Moss

Moss, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Moss Spores on a Stone shot with a Macro Lens to look like an Alien Landscape.

Lensbaby Muse Double Glass

dg_16mm_macro, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Lensbaby Muse Fun.. It's only a flower, but looks to be a weird creature trying to collect you..

I have found that using both of the Macro Extension tubes stacked a top each other (giving 24mm) and a focusing distance of 1.5" (about 37mm for us metric folk). Attached to the Double Glass Optic in my Muse, I have managed to achieve some really lovely sharp Macro shots that have just an amazing drop off in focus.. The backgrounds just smooth out so beautifully, and the image is really super spot focused.

Water Drops Are Lovely..

macro_54, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

Rain Drop on Lemon Tree

Nikon D300S

60mm Micro f2.8

This was shot hand held in my backyard after a morning or raining in Melbourne. 

In my yard, I have many many trees. We grow a lot of our own fruit and veg here at my house, not just because we like to be a little more sustainable, but it makes for wonderful photographs at home. Being able to shoot at home saves me from having to travel a great deal. 

Technical details are Nikon D300S 60mm Nikkor Mirco f2.8 No Flash 1/160th sec @ f13 ISO 500. Small amount of post in Photoshop CS5.1 which totaled Small exposure compensation, dodge and burn, and clone out a few spots on the lens.

Hope you like it, and if you have any questions please just ask.. 

Dead Lilly in Still Life

dead_lilly, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Even my Lilly's couldn't handle the Melbourne Heat..

macro_50

macro_50, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

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I have been stupid busy as of late with one thing or another and haven't had time to post much at all. This is something new I have been working on and still not quite sure. I am trying to decide if I like the shadow or not.

So far it's kinda winning me over, but I will try a few more different ones if I can get my hands on a few more of the seed pods before the all die off the tree..

Macro or Micro or Close Up..... Whatever you call it they're pretty!!

Being a stay at home dad does have it's benefits. I get to wander the streets like a lost puppy, and do pretty much anything I like during the day!! I can eat what I like, watch what a like, and listen to what I like (until the kids come home then all my fun is spoiled)..

So in these times of waning enjoyment of having not really that much to do all day, I get to experiment more than most others on photos and photographic techniques.

So yesterday was a nice sunny day in Melbourne (yes sun in winter) and I had to go shopping to get bread and milk, pick up some mail, and maybe even get a bite to eat. I always grab my camera before I leave the house, and chose to pop the Nikkor 60mm Micro. Now I must explain I have the older version of this lens (mine is the f2.8 D), but many of the characteristics of the lens are very much the same. 

I would LLLLLLUUUUURRRRRRRVVVVVEEEEEEE to get my hands on the new edition of this lens, even a slightly longer length would be nice, but I am loving what is achievable with more and more practice. On a technical level, one of the hardest things to get right is the DOF (Depth Of Field). Your working in such a small area that the DOF can be thrown out by something as simple as you breathing! I try and shoot at least f8 for most of my Macro use. If you can got to f14 or f16 you will get an even better look, but you risk needing a tripod unless its very sunny out (or you use a close up flash).

Think about these tiny little flowers we are trying to shoot.

These are barely the petal tips. Look at the amazing detail though!! The look as though the were snipped with scissors, or clipped at the ends with a punch. It's truly amazing what you can do with a macro lens. Remember that flowers and water drops aren't the only things you can photograph.

Sometimes a sign behind a wire fence can have a great repetitive pattern. The wire looks almost like you can touch it, and the pattern behind on the tin giving you something else to follow. 

So get creative with your Macro lens. I will be!!

bottle_cap

bottle_cap, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Bottle Cap

awa_shadow

awa_shadow, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Metal Cover in street

Compact Cameras and the Macro setting.

lock_tumbler, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

I have recently got my hands on a Nikon AW100 compact camera. I have to say that I'm quite wonderfully impressed with the quality and consistency of the images produced from it. This was taken using the Macro setting.