Two Firsts!

I was so thrilled and surprised last night to win two first places in the Chester County Camera Club April photo competition especially given all the incredible images  that were submitted.  Click over and check them out if you have a moment.  I love being part of the club.  I've learned so much from the members, speakers and workshops and have met many new friends with a similar obsession.  I would recommend to anyone to google camera club organizations in your area and see if there's one to join.

Here's my first winning image:

Gerbera 
Catagory: Assigned (flowers) Monochrome

Camera	Nikon D700
Exposure	2
Aperture	f/32.0
Focal Length	100 mm
ISO Speed	400

Second image:
Message in a Bottle
Catagory:  Open Monochrome

Camera	Nikon D700
Exposure	0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	70 mm
ISO Speed	200

Both images are low key, shot in color, desaturated in post processing (CS5/topaz adjust filter).
I set up in my kitchen for most all of my indoor macro photography.  I have a north facing sliding glass door next to the kitchen island which seems to work perfectly when I position my 42" reflector (silver side) facing the door.  The light reflects perfectly onto my subject and is very easy to control.  My dark background is just an old black velvet jacket draped over a wooden crate, perfect.  I always use a tripod when shooting like this, especially note the f-stop in the first image.  I have a standard tripod but I recently fell deeply in love with my Joby Gorrillapod.  I probably use this for 90% of my macro photography.  I don't know how I ever got along without it!  A remote shutter release is recommended but if you don't have one your timer setting works well too.

Linking up with Tuesday Tutorial: Low Key Photography