Life: Through the Lens

Thank you for playing along with yesterday's Pop Quiz. And just so you know I'm not an "expert," I did have to look this up as well. My bottom line is simply that whatever you use to take the photograph you want to capture is fine...no matter what the correct term for the technique. That being said, a close-up photograph is one in which the subject fills the frame. All macro photography is close-up photography , though not all close-up is macro. A close-up photo can be taken with any lens. These three photos from yesterday's collage are all close-up photographs, taken with my standard lens, which is a Canon 17-85mm. This is not my favorite lens, but it allows me a range of distance and has an image stabilization feature which allows me to hand-hold it instead of using a tripod, for most photographs. I can get in fairly close with the built-in "macro" setting, but because it's not a dedicated macro lens, the photos aren't considered "mac...

You probably hear these terms all the time, and don't really know what the difference is between a macro image, a micro image and a close-up image . I have all three "types" represented above and wonder what you know, or what you can find out:). So, when you post your response today, let me know what you know about each term, and if you think you take, macro , micro and/or close-up photographs. And then take a stab at which photos in the collage above belong in which of those categories. Not to worry - no grades. And...it's possible that a photograph fits more than one label. You are also missing an important piece of information, which you'll discover later:). Welcome to the Pop Quiz! Starting at the bottom left and working clockwise, here are my images: Milkweed flower, Goat's Beard puff ball, Monarch caterpillar, cactus, Monarch caterpillar, dutch shoes, Goat's Beard flower, tulip. Have Fun!

Back from my mini-vacation in Traverse City (you'll find out more next week), I am happily picnic hopping, nibbling from the delightful dishes, smelling the beautiful flowers, and enjoying the variety of garden party wear everyone has selected for the event. A trip down memory lane was an unexpected surprise, as I planned my part of the mid-summer's get-together. A frantic hunt for the nostalgic pieces which go with those memories was undertaken, and this is my gift to you all as I arrive late for the festivities. Pictures have been an important part of my life as far back as I can remember, and before that first camera it was the photograph I created in my mind which was my escape. A vivid imagination is a visual one. This summer picnic brought back my visual photographs...the treasures of a childhood summer spent at a cottage on a lake, with lots of places for a young girl to host tea parties, magical balls, and meet knights in shining armor. So I bring the sweet clover of m...

{click on photo to enlarge image} Being part of a larger picture, such as the Blogosphere, has created opportunities for interesting adventures. One of which is the challenges issued as far as types of photographs to capture, and another are the "get-togethers" planned by one or many. Tomorrow, Kendalee is hosting a mid-summer's picnic, and all are invited to attend. I will be out of town and will be "fashionably late" in attendance, but others will be right on time, I'm sure. So I use this photograph I took while enjoying another part of my "job" as photographer, shooting high school dramatic productions, by way of replying to the invitation, and showcasing just one more way you can become involved with photography. This also models another creative outlet for the students, and is much more interesting than shooting portraits, in my opinion. I do photographs of the cast members, and a cast photo, but there's a whole different feel to this t...

I would like to credit Georgia , who also wants to credit anyone else who thought of "Macro Monday," for my inspiration as I further develop this blog. Doesn't it make sense - a photographer covering various aspects of photography? Macro Monday has a nice ring to it, and it also encompasses one of my favorite passions as a photographer. Shooting macro subjects. Today I'll highlight the dandelion...though this is the "on steroids" version, called Goat's Beard. It's beautiful, and a lot easier to photograph than it's cousin, the common dandelion. It's yellow flower is also prettier, more like a star. You see it commonly along roadsides and in meadows. Macro photography involves shooting close-up, and small. It's great fun to tromp through the yard, meadow, woods, beach, anywhere... looking for small and seemingly insignificant aspects of nature. I'll show you my set-up, and results, as I photographed the "blow balls" one late ...

What a lovely day...and Daryl got to do what he really loves to do. Fly. We had an air adventure to another city in Michigan for a fly-in breakfast, something pilot groups love to put on. The views from the air were spectacular. I hope your day was wonderful, as well. "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~ John Lubbock

Thank you for all your comments and feedback on my black and white vs color exploration this week. I received the most positive feedback on the black and white "dandelion" and the color bi-plane. If you hadn't known the plane was red...would it have made a difference? I wonder.... Many of you wanted to see the top black and white bi-plane as a color image, so I'm happy to oblige. You're right...it's a stand-out in color. I think the motion is more obvious for some reason. Maybe it's the shades of grey you have to have delineated very sharply when done in b&w. I received a number of comments on whether there was a difference between a black and white shot taken in the camera, or one transitioned in Photoshop or another image editing program. It seems that most people like the option of having either a color or b&w image, so we're a group who will likely shoot in color and then decide whether b&w will work, later. I think I'm with you on ...

