Spring is in the air….

Since spring is just around the corner I thought it would be fitting to brighten up the blog with some beautiful floral photography. We’ve all had enough of the ugly, terrible, cold winter we have been having. Who cannot wait for the leaves to bud and the flowers to bloom? *raises hand*

The photos on the blog have been taken (by me) using the tips I’ve discussed in previous posts. 

Use natural light (where possible). Move your subject to a natural light source if you can. It’s the best way to capture it in all its glory. You don’t have to be confined to taking pictures in your home, get out of the house and explore other possibilities.

Lighting. There are certain times of day that are just better to shoot than others. If you’re outside on a sunny day you will know what I mean. There can be shadows and harsh bright light. One way to overcome this is to have reflectors, or simply have your subject face the right way. 

Get up close and personal. Get in close, as close as you can while still remaining in focus. The best way to accomplish this is with a fixed lens (one that doesn’t zoom), also affectionately known as a macro lens (usually 50mm). 

I hope you have enjoyed all the tips and photos I have shared. Please check out my photo board of tips on my Pinterest page for more in depth tips. 

For anyone further interested in taking their skills to the next level Improve Photography has some great online classes that I highly recommend. 

Get out there and practice and thanks for reading! 

It’s all about the details!!!

Today we’re going to talk a little about macro photography. For all of those readers out there who don’t know what macro means, simply put it is close up photos that show detail.

I’m going to be featuring some of my own photos. Keep in mind that there are many factors that influence a photo. Lenses, camera body, settings and the quality of your equipment (unfortunately) makes a difference as well. Caveat: You get what you pay for with photo equipment. I do not own professional equipment. I do not own expensive macro lenses.  The photos shown on today’s post are years old and shot with everything from an old video camera to a new DSLR. You don’t need expensive and professional equipment to get the shot you want, but boy does it help! 

This first photo was shot with an old video camera, circa the 2000’s.  I simply got as close as I could, and held as still as possible. I’m quite sure that I was actually laying on the ground in my parents from yard to get this photo. The quality isn’t great, it’s a bit grainy but I still consider it a neat photo. This is one of my very first attempts at an “artsy/macro” kind of shot and I think it turned out well considering I couldn't change any settings. This image is SOOC (straight out of camera) and has not been post processed with any editing software. 



As I became more skilled and gained more equipment I started producing higher quality images. Even though these photos have been compressed (with downloading and uploading) you can still see the difference in quality. The sparkle of the ring and the reflection in the gold ring. I actually had to edit my reflection out of the gold ring. Besides editing myself out, this photo has had little post processing besides bumping up the sharpness a little.  

Stay tuned for more examples and tips! 
Check out these amazing tips from Improve Photography!