Archive for Thursday, January 8, 2009
For garden shots, try macro lens
January 8, 2009
Advertisement
Gardeners learn quickly that a fascinating world performs freely at their feet — a miniature world of dewdrops clinging to flower petals; ornate, one-of-a-kind snowflakes building into drifts; or the pollen-coated legs of honeybees foraging among the flowers.
What can make these images even more appealing is using a macro lens on a camera to document and share them.
“Macro photography is the visual portal to a world most people walk by without a glance,” says Alan Detrick in his book, “Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers” (Timber Press, 2008). “Plants, animals and parts of plants and animals never before imagined enter the camera’s viewfinder” — and all in the backyard, or perhaps a neighborhood park.
Most point-and-shoot cameras have the macro mode built in.
“That allows you to focus on a subject as close as one-half to 1 inch in front of the camera lens,” says Ian Adams, who wrote “The Art of Garden Photography” (Timber Press, 2005).
“I strongly recommend a macro lens for plant portraiture.”
That generally means stepping up to a digital single lens reflex camera (D-SLR), which is designed for interchangeable lenses, including the general purpose macro series.
“Get the longest (macro lens) you can afford because they generally give you better results,” Adams says.
The shorter lenses are a good choice if you’re looking for a pollinator’s-eye view of particular blooms or want to belly up to some low-lying Alpine plants. But they require working at close range — often too close when trying to incorporate skittish insects or birds among the flowers.
“If you’re photographing a timber rattler and don’t want to get bitten, it’s good to be 3 or 4 feet away,” Adams says. “If you’re photographing butterflies, which startle easily, it’s nice to be able to step back and still have that macro capability.”
A tripod is probably the most important accessory for garden photographers to carry, Adams says. “It stabilizes the camera for sharper pictures. It gives you more flexibility for slow shutter speeds and large f-stops for deeper depth of field. You can look more deeply at the composition itself. You can’t see it all that well while hand-holding.”
More like this
- Cameras can be an important garden tool January 8, 2009
- Here are tips to shoot flowers May 18, 2003
- Shooting butterflies can be challenging October 19, 2003
- GARDEN SPOT May 2, 1999
- Behind the Lens: Makeshift monopod good in low light 1 comment / April 20, 2008
Top ads RSS
- PHLEBOTOMIST Part time experienced phlebotomist needed for medical office. Hours ...
- LPN Baldwin Healthcare is currently accepting applications for a full ...
- Dishwasher The Merc is hiring! We’re looking for a high ...
- Operator Wanted Experienced Operator wanted to assist in the running ...
- NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS Come by the store and fill ...
- On the street: Did you watch 'Sesame Street' when you were a child? November 10, 2009 · 31 comments
- Blog: I Am An Ageist. November 9, 2009 · 41 comments
- Blog: Being A Stripper: 10 Things I'Ve Learned So Far November 10, 2009 · 30 comments
- Thanks to Moore November 10, 2009 · 24 comments
- Free State donation breaks board rules November 10, 2009 · 11 comments
- Parental duties November 10, 2009 · 11 comments
- Blog: 10 Things I Almost Forgot About Since Being A Stripper November 10, 2009 · 9 comments
- City hopes to get grant money to make safer path between KU campus and downtown November 9, 2009 · 23 comments
- Blog: I Am Batman. November 10, 2009 · 5 comments
- Vote reveals weakness in both parties November 10, 2009 · 9 comments
- 'White Owl' held in jail in connection with protective order case November 9, 2009
- Cats are independent but trainable November 10, 2009
- Season's greetings: Photographer’s book explores Kansas nature November 10, 2009
- Gary Bedore’s KU Basketball Notebook November 10, 2009
- Five downtown Lawrence businesses report burglaries over the weekend November 9, 2009
- New method makes meth more mobile November 9, 2009
- Reed re-injures right ankle but still might play against Pitt State Tuesday November 9, 2009
- ‘Upward’ teams help churches reach out November 10, 2009
- Algae’s energy potential blooms November 9, 2009
- PB&J in the U.S.A. November 9, 2009
Post a comment
Requires free LJWorld.com registration. Register or log in below.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
Post a blog entry
You have to be logged in to blog on LJWorld.com. Please log in or sign up.
Learn more about blogging on LJWorld.com.