Flower Photo Contest Winners

As always it is very hard to judge this contest as so many amazing images are sent in.  There were so many images that were very close to being in the winners, but they may have been 95 percent perfect, but I spotted some little thing that I didn’t like that caused them not to win, but they were so close.  The ones I picked had a combination of a good subject, composed well, and something I like about the post processing.

I would also like to thank the sponsors for donating prizes for this contest.

________________________________________________________

First Place Winner –  Regina Helstrom – Arizona

 SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC (value $649)

_________________________________________________________

Second Place Winner – Deanna Swauger – Illinois

Acratech – Ultimate Ballhead (value $299)

 

_________________________________________________________

Third Place Winner – Richard Grubola – Michigan

Vanguard  –  ALTA Fly 49T (value $259)

 

________________________________________________________

Fourth Place Winner – Betsy Wilson – Pennsylvania

$50 Gift Certificate

________________________________________________________

Fifth Place Winner – Ronnie Silver – California

$50 Gift Certificate

______________________________________________________________

Sixth Place Winner – Julie Lee – Florida

Wimberly – Plamp  (value $45)

_______________________________________________________

Seventh Place Winner – Sherry Friel – Virginia

One free entry into Mike Moats Macro Boot Camp of your choice.

___________________________________________________

Congrats to the Winners

Plants

When I’m out looking for subjects to shoot, I’m not just limiting myself to finding flowers and bugs to shoot.  I’m also studying all the interesting plant life for anything I find artistic in the form of a plant.  I’m looking for some lines that create a nice design.  Over the next few days I will post some of the plants that I found interesting. This is a Milkweed Plant, and I altered the color a bit as I was tired of seeing the natural green plants.  Nikon D7000, Tamron 90mm Macro Lens, f5.6.

Website click here

Macro Workshops click here

”Macro Online Course click here

”Creating Art With Macro E-Book click here

Macro Photo Conference click here

You can buy my images from a select group at GreatBigCanvas.com

To save 15% on Topaz products click here

Like my Facebook Page

Share through social media, click links at bottom of this article.

Photography Problems with National Parks

Why Your Instagram Nature Shot Is Breaking the Law

https://goo.gl/NTK9iA

______________________________________________________

Website click here

Macro Workshops click here

”Macro Online Course click here

”Creating Art With Macro E-Book click here

Macro Photo Conference click here

You can buy my images from a select group at GreatBigCanvas.com

To save 15% on Topaz products click here

Like my Facebook Page

Share through social media, click links at bottom of this article.

 

One Day Special Macro Workshop – Sterling Hts, Michigan

Special One Day Macro Workshop

Holiday Inn Express
8515 15 Mile Rd,
Sterling Heights, MI 48312

October 22nd, 2017
Time 9am – 4pm.

Cost $49

Covered in the Special One Day Macro Workshop:

Cameras / Lenses / Tripods / Heads / Accessories.
Controlling light with diffusers, reflectors, and LED lights / working with natural lighting.

Depth of Field
How to control depth of field with f/stops and special techniques / focus stacking with Helicon Focus.

Composition
Learn how to compose properly / finding character in nature / elements of design / textures
contrast / lines / light / visual weight / learning to work camera angles for blurred backgrounds / Two Subject Compositions / What not to do when composing.

Finding Good Subject Matter
Learn when, where, and how to fine good subjects through out the four seasons.
How to shoot macro indoors.

Post Processing
Learn Mike’s post processing techniques using photoshop, Smart Photo Editor, Nik Software, and Topaz software programs.

No Equipment needed for this workshop.

Sign up here, https://goo.gl/RtTaFj

Before and After

Did some cropping first, next processed with Nik Software’s Detail Extractor in Color Efex Pro4. Then did some fine tuning on the colors in Nik Software’s Viveza2, and final step was cloning out some imperfection here and there in PS Elements.

The Before

_______________________________________

The After

Fall Macro Workshops

Macro Boot Camp – Holiday Inn, Rockford, Illinois, Sept 16,17, Cost $149
Macro Boot Camp – Holiday Inn, Barboursville, West Virginia, Sept 30,Oct 1, Cost $149
Macro Boot Camp – Lakes Community Center, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Oct 7,8, Cost $149
Macro Boot Camp – Fairfield Inn, Columbia, South Carolina, Oct 14,15, Cost $199
One Day Macro Workshop – Holiday Inn Express, Sterling Hts, Michigan, Oct 22, Cost $49
Macro Photo Conference – Crowne Plaza, Middleburg Hts, Ohio, Oct 28,29, Cost $199

More info and sign up at http://www.macrostoreonline.com

 

Macro Mentoring Course

There are all kinds of photo how-to video courses, and they teach you things, but you really don’t get any help on how you are doing with your photography.  The help you need is professional critiquing of your images.

My Macro Mentoring Course is design to give all the valuable info you need to produce great images, but the really value of my course is that you have to challenge yourself with shooting assignments, and get critiques on how well you are doing and how to improve.

With the summer in full swing lots of subject matter, now is the best time to sign up for the Macro Mentoring Course.  I am offering a $50 summer discount when you sign up, just use the word “macro” in the coupon/discount code box when you sign up.