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Elegance
It is usually subjects with contrast which get our attention while subtle colors and shapes pass unnoticed. This flower was almost overlooked during that photo session. It was actually because of a bee that it got my attention. Before switching to a macro lens (to get some close up photos of the bee) I decided to get some shots of it with the 50 mm Nikkor lens which is one of the sharpest lenses available for everyday use for Nikon cameras. Although some detail may have been lost the tremendous depth of field of this lens rewarded me with a very nice photo. It is one of the very rare photos that I relied on the auto focus function of the camera.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: AF Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 D
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/10, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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Apis mellifera (Family: Apidae)
This is a photo that I really loved both while taking it and then when I saw it on my monitor. The bee couldn't have been at a better position and the subtle colors create something like a frame for it. There was enough light at that moment but I decided to use the flash anyway. After viewing it on my monitor, I can't tell where the natural light stops and the artificial light starts, they blend fantastically. Of course, you need to be there with the right equipment to take this sort of photo which demands some preparation by you, but on the other hand, you may well spend a whole day walking and never come across this scene. In sort, you need some luck, too. The 90 mm macro lens was the right lens for this shot. Perhaps the 180 mm would give me more flexibility and the chance of a second shot. However, I am not sure I would get this photo if I wasted those precious seconds to change lenses.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500 sec - f/4, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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Tegenaria civilis (Family: Araneidae)
The tiny spider was still resting in almost the same place so it was not difficult to find it and get some shots, progressively increasing the magnification. This particular shot was taken at the minimum distance of the macro lens which means a life-size photo. Minutes later, the spider moved to the core of the flower and was not visible any more. A nice little creature, measuring less than 5 mm and still "wearing" this beautiful dress. The camera was mounted on a tripod to reduce vibration and was fired with a remote control. A couple of hand-held shots came out blurry which proves the necessity of a tripod for large magnification photography.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/16, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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Delicate and beautiful
A white flower with pink edges and a yellow central part. The only thing you can ask for is to have your camera and a macro lens.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Begonia semperflorens (Common name: wax begonia; white cultivar)
These little flowers blossom in summer and last surprisingly long, especially if you take the size of the plant into account. Those flowers were shot in mid-autumn. The two-way symmetry which characterizes this flower along with its satin-like texture make it stand out. However, since the flowers are really small and come next to each other it is quite difficult to isolate one in the picture. Furthermore, its 3-D structure is not flat so you have to deal with depth of field. In fact, the close working distance and the depth of the flower shows you that there is only one way to take a descent photo of this flower: use your minimum aperture and just hope and pray that the wind doesn't blow. The flash unit - although absolutely essential at f/32 - left a bit to be desired in this shot.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/32, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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Phalaenopsis sp. (Orchid)
Due to a severe illness in January I was forced to stay inside to recover. I only needed to avoid physical efforts but was allowed to move around. When I felt a bit better I took out the camera and got the idea of shooting the Phalaenopsis (some kind of orchid) that my wife had bought and that were shining on the kitchen table. I used a large piece of cardboard to get a non-distracting background and only relied on the light available in the kitchen. I placed the camera on a solid surface and used MLU to eliminate vibrations of any kind. I shot JPEG what I only rarely do and used preset WB to get the correct WB under these artificial circumstances.
Photo by Frank Panis
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2x
Lens: AF 35-70mm f2.8 @ 70mm
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1.6s and f/11
Flash:none
Image: JPEG, converted in Nikon Capture 4.4.0 |
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Lilium longiflorum (Family: Liliaceae; common name: white trumpet lily, Easter lily, Bermuda lily)
Those beautiful white trumpet lilies were sitting there as if waiting for someone to take a photo of them. I had to lie on the ground to be at the same level with them in order to take a photo from the side, showing all flowers in the same shot. A really small aperture was chosen for that and fill in flash helped to isolate them from the background. Many thanks to Al Casagrandi for the correct identification of the plant.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/18, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.
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Chrysanthemum sp. (Family: Compositae) and Tegenaria civilis (Family: Araneidae)
The tiny spider is using this flower as a place to hunt. When I viewed the photo in PS I noticed it and I immediately grabbed the camera and got back to the flower - hoping the spider was still there. Even though the spider is too small by comparison to the flower, this picture is still a nice composition - and a lucky shot of course.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/16, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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Chrysanthemum (Asian variety); Family: Compositae
Some Chrysanthemum flowers created a white spot in an otherwise dull environment. The flowers had opened the day before for the first time so they were still in prime shape. Direct sunlight was falling sidewise so the use of a flash was necessary to avoid a dark and a bright zone on the flowers. I selected the "balanced" option on the flash unit, which I rarely use, to illuminate the scene looking for a natural but balanced lighting on both sides. Surprisingly, very little needed to be done during processing this shot in Photoshop. The use of a macro lens helped to capture enough detail on the flowers.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/100 sec - f/8, AP mode
Flash: SB800, auto/return light detected (TTL/BL mode)
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop CS, unsharp mask filter, curves to reduce the highlights and resized.
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Welcome Spring! (Prunus dulcis ; common name: Almond tree)
One of the most striking things during the end of winter is the white flowers of the almond trees, which are the first to blossom marking the dull scenery with their bright white color. This branch of the tree made an excellent contrast with an otherwise common winter day. Cloudy, windy and rainy. And then you see those little flowers telling you that this is about to end. In this photo I tried to include everything, the cloudy sky, the dull colors of the mountain scene and the flowers of the tree. I chose this branch which is almost "touching" the coniferous tree at the back and placed it in such a way to occupy 2/3 of the scene. Sometimes, those rules come in handy.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED D @ 92 mm.
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/1000 sec, f/5.6 Aperture priority mode
Flash: None
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized. |
