Category Archives: macro

Unseen

Posted by Mike on

Bokeh Tuesday
The Little Things – TLT020
Columbus Botanical Garden

During the Daylily Festival Saturday, as people started to accumulate, I took the opportunity to walk the path through the woods to the Camellia Garden. I know the time had passed for most of the blossoms in that area but the tree cover would help shelter me from the sun, and I didn’t expect to see very many people (I was right!). I have a habit of telling new photographers I speak with to remember to look up. There is a tendency to always look straight ahead for your next image.

As I wandered the paths through the Camellia garden, especially the unpaved paths, I found I need to amend my statement above to include looking down. Which, if you think about it, is rather funny considering how much I use my macro lens and crawl all over the ground getting those close-ups of flowers. Maybe it was due to the recent rains but the ground was covered in an assortment of fungi. Not my usual subjects, but I fought my complacency and explored one little stem highlighted by a small beam of sunlight streaking through the tree cover.

Unseen
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/125s, f/4, ISO 100

Blending In

Posted by Mike on

Macro Monday
Columbus Botanical Garden

Saturday was the Daylily Festival at the botanical garden (I almost wrote “my botanical garden”). Last year I was in the beginning of decline with photography but not this year. I hadn’t fully decided if I would be going (you all know, me and crowds don’t always see eye-to-eye). Mother Nature hadn’t decided if she was going to cooperate either.

I attempted to visit the Market Days in Uptown but the rain definitely kept a lot of vendors, and people, at home. That didn’t stop me from a quick stop at Veri Best Donut Co., we’ll keep that between us, before finally calling it a morning and going to Sam’s Club for a few supplies. After returning home it looked like I might be get clearing skies, so I didn’t bring the camera into the apartment. I quickly put everything away and headed back out (the cats look at me like I’m crazy when I come and go so quickly).

As soon as I parked the car it started raining. Figures! I resisted the urge to return home and waited about ten minutes in the car. Only a few raindrops continued and I decided I definitely will not melt, so changed the lens to the 85mm macro lens and walked over to the entrance. Ten minutes after getting into the garden the sun was shining bright and I could feel the humidity start to bear down on me. No worries, plenty of trees to offer shade.

There were quite an assortment of vendors, organizations and displays. I’m glad I fought my natural urge to avoid crowds, and to be honest, there were not a lot of people (yet!). I spent some time exploring everything on display. I bought a honey lollipop from one local vendor, was in awe at the amount of plantings for sale and avoided buying the beautiful ceramic flower pot (Milo would try to eat any plants I bring home).

Eventually, I walked around looking for the daylilies. The lens I was using was the Lensbaby Velvet. It produces a dreamy vignette depending on the aperture. To say it challenges me is an understatement, but I wasn’t going to improve without practice.

Look closely at the daylily. I didn’t notice as I was capturing the image but there is a ladybug enjoying the shade…

Blending In
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/640s, f/4, ISO 100

Dancing

Posted by Mike on

Haiku
Columbus Botanical Garden

I’ve been all over the place with this one…

The original image is very vibrant, but I couldn’t see past the color. The ethereal tone was lost, at least to me, with the bold assault on my senses. So, I simplified it. And then the words started forming…

It has been some time since I wrote a haiku. Hopefully, I haven’t forgot how to do it…

Dancing To Be Me

Not floating, dancing
Not isolation, freedom
Learning to be me

Dancing
Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/1000s, f/4, ISO 100

As part of that learning, I’m over at the cafe again this morning. I decided to be part of the community as I write this post. Still on shaky ground, as it is so far out of my wheelhouse, but, I’m learning. Maybe learning isn’t exactly the right word. How about embracing this experience? Still probably learning… 🙂

Lily, Entrance Me

Posted by Mike on

Columbus Botanical Garden

You can’t walk past a reflection can you?

Me? No! Why Should I?

It’s a mirror, nothing special.

Are you sure? Each one holds something different.

What?

A reflection can be the mirror image of what you are looking at, but it can also show you a different side.

Stop playing with me!

I’m not. Take this lily, the image in the water is not a mirror image but a highlight of the unseen parts. It’s showing the hidden.

Uh huh. So? What are you hiding?

Nice try…

It is probably good that only one lily at a time is making an appearance at the botanical garden. An observer can immediately tell when I spot one. My whole focus changes. I’m not seeing anything else until I have grabbed a few views of the floating princess. Tuesday was no different.

Well, maybe a little different. Although it was early in the afternoon, I was at the garden between the raindrops. The light was filtered through the clouds and I didn’t have to fight the bright white. Made it a lot easier to show the detail in the flower.

Lily Reflecting
Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Of course, I couldn’t leave it alone. Lily was calling to me to ‘electrify’ her. I didn’t want to disappoint her.

Electric Reflection
Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Working It

Posted by Mike on

Columbus Botanical Garden

I think it is fascinating how this photography thing works for me. I know I have made this comment in the past (of course, I couldn’t find the post), but deciding to learn photography changed how I travel through my day. I was almost oblivious to my surroundings. Now, “I see”… the pattern of light, the shapes, the little details, the incongruities, the shadows, etc. At times, I’m amazed I’m able to get where I’m going.

It generally isn’t what I am looking at that captures my eye, it is the light or shadow, the brief movement of a critter or the splash of color on the periphery that draws my attention. After finding the little frog in yesterday’s post (Shelter Me Susan), I was wandering the garden walkways waiting for that unexpected “thing” to stop me in my tracks (hey, it happens, sometimes). Lately, it has been the bees.

This one was focused on the pollen to even notice me…

Working It
Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/2000s, f/4, ISO 100

Shelter Me Susan

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday
Columbus Botanical Garden

Shelter Me Susan
Nikon Z6 III, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 200

Edge of a Dream

Posted by Mike on

Monochrome Monday
Columbus Botanical Garden

Edge of a Dream
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Dreaming in Orange

Posted by Mike on

Columbus Botanical Garden

Orange Dreamsicle
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 100

On the Edge of Thought
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/400s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Float Above
Nikon Z6 III, Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8, 1/250s, f/2.8, ISO 100