Last day of the three day Macro Boot Camp in Louisville, KY. We have a awesome group of photographers. Today we cover Photoshop, Nik Software, Helicon Focus, Texture Overlays, and a couple hours of shooting.
Room is ready to go.
Here’s some of the group having fun shooting.
Chicago area Macro Boot Camp holds 25 people and only two spots left. Don’t miss out like the people did on these Spring Workshops.
Carlsbad, California – 2 workshops (SOLD OUT)
Louisville, Kentucky – 1 workshop (SOLD OUT)
Farmington Hills, Michigan, 2 workshops (SOLD OUT)
Only a few spots left for the Spring Boston area workshop.
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Beech leaves during the cold northern winters have a great transparent look, and seem to stay on the trees till spring. I picked these off the tree the other day with this shot in mind. I used my light table that’s for viewing slides (which has no use any more) for the light provided under this arrangement. You can do all kinds of different setups and it makes for some pretty cool images. The leaves are curled when they come off the tree so place them in a book with a lot of weight on top to dry and flatten them, then your ready to go. You can use other leaves that will work just as well with the light table. Have Fun.
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As winter approaches I start looking for new subjects to shoot, and this is the first in a series of tips on shooting indoors during the winter months. One of my favorite subjects to shoot during the winter months are slab cut rocks, which are thin slices of rocks that are polished smooth exposing all kinds of great abstract designs. Each year I search out companies online that sell these rocks and this year I found “Dandy Slabs” which is a premier site for rare, high grade and old stock lapidary materials – slabs, rough rock and collector specimens. Check them out at, http://www.dandyslab.com.
I shot these images using my Tamron 60mm macro lens. When I’m shooting indoors I like using a short focal length lens and working in close with the subject.
This first rock is a Deschutes Picture Jasper Slab and I liked the rich warm tones and lines.
This part of the rock reminded me of a mountain range, and the bright area on the left is the early morning sun with a large flock of crows in the sky entering the scene.
This second rock is a Laguna Agate Slab. It has a wild design with some great colors. These slabs are maybe a quarter of an inch thick and the designs vary on each side so it gives you more options for compositions.
This is the front side
And here is the same rock but from the opposite side, and a little different look.
So check out Dandy Slabs and pick up some rocks to shoot.
Finding Character In Nature is an e-book for the macro photographer that will help change the way you think the next time you go out to shoot.
The word character is often used to describe a person that is a little different or unusual from the general population. People that have a unique look, dress flamboyant, or act different from the rest of us are known to have character. They stand out in a crowd and draw attention. When viewing portraits of people, we often see character in the features of their face. Finding the character in nature will give your images that unique look, and stand out.
It’s easy to do, and you will learn how in this 40 page e-book.
Coming soon with an introductory price of $5.00.
As we enter into the first phase of winter here in the northern regions of the US, we find less and less to shoot outdoors. The colors have all disappeared and the plant life has wilted and faded away until next spring. Once the first week of December arrives, I look forward to heading to the local creeks and shooting ice abstract. These images that you see below are produced in the very first stages of freeze at the edges of the creeks. In this newly formed ice you will find interesting patterns and unique natural designs. With each winter day the cold adds new layers of ice causing the ice to turn white and erasing these creative designs, so being out there at the first ice is your best chance to shoot these cool abstracts.
A long focal length macro lens (150mm to 200mm) works best as you will be shooting from the bank of the creek and need that longer range to reach the subjects and fill the frame.
You will be shooting at low angles and to increase my depth of field to bring the whole design into sharp focus I use the higher f/stop numbers in the f/22 to f/32 ranges.
Look for designs that have a lot of interesting swirling lines
Sometimes you will come across ice with cool colors. The colors may reflect from the blue in the sky or from brown leaves under the ice, or yellows from low angle early morning sunlight.
As you can see there are some very interesting artwork created by mother nature, so dress warm and don’t let the cold stop you from shooting.
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Mike Moats 