Macro/Close Focusing Photography

This  blog showcases some of my macro/close focusing images. A macro image is one that has a magnification of 1:1 or better, or lifesize at least.  Here is another link. Where as close focusing is focusing on the subject at less than 1:1. Most of my images are close focused but some are true macro 1:1. All images were taken hand held, no tripod was used. Some of the images were lit by my on camera flash. Having a 105mm macro is an advantage because you are working at a distance from the subject that you can use your in camera flash if needed.

This image was captured at 1:1 magnification, it is a white Waratah. The interesting thing is that it was shot at an iso of 3,200. I was very pleased with the final image, no obvious grain that you would expect at such a large iso. The camera I used was my Pentax K5 with my Sigma 105mm macro. Photo stats. are f32, 1/2000s, iso 3,200.

 Bee on a Geraldton Wax flower. This was taken at close focusing, less than 1:1 magnification. Pentax K5,

Sigma 105mm macro lens, f8, 1/180s, iso 200.

Grevillea lanigera, taken in my garden after rain. Shot at 1:1.

Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 105mm Macro lens.
f16, 1/125s, iso 400, flash used.

This image was taken early in the morning at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The image was taken from under the flower with the sun filtering through the petals. I was very pleased with the final image. Taken at close focusing magnification.
 Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 105mm macro, f6.7, 1/250s, iso 200.

This image taken in my garden, it is a Leptospermum. Taken at 1:1.
Pentax K5, Sigma 105mm macro, f8, 1/180s, iso 640, Flash fired.

This image shot at close focus. Taken in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.
Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 105mm macro, f11, 1/125s, iso 200.

A Daffodil taken at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
Close focusing.
Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 105mm macro, f6.7, 1/2000s, iso 200.

The same Daffodil taken closer at more magnification.
Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 105mm macro, f6.7, 1/2000s, iso 200.

Digital Images - Raw V JPEG

In this blog I will compare an image shot in Raw, and processed by myself in a Raw processor and a JPEG that has been processed by my camera.
Every time you take an image in a digital camera a raw image is formed by the sensor. This Raw image is then processed by your camera, usually into a JPEG image. This JPEG is what comes out of your digital camera as the finished product.
Some digital cameras particularly Digital SLRs have the ability to save the Raw image so you, the Photographer, can process that image yourself in a Raw processor.
The advantage of this is that you can control the brightness, colour, colour temperature, contrast, saturation etc, etc, of that image and not accept what the camera spews out, and spews out is sometimes an appropriate word.
Raw processors are found in most photo editing computer programmes such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements etc.
The disadvantage of Raw is that it is another time consuming step to get your finished image, and a Raw image is a bigger image by Mgb than a JPEG. You also usually keep your Raw image and have a processed image as well, so it takes up more hard drive space.
I will show you some of my images shot in both Raw and processed by me and a JPEG that is the end product of the cameras processing. My camera can save two images, one in Raw and one in JPEG from the same shot, so I am comparing the exact same image.
I usually save my processed image as a PNG image, but for this exercise I have both images in this blog as JPEGs.
I took these photos at dawn in Menangle.
You can of course edit your JPEG image that comes out of your camera to fix up problems with that camera processed image.
The Raw image supposed to be the best one to process because it contains all of the digital information from your camera. The camera processed JPEG has lost information in the in camera processing of the image so further processing by you is supposedly not as successful.
Fixing up JPEGs that come out of the camera may be a blog of it's own.

JPEG Image Processed by camera

The same image processed by me

JPEG Image Processed by camera

The same image processed by me

JPEG Image Processed by camera

The same image processed by me

JPEG Image Processed by camera

The same image processed by me

JPEG Image Processed by camera

The same image processed by me

Digital Images - Xero filters Titanium

This is a continuation of the series on the use of filters in Photoshop. I continue with the Xero filters. This time it is the Titanium filter. This is a filter from the Xero collection.

I sometimes use a filter on an image that I like but which has an element to it that detracts from it being a good image. Not all of my images here are like that, but sometimes you can resurrect a not so good image by running it through a filter of some kind. 

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter

Titanium Filter + Solarisation

Titanium Filter

Digital Images - Xero filters Iridium + Others

This is the third installment of the series about filters used in Photoshop. This series of filters comes from Xero.
This series is a free set of filters, comprising 40 different effects. Below is just 3 of them.
These filters are used in Photoshop Elements.

Xero - Lithograph filter

Xero - Bad Dream filter

Xero - Iridium filter

Xero - Iridium filter

Xero - Iridium filter

Digital Images - Filter Forge

Continuing on with the same theme as my last blog.
Here I am showing more images manipulated with filters, this time in Photoshop Elements.
The filter used here is Filter Forge - Metals.
I am using a demo version with limits on the image size.
I have not purchased this filter because I feel $100 is a bit steep for a filter that I may use very occasionally.

The Mighty Prado Filter Forge - Metal

Filter Forge - Metal

Filter Forge - Metal

Bullet Proof  Filter Forge - Metal

Digital Images - Fractalius Filter

      The Fractalius Filter is a plug in for Photoshop. The filter only works on windows systems, so unavailable for Mac users.

The filter does not work in Photoshop Elements, the cut down low cost Photoshop.

Fractalius plugin creates unusual, eccentric artworks in a single step. The effects are based on extraction of so-called hidden fractal texture of an image. You can also simulate various types of exotic lightings and high realistic pencil sketches.
There are sixteen different filter types you can select in the Fractalius effect plus 13 different sliders for adjustment in each effect. 

You need to get the filter itself, available online from http://www.redfieldplugins.com/index.htm.
      With the coming of the digital age in photography it has opened the world of image manipulation. Some people don't like this but I love it, it is all a part of creativity. As the old saying goes. "It is only limited by your imagination".
      Below are some examples of my images before and after the use of the Fractalius filter.

Original Image

Fractalius Filter Effect

Some of my favourite Travel Images

Tram Christchurch New Zealand 2008