the world through a photographer’s eyes…
I’m feeling blue…
Not really - but I like these photos. Took them at the exit of the local Cineplex Odeon movie theatre a few weeks ago.
Tags: blue, cineplex odeon, door, exit, light, Minimalism, urban
Macro Monday : Beach/Sand/Dirt
I’m always looking for new ideas and ways to increase my learning with photography. One of the groups I joined on Flickr is Macro Mondays. Every week, a new theme is set then the following Monday, everyone uploads a maximum of five images to the group. This weeks Macro Monday was Beach/Sand/Dirt. The image below seems to be the most popular of my set for the week.
Tags: beach, macro, macro mondays, raynox, sand
Eye macro
The shot for my threesixtyfive project today consisted of a macro of my eye. I wanted to see how close I could really get so I used +1/+2/+4 Optex close-up filters stacked, and then attached my Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Conversion Lens to the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Took a few shots, but got a couple more or less centered and detailed shots. Made some adjustments in Photoshop to achieve the final result.
Have had a few people asking about my process so here goes.
Shot this with my 50mm. Stacked +1, +2, and +4 close-up filters and used my Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Conversion Lens on top of those. Took about 20 shots, 2 or 3 were this detailed, this one was closest to centered. Opened RAW file in Photoshop, adjusted white balance and increased clarity. In Photoshop cropped to about 90% so this is pretty close to how it was framed in camera. Duplicated the background layer, set it to screen mode. Reduced opacity of screen layer to 50%, and masked out everything except the iris and pupil. Added a B&W adjustment layer and reduced opacity to about 70%. Added a vignette based on the main background layer. I then added a curves adjustment layer, and then added a brightness/contrast adjustment layer above all the layers and adjusted the contrast a bit. And voila… so layer order from top to bottom was:
- Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer
- Curves layer
- Background layer set to screen mode with all but iris/pupil masked out
- Black & White adjustment layer
- Vignette layer
- Background layer (original image)
Tags: closeup, eye, macro, raynox, threesixtyfive
Published on NowPublic.com
I was contacted earlier today to see if I would allow the use of this image to illustrate an article on the proposed London drinking ban. Of course I allowed it!
Check out the New London Mayor to Ban Drinking on the Tube article over at NowPublic.com. Maybe I should make an effort to check out the new stories daily and add images I see fit…
Tags: beer, can, close up, macro, nowpublic, Published, pull tab, tab
Muttart Conservatory : Tropical Pavillion
Headed out to the Muttart Conservatory here in town, heard they were closing soon until October so I figured I should make my way there sooner… as well it was cold out so it was a relatively warm spot to snap some shots. These are some of the ones I liked the best. These were all taken with my Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Conversion Lens. Please click the links below to view the actual images on my photostream, this mosaic doesn’t do them justice!
1. Allamanda cathartica ‘Williamsii’ (Golden-Trumpet), 2. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Easter Lily), 3. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Easter Lily), 4. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Easter Lily), 5. Zantedeschia aethiopica (Easter Lily), 6. Red Lily, 7. Haemanthus coccineus (Blood Lily), 8. Haemanthus coccineus (Blood Lily), 9. Purple flowers, 10. Begonia X rex-cultorum (Rex Begonia), 11. Palm leaf, 12. Yellow (Tiger?) Orchid, 13. Purple Orchid, 14. Purple Orchid
Muttart Conservatory : Arid Pavillion
Headed out to the Muttart Conservatory here in town, heard they were closing soon until October so I figured I should make my way there sooner… as well it was cold out so it was a relatively warm spot to snap some shots. These are some of the ones I liked the best. These were all taken with my Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Conversion Lens. Please click the links below to view the actual images on my photostream, this mosaic doesn’t do them justice!
1. Euphorbia Milii (Crown-of-Thorns), 2. Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw), 3. Cactus, 4. Cactus, 5. Pink flowers, 6. Notocactus magnifica (Ball Cactus)
Alternatives to Buying a Dedicated Macro Lens for your DSLR
Another great article over on DPS about alternatives to buying a dedicated macro lens…
If you want to experiment with taking Macro images but don’t have the budget to be able to afford a dedicated Macro lens for your DSLR there are a number of other Macro lens alternatives worth considering.
Each alternative has their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, portability and image quality - but it’s amazing at what can be achieved on a budget to give you a taste of the world of macro photography.
I’ve ordered the Raynox DCR-250, not mentioned in the article but I’ve seen GREAT shots with it, and am awaiting it - it has been shipped! Read about some of the other macro lens alternatives available over at the DPS blog.
Tags: alternative, DPS, lenses, macro, Tips
I is for Itty Bitty - flickr Fave of the Day
My fave of the day comes from the DPS forums alphabet game… I just like the framing on this one and the subject matter… wish we’d done more like this when our kids were still babies.
I is for Itty Bitty, originally uploaded by Amy-Rose.
Tags: amy-rose, flickr Fave of the day, foot, hand
The Art Of A Dragonfly - flickr Fave of the Day
Well my Fave of the Day is one of the first I found on flickr that I really liked… I love the tightness of the shot and the closeness to it… the reflection is definitely what makes the photo!
The Art Of A Dragonfly, originally uploaded by BluAlien.
Recent Flickr uploads
