NEW – Macro Boot Camp in Lansing, Michigan

The Fall September Macro Boot Camp in Rochester Hills, Michigan is SOLD OUT, so I’ve added a new boot camp in Lansing, Michigan. Details below.

LANSING, MICHIGAN MACRO BOOT CAMP

Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography.

Sponsored by
Tamron – Lensbaby –  Nik Software – Hunt’s Photo – Helicon Focus – PhotoFlex – Outdoor Photo Gear – Outdoor Photographer Magazine

This will be an in-depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment. It is for the beginner to the intermediate photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.

Where: University Quality Inn, Lansing, Michigan
Hotel just a short distance from Capitol City Airport, with shuttles service from hotel.

Special room rates for workshop participants.

Dates and Times :
October 8th 5:00pm – 8:00pm
October 9th 9:00am – 5:00pm
October 10th 9:00am – 2:00pm

Mike will cover cameras, macro lenses, Lensbabies, the best tripods and heads for macro, special macro accessories, stacking images with Helicon Focus, composing, and learning how to see the artwork in nature. Learn how to control depth of field. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind shield for shooting flowers. Camera positioning for that perfect background. When and how to use reflectors, diffusers, plamps, focusing rails, and more. Mike shows his image processing using Photoshop and the latest Nik Software.

Bring your camera and lens because Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.

Lensbaby will be providing lenses for you to try out.

You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.

Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered in a Hunt’s Photo flyer.

Limited availability, so don’t wait long to register or you may miss out. September boot camp sold out in a few weeks.

If you register and pay before July 1st, you will receive free, Mike’s e-book, “Running A Successful Nature Photography Business” ($39.00 value).

Cost $149.00

Register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com

For more information, call Mike at (586)770-3992. Visit Mike’s website at, www.tinylandscapes.com

Comparing Photography To Other Art Forms

I was at the movies the other day and while the previews were running I was thinking how cheap it was to go to the movies.  To me movies are a form of art just like photography.  I would consider actors as artist, the writers as artist, the directors that films the movie, all the set directors, lighting people, everything that goes into that movie in my opinion is  artistic.  The movie makers spend millions upon million of dollars and the product they produce is created by some incredibly talented artist.  So with hundreds of people and millions of dollars to produce this one piece of artwork why are they selling it for only $8.00 to view and when it comes out on DVD it may run $20.00.   photographers go out and capture an image, do a little processing, let a printer do the work to make the finished product and then they want to charge $500 to $600 for a 30X40 gallery wrap.  Photographers want more for an 11X14 print then the cost of buying the DVD of a movie.  This doesn’t make any sense to me, this is way out of balance.   Why don’t the movie companies do like the photographers and sell the DVD for $500 or $600 like the photographers are asking for when they sell that 30X40 gallery wrap.  It seems much more logical since the movie cost millions of dollars and tons of people to make it happen.  Why do photographers think their art has so much value for so little effort and a piece of photo paper.  How many people would buy that movie if it was 500 to 600 dollars.

I also looked at the music business. The musicians which I also consider artist have to take the time to write all the songs for their album, rehearse all the songs, go into the studio and record.  They need producers and techs to work the recording equipment to get that perfect sound.  The record companies spend huge bucks to pay all these people and to produce the CD’s.  What does it cost to you and me, about $16.00.  They would have every right to charge hundreds of dollars for this artistic product , but they don’t.  Would most pay hundreds of dollars for the latest CD, I doubt it.

If the movie people and the musicians charged what photographers charge for their art they would also become staving artist like most photographers.   Are staving artist starving because they charge too much for their art?

Macro Boot Camp

 
Presented by Mike Moats, an award-winning, published nature photographer specializing in macro photography. www.tinylandscapes.com

 

    Sponsored by

Tamron –  Lensbaby – Photoflex – Hunt’s Photo – Helicon Focus – Nik Software – Outdoor Photo Gear

  

This will be an in depth unique three days of learning, fun, and entertainment.  It is for the beginner to the advanced photographer wanting to learn more about the macro world in nature.

