Shooting Clean Flower Backgrounds

If you’ve ever studied some of the better macro shooters you’ll see those nice clean solid color backgrounds that allow a flower to stand out with no distractions to pull your eye away from the main subject.  This just doesn’t happen by accident, it’s carefully planned, and not all that hard to do.  Most people that sign up for my Macro Boot Camps tend to be flower shooters so this is for the flower people out there.

In the image below you see a nice patch of Dame’s Rocket flowers.  When approaching a patch like this I see so many photographers that head right to the middle of the patch to find a flower to shoot.  With all the congestion of flowers, stems, leaves, this will only lead to a distracting background and make it impossible to get that clean shot.

Where you need to concentrate your attention to is the flowers at the perimeter of the patch. By finding those isolated flowers at the edges and shooting at an angle where the background is the farthest away will allow you to get those nice solid color backgrounds. In the image below you see the small cluster of flowers on the far right, this is what you should be looking for, a isolated group that will allow you to shoot without all the distractions behind it.

Find an angle where the background that you will be shooting towards is the farthest away, as this will make it easier for the camera to blur the background.   Use a smaller f/stop in the f3.5 to f/8 to help soften the background into a solid color. Here is the small cluster that you see on the far right in the last image.  The image was shot using the Tamron 90mm at f5/6.  

If you can’t find that perfect flower at the edges and have to shoot into the clutter, go tight to eliminate the clutter.

 

Starting Spring Macro Boot Camps Dates

I’m working on my Spring 2011 Macro Boot Camp dates.  I’ll have two in southeast Michigan, one in Chicago, working on Boston, maybe California, and hoping for some more in other areas. Here are the boot camps that have set dates. 2011 boot camp costs will run $149.

2011 Macro Boot Camp – Courtyard Marriot, Farmington Hills, Mich. March 11,12,13
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Hampton Inn, Skokie, Illinois, April 1,2,3
2011 Macro Boot Camp – Courtyard Marriot, Farmington Hills, Mich. April 29,30,May1

I’ll post new workshops as they are set.

Shot with a Tamron 90mm lens

Presenting at the 49th Annual NFRCC Convention

I will be presenting two programs at the Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Clubs Convention held at the Holiday Inn on Grand Island, near Buffalo, NY.

 

April 23-25. 2010

 

My Programs

 

Saturday, April 24th,   ”Macro Photography”   9:45am till 11:00am

Saturday, April 24th,  “Selling your Photography”  2:00pm till 3:15pm

 

I will be also one of three judges for their, Golden Horseshoe Competition on Friday

 

If you live in the area stop in and say hi. 

 

More info on the convention here,  http://www.nfrcc.org/

 

 

 

 

 

Fun With Feathers

My cure for the photographer’s cabin fever is finding interesting subjects to shoot indoors.  It’s not that I’m a wimp and don’t want to brave the cold, its just that what sells the best for me is images with color, and winter takes its toll on any color in nature here in the north. 

I can better spend my time marketing during the winter then out shooting images that won’t sell.  As much as I like winter, most people that view my images at the art shows tell me they don’t care for winter and they don’t want to look at it all year hanging on their walls.  I’m always looking for something interesting to shoot indoors.  Probably the most used indoor subject is flowers, and I do my share of flower shots, but I’m always in search of something new to shoot. 

I’ve always liked the look of bird feathers, the lines, texture and patterns have always interested me.  I have some turkey and sea gull feathers I’ve picked up locally from the parks I shoot in, but I wanted some feathers with a little more design and color.  I went online a couple weeks ago and did a search on feathers.  I found sites that were sellling a vareity of feathers mainly used by decorators for home decor arrangments. 

Here’s are some of the feathers I recieved yesterday, and had some fun setting them up and shooting.

I arranged these three feathers at slightly different angles as to not have them looking to composed. Shot at my favorite f/stop, f/32 with the Tamron 60mm macro lens. 

With this group I used two colorful feathers to flank the center feather which is more earthtone.  The contrast allowed the center feather stand out.  Shot with the Tamron 60mm macro at f/32.

These are tiny little feathers that I arranged in this group. I added a 25mm extension tube that would allow me to focus in closer on this small grouping.  I wanted a different and more abstract look, so shot this one at f/2.8.  The Tamron 60mm set at f/2.8 blurred the edges really well and I placed the point of focus on the center feather.

Guide To Macro Composition E-Book

This e-book is designed as a guide to help you with composition in your macro photography.  It will cover image placement,  how to use contrast, depth of field, light, visual weight, textures, lines, and color to enhance your images.  Tips on seeing the images in the field.  Cost only $9.95.  To purchase go to www.MikeMoatsBooks.com

E-Books At Outdoor Photo Gear

Outdoor Photo Gear is now carrying my e-books for sale.  http://www.outdoorphotogear.com/blog/

Here’s some info about Outdoor Photo Gear http://www.outdoorphotogear.com/store/

Our goal at Outdoor Photo Gear is to provide you with the best selection of quality photo gear at the best prices, while giving you the very best customer service you will find online anywhere.

