Category Archives: macro

Hunt for Spring

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Midday, Macro

Photo hunt time! Karma has challenged us to show her what spring looks like where we live. You can check out her post for the hunt at Signs of Spring Photo Hunt. She included an additional challenge, for those brave enough to partake, of only using a prime lens if you have one (or set your zoom to one focal length). I accept!

The use of the prime lens fits in nicely with my recent love for my 50mm prime. But that is not the lens I chose to use, as my macro lens is also prime (105mm). I needed the macro, as my typical signs of spring are the flowers pushing through the winter blahs.

Although the weather has been crazy this past week, Saturday managed to be sunny and slightly warm. My “go-to” spot for early spring floral images is the rural cemetery. I can usually find daffodils, grape hyacinths, and a crocus or two. Upon arrival, my initial thought was that I would venture out without finding any images to capture. I wandered around, and I was rewarded with quite a few signs of spring…

Beginnings
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/60s, f/3.5, ISO 100

Pushing Through
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Purple
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Resilient
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Daffodils
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Brightly
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 100

And if you managed to make it all the way to the end of this post…

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

–William Wordsworth

Better Late Than Never

Posted by Mike on

Around Central NY

For quite a few years I published a “Best of” post for this blog. With my roller coaster ride last year and lack of interest at the end of the year, I consciously chose not to do one but now I’m having second thoughts. Weird where the mind goes…

I need to back up a little. So, what happened today? I thought of joining a 52-week photography challenge to push myself creatively (historically, they haven’t worked for me). The challenge I read about started out with a “Best of 2023” for week 1. I didn’t like having to sign-up for the website in order to post images in the gallery and changed my approach.

I now want to do the review. Who knew?

I think it is good to review your images. Doing an honest review is helpful to understanding what I gravitate toward photographically, and what I need to improve. Plus, it allows me to show off my images again and let everyone tell me how great I am… just kidding. No, really, I’m not that vain. I swear… ;)

I do not need to post on another site, I can use this one. I did find a 52-week challenge list at 52frames.com which might work for me. The first few challenges will not be favorites of mine but I did say I want to challenge myself. I’ll keep reading the post I wrote on my challenges this year to remind myself “to get off my arse.”

Back to the review…

One of the first few weeks of picking the camera up again I went to the West Canada Creek for long exposure water flows. I can’t get enough of these types of images. I enjoy the challenge of finding the best exposure to showcase the flow of water in the creek.

Mixed Emotions
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II, 1/10s, 132mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

I was going for more walks in the Spring. It helped that the city completed the trail along the Mohawk River which ends very close to my apartment. I can walk out the door and get in a good five miles all while exploring the river with my camera. I also stop for a lot of macro images. I really enjoyed how this close-up of a dandelion turned out.

Gentle Caress
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/400s, f/2.8, ISO 200

I’m a waterfall nut. I don’t have any problem driving to capture a waterfall image. Most of my trips to Ithaca are due to the plethora of opportunities for waterfalls. I also have one (or two) in my backyard. Pixley Falls State Park is twenty minutes north of me. I arrived very early one morning in June and was rewarded with great light.

Cascading
Pixley Falls State Park
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.6s, 23mm, f/11, ISO 200

My trip to Florida was postponed from May until June due to my worry for one of my cats. He was not feeling well until I cancelled the trip and miraculously he seemed OK the next day. It was a Florida coast and short Disney trip. I was fortunate enough to get a sunset image of a sailboat moored in the Indian River as a storm was rolling in.

Stoic
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/500s, 50mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Another waterfall. You were warned. This is my favorite section of the gorge trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca. A very good portion of the waterfall images hanging in my place are from this park. I also have a habit of processing the images as B&W unless it is during the fall season. If the color is a distraction I will remove it and this one didn’t need any color.

Hush!
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.6s, 47mm, f/11, ISO 100

One morning in August I went to Bellamy Harbor Park for the sunrise. The fog had other plans. I rolled with it. I miss the trees that lined the walkway. They deteriorated to far and the city needed to remove them. But, I’m still able to include the benches.

Rest
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.6s, 54mm, f/16, ISO 100

I had a really good time sharing my photography with friends at work. I did a lunch & learn session as well as a few photo walks. Engaging with everyone definitely keeps me going creatively and photographically. This image at the sculpture park is a result of the first photo walk and me attempting to explain the difference between taking a picture and creating an image.

Just Over There
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/500s, f/5, ISO 100

I have to include one of the images from my walk on December 31st. I hadn’t picked up the camera in months but due to a conversation with someone I met at my go-to place for dinner I felt the need to go exploring. It was not a particularly good evening and the sunset was non-existent but I made it work. Plus, I can’t resist trees without leaves. This image was also the mood I wanted to capture when I drove to the park.

The Park
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S, 1/5s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Well, let me know what you think. Is there a different image that is your favorite. Comments are appreciated.

I’m going to check if the snow has slowed enough for me to go grab a few images. And then I need to figure out what I’m doing for the first week’s challenge. It is a self portrait (which I abhor!). Wish me luck, or this might be over before it even starts… :)

After Sunset Fades

Posted by Mike on

Midday, Floral, Macro

The Beautiful Changes

BY RICHARD WILBUR
One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides   
The Queen Anne’s Lace lying like lilies
On water; it glides
So from the walker, it turns
Dry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade of you   
Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes.

The beautiful changes as a forest is changed   
By a chameleon’s tuning his skin to it;   
As a mantis, arranged
On a green leaf, grows
Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves   
Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows.

Your hands hold roses always in a way that says   
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes   
In such kind ways,   
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose   
For a moment all that it touches back to wonder.

After Sunset Fades
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Let Me Soar

Posted by Mike on

Squared – SQ181
Midday, Floral, Macro

Let Me Soar
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO 100