CalevPhoto

Playing around with dandelion seeds

Dandelions have always been one of my favorite subjects – in particular the seeds as they fall.  Sure, they’re weeds – but they’re graceful weeds.

This particular image is a focus stack from two images.  I have been working a bit more with focus stacking using Zerene stacker and find it very useful – in particular for someone like me who does not have a lot of time.

Dandelion seeds can actually be rather tricky to photograph.  I usually find that more than 1:1 magnification is required so I use my MP-E 65 anywhere from 1:1 to 2:1.  Generally the seeds do not stay still so a flash is required.  It can be quite tricky though getting the seed in your viewfinder and in focus as they tend to sway quite a bit in the wind – causing the seed to come in and out of my viewfinder.

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Fun with dandelion seeds

One subject I enjoy taking almost as much as insects is dandelion seeds.  Thanks to the extreme care I give to my lawn, dandelions are abundant.  I enjoy finding seeds that are almost ready to fly away and in some cases a tiny bit of Photoshop is all that is necessary to give the illusion that it is already floating away.  The following shots were not Photoshopped in that way, though I typically bring the shadows up to emphasize the seeds.  I have found that the Canon 180L is the perfect lens for this.  Very often 1x is all I need and the MP-E 65 can often disturb the seed if I am not careful.

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Guest Photographer – Eitan Calev

Today, rather than showing my own pictures, I thought I would present the pictures from a guest photographer.  Today’s photographer is Eitan Calev, who became interested in photography through his father’s interest.  He has constantly watched me take pictures for some time now and has decided to take the plunge himself.  His first photos were taken with a Fisher Price camera while on vacation in Thailand, but he has significantly improved his skills (and equipment) since then.  No longer satisfied with cheap kids’ cameras, he now demands to use the finest equipment and therefore borrows his father’s camera under his supervision.

This picture was taken entirely by him, with his father only helping him to hold the rather heavy Canon 180L lens.  Still, I think it is rather impressive that at this age (a few months short of five) he is using the rule of thirds already.

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Some new bugs for the year

I always enjoy getting out and taking some pictures of bugs, so I was very happy that during the weekend we had a brief respite from the rain so I could get out and photograph.  The frustrating thing with insect photography is figuring out what I took pictures of afterwards.  Despite the fact that most of my shots are from my backyard, I’m still finding new bugs each time I photograph.  At first things were a bit slow, so I took this picture of a dandelion while looking for interesting critters.

This image is part of a ‘geometry in nature’ series that I am working on, though I doubt it will end up in the final collection.  It came out as I expected, but I haven’t been able to make the yellow stronger and I think the shot is missing some ‘oomph’ in general.

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