At Outdoor Photo Gear, we work right next to the products we sell and our shelves are always fully stocked. Having inventory in-stock, and close at hand gives us, and you, a real advantage. We can answer your questions while physically holding the product so you can get the answers to your most-important questions. Also, when you call or email us we can double-check stock-levels for you when delivery of a time-sensitive order is critical. At Outdoor Photo Gear we personally pick, pack, and ship the products to your door; according to your specifications.

We believe that running a great store is the same as taking a great photograph: you have to— “be there.”

To us, “outdoor” photography encompasses all types of photography: wildlife, nature, avian, landscape, travel, journalism, adventure and event photography. We want to bring you great products and advice that moves you outside and into the wide world of outdoor photography. We invite you to capture your world, and bring it inside to us all through your images.

How To Sell Though Art Galleries

My new e-book will teach you the process of selling your photography though art galleries. You will learn how to find the galleries, picking the right gallery, make contact, set prices, and more. After you purchase, I will send you an email within twenty four hours with the PDF for your computer download. Cost $9.95 

Go to  www.MikeMoatsBooks.com

Nature’s Best – Windland Smith Rice International Competition.

I had an image that won “Highly Honored” in the 2009 Nature’s Best Magazines  Windland Smith Rice International competition.  The mag should be out soon, they just posted press releases and the winners on their blog.   They pick from over twenty thousand images from all over the world.  You can see the winners from the different catagories at www.naturesbestblog.com  Here’s mine that won “Highly Honored”

Lensbaby’s New Fisheye Lens

Lensbaby introduced its new fisheye attachment today.  I had a chance to play with this lens last month and found it very interesting and a creative tool.  I only wish I had more time to spend with it but hopefully this month things slow a little so I’ll paly some more. Check it out at www.lensbaby.com

This top image made it on the lensbaby website (fisheye images) to promote the new lens.

 

What’s New

Back from the workshop in the Eastern Sierras, had good weather and everyone had a good time shooting.  Shot at mono lake, and if you every get a chance to visit the ghost town of Bodie, it’s very cool and a great place to shoot some intresting macro images in the old buildings.  We also got to visit and shoot the bristle cone pines that grow on the top of a mountain at 11,000 feet.   Haven’t had time to process any of the images I shot but hopefully this week I will have time to post some.

Yesterday I was at the Rock Financial Showplace for the Great Lakes Fine Art Show.  It also runs today and tomorrow from 10:00am till 6:00pm and is located in Novi, Michigan.  Anyone in the area stop by and say hi.

The fall color in lower Michigan is starting to turn.  So far the color looks really good.  The last couple years the leaves have been blotchy and lacking good colors.  This years the leaves have great color and no blotches.  So looking for some great opportunities for images.

I’ve been shooting with the new Tamron 60mm macro and Tamrons new 17-50mm lens and will post a review and some of the images.

In 2010 I will be offering a photoshop workshop that will also feature the Nik software programs. They will be one day workshops held in Rochester Hills, Michigan.  No dates set yet, but will I will post info as I put them together.

St James Court Art Show

I’m writing this from my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky.  In town to do the St. James Court Art Show. This art show is rated in Sunshine Artist magazine as the second best art show in the county.  Draws around 250,000 people over three days and has over seven hundred artist from across the county.  Stop in and say hi if you’re in the area.

Fun On The Rocks

Over Labor Day weekend I was in Harrisville, Michigan exhibiting at an art show.  I arrived Friday morning to set up, and I had the afternoon off to go out and do some shooting.  I was staying at a friends home during the show and we planed to head to an old light house on Lake Huron, where I wanted to shoot some of the colorful rocks off the point of the lighthouse.  We waded out into about a foot of the cold clear water and began shooting abstracts of the rocks.  The wave action that was hightlighted by the sunlight create interesting patterns as it distorted the colorful rocks.  I was shooting some macro images earlier with my Tamron 90mm macro and decide to use it when I ventured out for these images.  My settings for the three images were, f/8. shutter 1/2000, and ISO 1600.   The high shutter speed stop the movement of the waves and captured some interesting lines in the rocks.  In the last image I caught a wave that was just entering the frame.

 

 

Upcoming Workshops

“Macro and More” in the Eastern Sierra mountains of California.  Jack Graham and I still have an opening for this  workshop October 8th thru 11th.   Anyone interested in joining the group let me know, mgmoats@yahoo.com

NEW!! www.naturephotographers.net  will add a new feature to their site next month.  They will be offering online workshops for nature photographers.  I will be teaching the Macro workshops.   Below are some of the courses.  More will be added.  Each course will vary, but I think most run around six weeks.