I think Wednesday is going to become my B&W day. I can focus on finding and creating just the right image to share. Here is a collage of images taken recently when my husband went flying with a friend in his WACO bi-plane. The plane is a brilliant red color, but the nostalgic part of me sees this as a B&W opportunity. Enjoy! Here is one of the actual photos - just to demonstrate the comparison. What do you think? Which do you prefer?

Welcome to the view from our great room. I love to get up in the morning, get my coffee, and soak in the view. I'm trying to see in black and white these days, so here are some photos which started as color images, then were transformed in Elements. May all your views give you peace, as ours do.

We spent a wonderful summer day at a splash-in, an event where those pilots who love float planes, and amphibian aircraft, get together to compete in contests, and perform fly-bys, entertaining the crowds. People camp at the State park for the weekend, or drive up for the day. We were in the last category. I wanted to use my wide-angle lens today, exclusively. It's not a super wide-angle, but it does afford a wider view than a standard lens would offer. My husband shot with the telephoto, and I'll share some of those photos another time. I also decided to try some black and white photos, which helped establish an old-time feel to the event. The clouds and sky also lent themselves to adding a bit of drama to the shots. Some pilots were able to tie their planes to the shore line, and others had to tie out in deeper water. Time to leave? Walk out and board the plane! What do you think of the black and white? I have a setting in the camera which sets monochrome, which I used today,...

Time Out's are Interesting It's so interesting how your life changes when you don't have a computer. Thus has been the case this week, as my computer decided to have a "temper tantrum" after I continued to work on large files without doing some clean up. So to the shop it went, and I decided what to do with my time without my computer. Interesting. Photography went on, of course, as did my creative juices. I did a lot of thinking about how important the computer was in my life. And I actually enjoyed the time without the computer. it surprised me somewhat. But I also missed the new friends I'd acquired as this photography blog continued to grow and find a wider audience. How tied to your computers are you? What happens when you can't get online to be a part of the blogosphere?

Once a year a neighboring town has a Frontier's Day festival, complete with hot air balloon launches, contests, and a "glow" - lighting all the burners after dusk so the balloons are highlighted against the night sky. We were so excited to go to that event this year - it rained last year and the ballooning events were cancelled. So we drove over at the appointed time, hoping to see all 24 balloons launch, then staying for the "glow." The first two balloons were launched amidst applause and waves...then we waited. And the clouds rolled in. The other balloons waited to see which way the wind would blow, so to speak, and they waited, and waited - as did we. Then the launches were cancelled, but the "glow" was supposed to happen as usual. We went for a walk. Got coffee. Set up tripods. Checked camera settings. And waited. And waited. The first sprinkle. The second. People were having a difficult time communicating, and deciding what to do. The balloonist...

It's official - summer is here. We know that because the Farmer's Market has finally opened. It doesn't have a lot of fresh produce yet...but it's an attempt at bringing the town out and about again. I was SO ready. It was a lovely morning strolling through the small market and looking at color, and people, and talking with the farmers. One family was selling plants - tomatoes, beans, etc., but also cotton and avacado! When asked about the diverse nature of those two plants in particular, the witty couple said, well, if the summer is hot the cotton will do well, but if the summer is cool, then the avacado will be delicious. The power of positive thinking:). Neither plant is one you'd expect to find in mid-Michigan! And while I was enjoying the warm sun and beautiful colors, I thought this a good time to reveal the color I have added to my wardrobe since the challenge of Color Week opened my eyes to the possibilities:). Voila - my first pair of red shoes....probably ...

Sometimes I think we take our photography too seriously. There are images which we need to make for the sheer fun of it, don't you think? The quality may not be the best, the lighting might be poor, the focus slightly off, the color may need more correction than you want to mess with - but the photo is just plain cute. It's a memory of a place, or an experience, or a time...and it's a treasure. Do you have photos like that? If so, are they shoved in a box, or framed to enjoy? Or shared with others...like a good laugh and a warm smile? This is my little "friend" from Yellowstone National Park last summer. There was a colony of ground squirrels, actually, all around a lovely river where we were photographing fly fishermen on a warm summer's day. You actually had to watch where you walked, or you could stumble in one of their holes. But they were also the most comical little creatures and I eventually turned from the river and just started watching the holes. Up...

It's June. Officially a summer month, and one I have always loved. It's also a time when I start thinking about having an adventure...to some beautiful, place more distant than my town. Last summer we had a wonderous trip through the western national parks, and spent a little time on the Oregon coast. The Columbia River gorge is beautiful - lush and exotic, fragrant, and heady with motion and sound. The waterfalls are astounding - and we love Multomah falls particularly. There's an upper and lower falls, with hiking paths for those who want to get up close and personal. The regular tourist path is paved, and leads you to this footbridge, spanning the cliff walls between upper and lower falls. Stunning. Where is one of your favorite adventure spots, and why does it touch your soul?