds a year there.
