Macro Photography Tip

If you've visited my blog for any length of time you have probably noticed my addiction love of macro photography, mainly creepy crawlies, bugs, insects etc... 

I've gotten a few questions about how I get some shots.  Funny, but I never thought to post advice about that, mainly because I'm constantly learning and trying to improve, then I realized, isn't that what we all do?  It's good to share, learn and try new things that maybe we hadn't thought of before.  I've learned techniques from experts but many things were learned from different bloggers and community message boards that I come across from time to time, usually by googling the question and searching the results.

The above pictures I shot this morning, around 7 AM, in my garden.  My first macro lens was the Nikon 60mm but these were taken with a Tokina 100mm 2.8, which works beautifully with my d700.

Insects like the ones in the pictures are sometimes difficult to get a sharp photo of because of their quick movement.  Try heading out early on a cool morning.  Many of these insects are still "sleeping" on the flower they were collecting pollen from when the sun went down.  I was lucky enough to find these two on my mint plant.  My tripod came in handy to balance on, but I didn't have it set up traditionally on all three legs.  Another trick I learned was using my exposure delay mode (in custom setting menu/shooting display in my d700).  It helps with camera shake when using a tripod, or not.  I don't have a remote camera release, but if you do, macro is an excellent time to use it with your camera mounted on your tripod.  It's amazing how little camera shake can blur your shot.  Another simple thing I tried was using my timer delay with my camera mounted on the tripod.  Mine is set to five seconds.

So there it is, clear as mud? haha.  Happy shooting and if you happen to stop by, please leave a comment and a link to your macro photos, I'd love to see them! 

All is right in our world

Irene is now a not so fond memory for us although so many still are without power in our area and school (the first day) is closed tomorrow.  At least the frogs in our pond were not phased by the whole thing, if fact, they seemed rather pleased.

The Calm Before the Storm

"Red sky at night,

sailor's delight,

Red sky at morning,

sailor's warning."

Have you heard that saying before?  It reminded me of the picture I took at sunset last night.

It's a beautiful (hot) sunny day in eastern Pennsylvania today, so I guess it holds true.  And if it is true, tomorrow's sunrise should be a doozie.  We're expecting to experience the effects of hurricane Irene by midday tomorrow.  We decided to throw caution to the wind (get it?) and not bother to take down the canvas of our deck canopy.  It's managed through the spring and summer storms so we're hoping for the best, plus it's one dang pain in the bum to remove and put back up.  We did however tie back the screening and that required a little spider relocation mission of which I took no part.  Here's a picture of the gal that I took a few days ago while she was eating her lunch.  We'll just call her Charlotte:

Isn't she just precious?  Or is that voracious?

All spider relocation aside we're more concerned about the basement water situation.  The last disaster was hurrican Floyd and when the power went out, the sump pump stopped working.  No battery backup= major basement clean-up.  That's nothing though compared to what my parents may have to deal with in North Carolina.  They live in the direct path of the eye and have left their mobile home to stay with friends at their house, which ironically, live closer to the water.

Hoping for the best!  Stay safe if you are in the path of this storm.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Soon to be a memory...

My coneflowers were gorgeous and abundant this year but are fading fast.  I'm always sad to see them go.  The finches, however, will be well-fed this year with tons of seed heads to feast upon.

And the countdown begins...

One week from today Alexa will be leaving to go back to school.  We didn't have as much time together this year between her heavy work schedule and my month away with my parents, but at least we made the most of the time we had together. 

I took this portrait of her in June and it's currently my favorite.

October seems like forever away right now...

Sappy blog post ALERT!

If you are a fan of the Bridget Jones movies you probably remember this line:

"I just don't work without you."  From Colin (Briget's) dad to her mother when she finally comes home.

Even though Tony didn't say those exact words when I came home after a month away the ones he did express were of that sentiment,

and it made me smile.

Home

Timmy and I arrived home last night to be greeted by two very happy and extremely excited girl doggies.  They loved on me like nobody's business, not taking their eyes off me all night.  They barked at the door when Tony and I went to bed, we didn't have the heart to not let them in. 

This is pretty much the look I've been getting from them all day today.

I have two shadows named Joy and Caligirl.

The little buggers.

And speaking of little buggers...

Has anyone out there seen these type of insects in their garden?

There are hundreds of them on my mint plant.

They look like wasps, but they're not the typical looking wasps we have here.

They also don't seem to mind me getting my camera lens all up in their kool aid.

If anyone knows I'd love to find out their proper or common name.

The home stretch

We're almost home.  I say "almost" because we've been so so far away for so long that even Northern Massachusetts seems close.  I will be home by Monday night, Tony is making sure of that, being back in my own bed will be a welcome feeling. 

The trip home has been filled with meeting new friends, lots of visits with old friends, both my from my mom's childhood and mine.  It's great to have the opportunity to catch up and (for me) to say to him, "I can't believe we are this old!".

Soon, it will be back to reality, the routine, the candle orders, the bills- I'm ready for that after being away for this month, and thankfully, they are ready for me as well.

I took this picture in Acton, Maine, outside the window of the motor home in our campsite.

 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

It's raining this today.  The first rainy day of our trip believe it or not so it's the perfect time to reflect on the photos that I've taken, do some playing, and participate in Scavenger Hunt Sunday!

Seeing double/two:

I took this picture of black-eyed Susans in the window of Columbia Falls Pottery in Columbia Falls, Maine just yesterday.  I collect the Lupine pattern of this pottery and pick up a piece or two (or this time five) every time I come through the area.

Whatever:

Whatever Kyle is pointing to in this picture I can't remember to save my life, but it's certainly a purdy one.  I took this on Campobello Island, New Brunswick Canada last week in the Roosevelt Campobello International Park.  The only international park in the world, funded by both Canada and the USA.  There will be more photos of the park in this post to come.

Sweet:

This guy lives at the Searsport Campground in Searsport, Maine.  He has the sweetest face and was very sweet to the children who walked up to feed him greens.  Melted my heart.

Space:

What can I say?  If there's anything that Campobello Island offers is plenty of wide open space, on land, in the ocean and sky.  Just gorgeous.

Bright:

One of my favorite photos of the International Park.  Love how the sun came out in this picture and the clouds took my breath away.

 

Treasure Island

I didn't buy many things while on Campobello Island but anyone who knows me knows I love me a good yard sale!  I found this treasure, a Christian Dior scarf at the St. Anne's Church yard sale a few days after we arrived. 

The staggering price?  $2 CND.  Oh, happy day!

Don't mess with Mom, or Kyle!

I don't know if it's the extra clean air here on Campobello Island, or the Canadian spinach we ate for dinner the night before, but when we were on the beach the other day Mom did this:

And Kyle did this:

Look out!  I wouldn't mess with either one.

Especially when they are dealing with the only drawback to island life that we have discovered thus far.

The very limited, spotty and often times non-existent cell service. 

Can you hear me now?