Where;  The Embassy Suites Hotel,  Livonia,  Michigan (just outside Detroit)

Dates and Times :
March 26th  5:00pm – 8:00pm
March 27th  9:00am – 5:00pm
March 28th  9:00am – 2:00pm

Mike will cover macro lenses, Lensbabies, the best tripods and heads for macro, special macro accessories, stacking images with Helicon Focus, reversing lenses. Composing, and learning how to see the artwork in nature.  Learn how to control depth of field. See how to build a collapsible enclosed plexiglas wind shield for shooting flowers.  Camera positioning for that perfect background. When and how to use reflectors, diffusers, plamps, focusing rails, and more.  Mike shows his image processing using Photoshop and Nik Software.

Bring your camera because Tamron and Lensbaby will be providing lens for you to try out. Mike will have subjects set up for you to shoot.

You will have a chance to win door prizes from our sponsors.

Sales on many of the products you see at the workshop will be offered in a Hunt’s Photo flyer.

Each participant is encouraged to bring five prints of their best macro shots to share

The Embassy Hotel will offer special room rates for this event.

Lunch on Saturday and Sunday included in the price of workshop.

Limited to forty participants,  so don’t wait to register or you may miss out.

If you register and pay before January 1^st, you will receive a free PDF of Mike’s e-book, “Running A Successful Nature Photography Business” ( $39.00 value).

For more information or to register by credit card, call Mike at (586)770-3992 or (586)264-7100
Or register online at www.MikeMoatsBooks.com

 

There’s A New Fast Shooting Lens In Town

If you watch old westerns, the fastest shooter in town was well-respected, and so is the new Tamron 60mm fast shooting macro lens.  This f/2.0 out shoots the other  macro lenses by a full stop.  This really helps with macro as we tend to shoot subjects like small moving critters, flowers blowing in the wind, and if you’re like me, I shoot a lot in wooded areas were it can get pretty dark.  So to help stop a moving subject or speed up my shutter in low light, the Tamron 60mm macro fits the bill. 

The wide f/2.0 aperture of the this lens also helps to blur backgrounds, which is a problem you usually have with the short focal length lenses.  I had no problem producing a nice blured backgrounds or abstracts, and the results rivaled some of my longer focal legth macro lenses.  This lightweight lens is also great if you’re hand holding shots.

Those of you that know my style of shooting know that I like to shoot a lot of subject using full depth of field. I was very happy with the way this lens performed when stop down all the way. Nice sharp images though out.

Here are a few shots from the Tamron 60mm macro lens.

(Mike Moats is sponsored by Tamron)

www.Tamron.com

 

Monthly Newsletter

Starting in the month of October I will be publishing a short monthly newsletter.  The newsletter will help you improve your macro work with  a monthy macro tip, photography equipment news, and and my updates for workshops, art shows and new products.

Click below and add your name to the email list.Click Here

Scary Day In The Swamp

I was out in the swamps this morning shooting the floating leaves. This was shot after my camera unhitch itself from the head and took a swan drive into the swamp water. My hand shot into the water like out of a canon, so the camera wasn’t submerged more than a fraction of a second. Had no towel to clean it so had to use my t-shirt. It seems to be working fine as this image was shot after the dunking. You can bet I was cranking on the knob that tightens the camera on the head after that.

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.

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

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. 

Favs from 2008

I’m geting ready for my art shows that will start up in a few weeks and looking through some of my images from last year that I will be printing to sell this year at the art shows, and decided to post some of my fav shots from last year.

Thanks for looking

Mike

Tamron lens Blog

The Tamron lens company has a new blog up and running which features pro photographers giving tips with the Tamron lenses.  I will be posting some stuff there from time to time on the Tamron 90mm macro lens.  Click on the link to see the site. http://tamrontechstips.typepad.com/

My latest post there is on beating the winter blahs.

