Lawrence's 365 for 2014

Lawrence

Senior Member
24th November

Phew!!!
I dashed out to camera club where we always take some photos to end the evening. These are usually based around something that is covered at the meeting.
As I dashed out I took one shot - just in case we didn't shoot.
Glad I did as that is exactly what happened!
So i am still hanging in with just over a month to go.

Hanging in.jpg
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
25th November

No macro and no portraits today!

The first set of photos intrigued me. One tree, two wounds really close to each other yet they look totally different.
Then some lawn daisies to remind me of my chores.
and for dessert tonight - some lovely red foliage.

Double wound.jpg

Top wound.jpg

Bottom wound.jpg

Lawn daisies.jpg

Red leaves.jpg
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
26th November

Exciting day with my new tripod arriving and I am expecting the quick release ball head to arrive tomorrow morning.

So here is one shot of my tripod - will post the rest in "latest purchase" thread.

Giottos tripod extended to full height.jpg

At this height it is at shoulder height and the head and camera have yet to be fitted so it is perfect for me.
 

Eddie

Senior Member
... amazing arrays of photos you got here.
you've got eyes for details and very alert too.
Expecially that girl photo, who has an anchor tattoo behind her ear
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
... amazing arrays of photos you got here.
you've got eyes for details and very alert too.
Expecially that girl photo, who has an anchor tattoo behind her ear

Thanks Eddie. Yeah I liked that photo. She had one behind the other ear too but she never gave me a decent peak at it.
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
27th November

Messing around with Macro again today.
First shot island held and a sever crop
2nd shot is using new tripod and remote release and long exposure and and and ... not as sharp as I hoped.
Result is I am on my 2nd whiskey already!

Flower in macro_.jpg

Flower macro tripod long exposure.jpg
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Don't forget that with such a small DOF with the macro lens, unless your subject is all on the same plane ie same distance from camera, you will get some areas not in focus. Maybe the flower was not dead square on to the camera? Also...long exposure means ANY air movement may cause some out of focus areas with delicate objects, smoke etc.
Also....did you turn IS/VR off?

But looking at the pic I'd say not square on to the camera ;)
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
Don't forget that with such a small DOF with the macro lens, unless your subject is all on the same plane ie same distance from camera, you will get some areas not in focus. Maybe the flower was not dead square on to the camera? Also...long exposure means ANY air movement may cause some out of focus areas with delicate objects, smoke etc.
Also....did you turn IS/VR off?

But looking at the pic I'd say not square on to the camera ;)

You are right about being square and dof is narrow. No VR on this lens.
I am still learning to use it properly.
 

Vixen

Senior Member
I also struggle with which bit to focus on when doing flowers etc knowing that it will not all be in focus. I find I do the same shot with different focus points and then chose which looks the best. Still haven't twigged to what's best tho :D

It's still a good shot. If you hadn't mentioned it I may not have noticed. I don't study shots to the n-th degree and I'm sure no-one else does really ;)
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
November 28th

i am beginning to think I am either hopeless with this macro lens or there is something wrong with it.
I just cannot get the dof right.
Very disappointed in this photo of a drop of water on a leaf with a bug caught in it.

I took others but just not feeling up to posting them

Water droplet with bug.jpg
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Don't expect to get the whole image in focus coz you can't while in macro mode. Macro is not easy. I reckon I chuck out more images taken with my macro lens than with all the others combined.

Keep at it. All of a sudden you'll start being happy with your shots. I find using flash and setting aperture as high as possible to try to get every scrap of DOF possible works best.

I like your shot. I like the little sparkle of sunlight and how the leaf looks deeply furrowed thru that drop of water :D It's fine. Really.
 
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Lawrence

Senior Member
29th November

Something I don't tell everyone is that I live in a pretty rough neighbourhood and I was made all too aware of it when I saw this warning on a photo walk this afternoon.

Beware of the kids.jpg

And here is a winning bloom from the hood.

Dead rose.jpg
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
November 28th

i am beginning to think I am either hopeless with this macro lens or there is something wrong with it.
I just cannot get the dof right.
Very disappointed in this photo of a drop of water on a leaf with a bug caught in it.

I took others but just not feeling up to posting them

View attachment 125905
Hey mate it looks pretty good, keep trying and if you are still having issues when you visit I will help you out.
 

wud

Senior Member
Maybe you should try focus stacking? Could be that could give you the image you want.

I agree with Vixen, even though you use f/40, dof are just tiny.
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
30th November

Had a great day with camera club at Wingspan where they train and reintroduce falcons to the wild. We watched a male and female of n endangered species go through their daily exercise and feeding routine.
These birds move at speeds up to 200 km per hour (might even be MPH - I can't remember as I was too busy trying to shoot!) and it is really hard to get them in the frame never mind focused.
They are fairly small with the males weighing in at 500 grams and the ladies about twice that.

I only got one that was almost in focus of her flying.

Falcon in flight.jpg

But I got lots of similar ones to the following which I will process in due course.

Falcon Female Bindi looking for prey.jpg

Falcon on post with wind blowing.jpg

Falcon Portrait 2.jpg

and although I cut the head off in this next one I still like it.

Falcon Portrait.jpg
 
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