The Way We See It: macro

Showing posts with label macro. Show all posts

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Tip #80: In Search of Simplicity

Widow Dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) - Pine Point, MN
Canon 5D MarkII + Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS

As my worlds begin to collide, I now search for solitude and space. The split-personality that begins every September will soon merge into the “Me” I want to be. The bruce who was, is lost in the shuffle of expectation, obligation and responsibility. Students, polite with the newness and fear of their future, were respectful and dutiful. Nine months later, my act has grown tiresome and I am the used car man selling the unwanted wreck in a corner lot. A week stands between me and "Mr. L," it is a challenging time but I can see some light in a window at a distance.

Teak Shadow Dragonfly - Hacienda Baru, Costa Rica
Canon 5D MarkII + Canon 180mm f3.5L Macro

On October 19, 2011 I embarked on what I call “Project 101.” This is my exercise, a personal journey to reflect on my own photographic process by offering a few ideas to stimulate yours. So as I struggle to grade a mountain of papers and motivate the unmotivated, I suggest that you search for some simplicity in your life. Take a walk with a camera in a quiet place, find a pattern that strikes a chord and contemplate the elegance in nature.

I took a break from my mountain, I took a hike in the woods and I found the time to author this blog. Get out there and make some time to find yourself.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Tip #74: Fighting Macro Frustrations

Spring Lupine - Square Crop - Tamarack Nature Center, MN
Canon 5D Mark II + Canon 100mm f2.8L IS @ f5

Love it or hate it, macro photography provides a context for the broader environmental story. To the nature generalist, macro is just one of the many techniques we use to convey our vision. As with any field of photography, there are specialists. The “macro-master” is disciplined and patient beyond imagination; when compared to them, I am a toddler. The tedium of macro and ultra-closeup photography challenges my imagination and endurance. As such, I am only willing to invest discrete units of time in pursuit of the near microscopic universe.

Too Cold to Move - Tamarack Nature Center, MN
Canon 5D Mark II + Canon 100mm f2.8L IS @ f5

What follows is a list of macro tips for you to consider. If you’ve been following my suggestions thus far, you know the importance of a stable tripod, mirror lock-up and a cable release. I will not rehash these here. Instead, I offer a few ideas for making macro fun, simple and less tedious.

Pick your moments: Macro is most fun when you have an exciting subject and great light to capture it. I shoot most of my macros in soft morning light when there is dew clinging to the miniaturized world.
Use an L-Bracket or Tripod Collar: Tripod gymnastics is a key skill for framing and composing your macro subjects. Having to adjust and readjust to achieve a vertical or horizontal image adds frustration to this tedium. By using an L-bracket attached to the camera or a tripod-collar attached to the lens, you can seamlessly move from vertical to horizontal or anything in between.
Knee Pads save the Back: Making macro images requires a slow and deliberate approach. Regardless of your age, squatting or stooping for long periods of time leads to memorable aches and pains. Combined with rocky or wet surfaces, the pursuit of macros can be quite uncomfortable. This discomfort serves as a reminder to keep the macro lens in the bag when the opportunity suggests otherwise. For once, the solution is cheap and easy, wear knee pads when on the ground and get comfortable with your macro subjects.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Tip #39: Macro in 3D

Lupine Bloom - Tamarack Nature Center, MN
Nikon D2h + Tamron 180 f3.5 Macro @ f4

I have a love/hate relationship with macro photography. I loathe the patience required of the photographer. It is the infinite wait between breezes, ephemeral light, and shallow focus that inspires a short-lived rage. However, I love the details that can be extracted from the near microscopic, obscure, and cryptic. The delicate trichomes (tiny hairs) on the surface of leaves and poisonous spines that envelop larvae captivate my imagination. Razor sharp edges in the foreground contrast with blurred details in the background as leaves or bodies fall out of focus. Layers form when telephoto lenses are combined with large apertures and short focal distances. The soft bokeh at full aperture (out of focus regions) enhances the point of focus and makes an image "pop."

Tip #39

Make it 3D - Use Your Macro or Telephoto at Maximum Aperture and Minimum Focus