The Ultimate Digital Nature Photography Coursewith Richard Bernabe.    

The Essentials of Digital Landscape Photography – Part 1: Field Techniqueswith Darwin Wiggett.  

Learning to “Speak” the Language of Visual Expressionwith Samantha Chrysanthou.    

Fine Art Abstract Photography – The Art of Seeing and Special Techniqueswith Joesph Rossbach.    

Creating “Wow” Images – The Fundamentals of Landscape Photography Composition with Ian Plant.    

Macro Nature Photography with Mike Moats.

Looks like the course will get started hopefully next month.  Contact me for more details, www.mgmoats@yahoo.com

Spring 2009 Macro and More Workshop

Take a moment and check out the images from our participants in the Oregon Macro and More Workshop in June 2009.

www.macroandmore.com

Macro Masters – Tamron Lenses Website

I’m  honored to have been added as a”Macro Master” on the Tamron lenses website.

http://www.tamron.com/macrospecial/

Macro Memorial Day Challenge

Here in southeast Michigan we had some great weather over the Memorial weekend so I decide to head out and shoot some images for the second annual Macro Memorial Day Challenge.  I am one of two moderators of the macro/flora gallery at www.Birdphotographer.net  (it’s isn’t just for birds) and my moderator partner Julie Kenward  issued the challenge.  You were supposed to shoot images at an aperture that you don’t normally shoot at.  I’m a stopped down f/32 freak and if you visit my website, www.tinylandscapes  you’ll see the majority of my images are full depth of field everything in focus.  So my challenge was to search out subjects and shoot wide open  with my Tamron 90mm macro lens. Shooting with this aperture setting will produce the nice soft blurred background with very limited depth of field on the main subject, sometimes creating a nice abstract look.  Here are some images from my Memorial Day shoot.

Found this little critter and set my focus on him and the shallow depth of field soften the grass and BG.

I set my focus on the very edge of the Mayapple flowers petal and let the rest soften with the wide open aperture.

Found this little dew drop poking sideways through the vertical grass. Place the focus point on the dew drop.

I thought this newly emerging Milkweed plant had a nice flow in the leaves. I focused on the flat leaf facing my camera. 

I liked how the light played thoughout these leaves.  I focused on the ant on the top leaf and the rest soften with the wide open aperture.  It’s hard to see the little ant on this small image size.

Presentation At Grosse Pointe Camera Club

Tomorrow night April 28th I will be speaking at the Grosse Pointe Camera Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  My presentation with be The Four Seasons Of Macro.  the club meets between 7:00pm till 9:00pm.  The locations is at Brownell elementary school at 260 Chalfonte, Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Come and say hi.

Still Waiting On Spring

I got out to shoot last Thursday and did find a few late blooming bloodroot, but haven’t processed them yet.  Still lacking on new growth as the only thing showing was some coiled up Skunk Cabbage and a few emerging Mayapples.  I did get a little creative with an interesting formation on a stump I found last fall.  At the time I found it I shot it with some small white flowers I found in a field but wasn’t happy with the lack of color.  My wife had bought some flowers from the store call Sun Stars,  I carried them with me to use with this stump idea.  Shot both images with my Fuji S5 and a Tamron 90mm macro lens, f/stop at f/32 .

After I finished shooting this one I was heading back to the trail I came in on and found a large Turkey feather.  I always keep interesting finds as it could come in handy combining it with another subject.  I went to visit another downed tree trunk that also had some interesting patterns in the wood.  I combined the Turkey feather with this stump.  You sometimes have to use your imagination when waiting for spring to showed up.

In a few days I’ll post one of the Bloodroot flowers I shot on this day.

Macro Workshop, E-book

MACRO WORKSHOP / E-BOOK

 

My how-to Macro Workshop is now an e-book.  I’ve had hundreds attend my workshops here in Michigan and do have some come from out of state, but most can’t afford to travel across country to take a one day workshop, so now you can have the workshop e-book come to you.  

Course Covers

Equipment
Cameras
Lenses
Tripod And Head
Accessories 
Plamps
Diffusers
Reflectors
Camera Functions
White Balance
ISO
Shutter Release
Lighting
Composition
Rule of Thirds
Lines
Contrast
Textures
Light
Two Subject Comps
Color
Using All The Rules
Depth Of Field
Shallow Depth Of Field
Full Depth Of Field
Some Where In Between
Crowding The Main Subject
Viewing From All Angles
My Photoshop Tools

_________________________________________________________

E-book will be sent to you as a PDF for downloading once you order.

Cost $29.00

Order at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com

E-Book will be available by April 20th

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Waiting For The Bloodroot

It’s tough timing the opening of the bloodroot flower to shoot.  I timed it just right last year but missed them the two previous years.  They only last a couple days, and I usually get there to early and then come back to late.  I’m going out to check my local hot spots this week.