CalevPhoto

A different take of the ponds near my office

Recently I started a new challenge where each Friday I will photograph several ponds that are located near my office.  Last Friday I went again to the ponds but I decided to try something different.  Instead of searching for tiny creatures with my MP-E 65, I decided to use my 180L instead.  In addition, I did not allow myself to use my MT-24EX but instead had to use ambient lighting.

Occasionally I like putting myself out of the comfort zone.  I did afford myself a monopod – though if I try this again I will likely bring a tripod instead.

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Some more work on composition

About two weeks ago, temperatures were only a little bit chilly on the weekend so I went out to see what I could find.  I also went out to try to improve my compositions.  It is my goal to not just take identification pictures of insects and other small creatures – but to give them personality and make pleasing shots to look at.

Most of the small critters were hard to find that day, but I did find some interesting things.  This one I found rather cute and it looks almost like the worm is introducing himself!

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My new resolution for each Friday

Next to my office, there are several ponds that are teeming with wildlife.  Once in awhile, I go down there during lunch to take a few pictures.  I often find that my best macro shots are taken in places I go to often.  For instance, the majority of my best shots come from my backyard.

Therefore, I have decided to organize a group mini-photoshoot each Friday during lunch.  This will push me to make sure I show up here each Friday.  Each day, I also try to do something different.  For instance, the last time I went there I took my MP-E 65 and took pictures of the few creatures I could find.  Conditions were wet and chilly and much insect life had not yet appeared.  However, I did find some interesting worms.

As with current trends, I am trying to pay more attention to composition in my shots.  Therefore, it worked out quite well that I found some interesting worms.

I am excited to keep visiting this location each week to see it slowly change.  It is a very interesting area and I will try a few non-macro shots as well in the future.  For instance, there are a great deal of birds here so I will bring my 100-400 at some point.

Insect Wednesday

Last weekend was a productive weekend for me, photography-wise.  I wandered around my yard looking for interesting subjects and found several, without having to look very hard.  This fly was very gracious to let me get several shots off.

I also learned a new trick.  One thing to make sure to not do when photographing flies is to get in their light.  I played around with this one to see how much it does truly matter.  Sure enough, whenever I stood in its light, the fly took off.  Therefore I approached from a direction such that my lens would not cast a shadow on the fly.

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A Curious Case of Midges

Every winter, approximately at this time, I notice that midges start collecting on our shed outside.  My suspicion is that this is for mating, and that there is something about the shed that the midges like.  Last weekend I decided to see what I could find outside and to no great surprise I found a few midges on our barn.

I didn’t bother photographing them for very long because there weren’t that many of them, I already have a number of photographs of midges, and there weren’t any midges in really great photographic position.

Nevertheless, that didn’t prevent several mysteries from cropping up.

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Working on composition with frost

One area where I think I really need to work on is my compositions.  I have been reading several books lately on composition and when I noticed this weekend that there was frost on the ground, I decided to step outside and see what I could put together.

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My Obligatory Owl Butterfly Shot

After reading several books on macro photography, I have come to realize that there is a ‘right of passage’ for all macro photographers.  Simply put, in order to become a macro photographer you must take a closeup shot of an own butterfly.

So, this weekend while at the Pacific Science Center, I decided that I should join the club.

There!  Now I have officially joined the club!  OK, maybe I could have put the ‘eye’ a bit to the right and exposed it a tad bit less, but nonetheless I have not posted my ‘obligatory’ shot so I am officially in the club!

You know you’re a photographer when…

A few weeks ago while visiting friends during the end of the snow storm we received here, we were all quietly sitting and chatting and looking at the snow fall outside.  My wife mentioned how she was getting sick of this snow and hoped that it didn’t continue for long.

I was about to answer her when I noticed something interesting on the tree outside.  The drops on the tree seemed to be glistening and it looked like prime drop territory!  Luckily I had brought all of my equipment so I put on my macro lens and went outside to take some shots!

I could tell as I was taking the shots that I was mistaken.  I had thought there was potential for an award winning shot there but the situation wasn’t as good as I had hoped for.  Because the limbs were rather far apart, I got a black background instead of a lighter one.  It was not possible to use a tripod this close in so I finished taking some shots and went back inside.

I wasn’t too bummed though, as it was fun taking shots for a bit, and as long as I could take ice melting shots, I was fine with whatever amount of snow came our way.

Book Review – For Love of Insects

If you want to photograph insects, it is always a good idea to learn more about them.  For that reason, I have tried to read a book on them whenever I read a photography book.  For those who are curious what the life of an entomologist is truly like, this is the best book I have seen.

This is not a reference book, but is instead more of a collection of stories.  Eisner goes through the major projects he has worked on during his career and how they came about various discoveries.

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The Mystery of the Six Legged Spider

This weekend I took a brief opportunity to look at what I could find outside.  The weather has been cold here and we recently got over a snowstorm, so I wasn’t too optimistic.  In addition, it started raining soon after I got out so I didn’t have much time to take any pictures.

I did manage to find this tiny spider though on my kids’ slide.

This spider was incredibly tiny – requiring 5x magnification from my MP-E 65 to get this shot.  After downloading the shot, I looked through some of my books to attempt to get an ID – but after some investigation I can 100% say I have no idea what type of spider this is.

When my wife looked at the picture, she picked out an obvious mystery.  It only has six legs.

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