Clovis' Nikon Nuggets

Robin W

Senior Member
The thistles are just starting to open. I didn't plant these, a couple just came up last year, in the middle of the wildflowers and so, didn't get mowed down. I've got a bumper crop of them this year. I swear they attracted more insects than any other species I had growing. This wasp was unusually cooperative.

I like the head-on shots, even though they leave most of the body out of focus, unless you can do a focus stack.

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This is my favorite of the series. I got a head on shot, but the body was in the same plane, so it's all in focus.

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Very nice!
 

Clovishound

Senior Member
Another bugs eating bugs image.

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I found these bees settling down on some thistles for the night.


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Clovishound

Senior Member
Went out this morning with the Charleston CNPA group to the Clemson Extension Bee Garden. Very hot and humid, but we had a good time. Lots of flowers and plants as well as a small pond to attract lots of insects, arachnids and other critters. Saw some hummingbirds early, but I didn't get a chance to get any shots of them. Lots of dragonflies around the pond. Those were my favorite.

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Robin W

Senior Member
My little guy won't let me get so close. But I also haven't seen him in a while. The photo I have of him shows a mark on his left shoulder and I am thinking maybe whatever made that mark came back and was more successful this time.
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Clovishound

Senior Member
Went over to Cypress Gardens this morning. I was very disappointed that the field that was covered with dragonflies in late June, was completely devoid of them today. I halfheartedly took a few water lily and wood duck pictures, just because I was there. Got a chance to try my disposable rain cover for real. On the way out, I discovered they had moved the hummingbird feeders to a new, more accessible location. I've never had much luck with hummingbirds, but decided to try and grab a couple shots. I plan on going back later this week. Keep in mind that these are basically, my first semi serious attempts at hummingbirds. I did remove the ugly feeder that intruded into most of the shots I got. I don't like doing that, but will on occasion.

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Clovishound

Senior Member
Here are a few from my latest trip. Not much more light than yesterday, but applied a few things I learned from yesterday, and experimented a bit. I really need to get over there, while they are still there, and when there's more light. These high ISOs are killing me.

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Clovishound

Senior Member
Walked out in the backyard after the rain stopped today. Nice soft light. Thought I'd try my hand at some available light macro shots. Lots of throw aways due to motion blur. I was shooting handheld, and trying to keep the ISOs down. Shot around 180th of a sec for most. of them. Even at F/11, the depth of field seemed rather shallow on the closer focus images.

The faster moving insects were mostly a no go.

This was probably the best of the batch. I love the colors, even though I'm not a big fan of most caterpillar images. I took several with the stem mostly horizontal, then thought I try this one with it diagonal.



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I like elements of this one, but somehow it seems a little too soft for the subject. Maybe I'm just used to the flash shots with crisper details.

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The background is the biggest draw for this one. The composition lacks something and the lizard seems unimpressed.

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