Heading To NANPA

Heading this week to New Mexico for the North American Nature Photographers Associations annual NANPA Summit and Trade Show.  It brings together nature photographers from across the country for a four day convention.  I will be presenting two break out sessions sponsored by Fuji, Lensbaby, and Florida Frames called,  Making A Living On The Art Show Circuit.  My presentations will be held on Saturday Feb. 21st at 10:00 to 11:30 and 2:00 to 3:30.  One of the keynote speakers this year  is Art Wolfe.  They also have a great trade-show with many photo related companies selling products.  My how-to macro book “Tiny Landscapes” will be available for sale in the NANPA book store in the trade show area.   For more info about the convention go to http://nanpa.org/

New Black & White Macro Gallery

I’ve always wanted to convert some of my images to black and white, but never had a printer that would produce good B& Ws. Last summer I bought an Epson 7880 and the B&Ws are awesome out of this printer.  Not sure how well any of them will sell, but never know till you try.  To check out the new images go to my website and click the Black & White Link.  www.tinylandscapes.com

NEW! Macro & More, Eastern Sierras, California

MACRO…and  More
Macro and More® Photography Workshops present  2009 FALL in the   EASTERN SIERRA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Mike Moats and Jack Graham

OCTOBER 8-11 2009
COST: $725.00 (travel, meals, etc. not included)
Limited to 16 persons

Maybe one of the most majestic locations for fall photography is located within the Eastern Sierra Region of California. Wedged between the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park and the Great Basin of Nevada, Is one of the most diverse areas in the lower 48 states. This is the setting for our FALL MACRO and MORE

EASTERN SIERRA PHOTO WORKSHOP OCTOBER 2009
This is a combination landscape / macro workshop. We select locations that offer the best of landscape photography as well as some amazing macro photography as well.  Daytime will be spent in the field. Personalized instruction will occur in the field. Choice locations have been determined by many years of shooting in this area under varied conditions Evenings will consist of informal sessions to discuss information on photographing in the area, critique sessions, and general photography information. Reviewing the days work is an integral part of the workshop experience.

You will come away with lots of great images and information and tips that will make your landscape and macro work stand above the rest.
Join award winning macro photographer Mike Moats and Jack Graham this October for what we know to be a very different photography workshop as well as a few highly informative and fun days of shooting here in the Eastern Sierra of California.

With the success of our first “Macro & More” workshop in Oregon Columbia River Gorge last year, Jack and I are repeating it again this year and also adding the coast. we have almost filled the workshop for this year so decided we needed to add more. Eastern Sierra “Macro & More” for the fall 2009.

Tiny Landscapes Book Review

Lance Warley the editor at Birdphotographers.net (It Ain’t Just Birds) posted a book review on my how-to macro book “Tiny Landscapes”   Thanks Lance. 

 Tiny Landscapes, When-Where-How
Purchase at, www.MikeMoatsBooks.com
or
www.Amazon.com  due a search for Tiny Landscapes

 Check out my new “Online Macro Photography Course”

Go to www.MikeMoatsBooks.com  for more info

                                                                            Website, www.tinylandscapes.com

Tiny Powerful Flashlight For Macro Photography

Many times I’m shooting in deep wooded areas that get pretty dark.  It can be really tough focusing through the viewfinder in these conditions.  I will carry a small flashlight to throw some light on the subject which allows me to see the fine details for better focusing.  I lost my last flashlight recently and ask for another one for Christmas.  My son who likes to backpack had found this tiny incredibly powerful flashlight for its size and weight for backpacking.  He gave me a Streamlight Microstream flashlight for Christmas and I was shock at the light that came out of this tiny thing.  It measures about a half an inch in diameter and is only about 3.5 inches long.

To check it out go here, http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/microstream.html?gclid=CIyO-6bB85cCFRykagodIC8pDA

Macro Boot Camp Click Here

 For books and sign-up for workshops  www.MikeMoatsBooks.com  

 Website, www.tinylandscapes.com