Why am I envisioning Danbo returning to a pet store saying "This octopus is no more. He has ceased to be. He’s expired and gone to meet his maker. He’s a stiff, bereft of life, he is rest in peace..."
Pardon my ignorance, Spanner. What's a macro filter? Something you apply in post production?
@quixoticneophyte That is such a classic sketch. I have probably named them wrong - macro filter are effectively magnified glass on a filter thread You can stack them up on one another and your subject becomes magnified further. Cheaper than extension tubes or a macro lens. I have decided very quickly that macro is not for me.
Funny! I'm not a huge fan of macro either although I got an extension tube for my SLR and it's great for a really limited dof. Octopii can only fetch balls, that's why he couldn't get this. Tell Danbo....;)
@spanner I know what you are talking about now and they probably are called macro filters. Apparently they are a nightmare to focus with. You probably need a tripod and a macro rail to use them well. The key ingredient for my macro is light, good light allows hand holding for pictures and a very steady balance, moving yourself backwards and forwards to achieve focus rather than trying to twiddle the lens. I always focus manually, then move myself for the final composition and focus. Brace yourself against what ever you can and investigate how to hold a camera so that you are adding rigidity to your stance.
Look at a reversing ring, they are about $5 on fleabay. The key to using one of these "Single lens reverse macro rings" successfully is to set the aperture prior to mounting the lens backwards. Once it's on backwards you have no aperture control unless you have an old-school lens with aperture ring. Got to about f14-16, lock the aperture, take off the lens and reverse mount it. On my Canon, I have an aperture preview button, there must be an equivalent for Nikon. I would press that, hold it and remove the lens.
Here's a couple of simple articles about them:
Mounting Prime Lenses in Reverse
Reverse Lens Macro
@quixoticneophyte Thanks Alexander - I think my frustration was as follows;
1. I was not overly impressed with how close the filters magnified, I think I want super macro.
2. I lack the time or imagination to do anything other than flower shots or insects, standard macro fodder. I am not dismissing these as themes, I admire people who do it. I just do not want to spend hours trying to compose the ideal macro shot - I appreciate people who do and who can.
It just is not me, I am definitely a different kind of person. I found the filters limited my imagination (although I do have one idea about them) and just made me attempt stuff half heartedly.
3. In no way am I suggesting that what I ended up posting was/is better than macro work. It is not - it was borne of a tired and frustrated brain.
I really like your bilge! and I still think you are being too hard on yourself. Actually I would call these Danbo shots very inspired! they are imaginative and comical and beautifully choreographed and composed! They also show a very good understanding of body language! Fav for me!
@angelat Thank you Angela. I really appreciate your comments. I find that I turn to Danbo when I have run out of ideas/time or both. I am usually frustrated when I post shots of it and don't see what you are seeing in them. However I am delighted you like them and continue to encourage me. That always makes it feel worthwhile.
@spanner - judging from comments from other people you are bringing a bit of joy and fun into the lives of others - it may even be that this is on an unconscious level from you - and that in itself is worth a lot. I know I've had a giggle at least about every one of them and I have gone back and looked at each one from the beginning although I have not commented on all of them. You have a way of posing them that gives them a very expressive body language - that shows a great understanding on your part even if you are not aware of it. They are simple but very effective and in some ways remind me of the Peanuts characters, although they used words. The postures and body language of your characters are so effective that words are not even necessary. I'm curious: how do your children respond to them?
@angelat Thanks for your lovely comments Angela and taking your time to invest in me. I am glad that you and others respond so positively to my photographs. I have turned to Danbo when lacking time or inspiration. He is a handy tool. My children tolerate me but prefer to be involved (especially my daughter) which is wonderful for me (they are interested in who gets the most views). They like Danbo but are a little over him.
@spanner - maybe you could get the children to help invent "situations" / "scenarios" with Danbo. It's great that they like to be involved with your photography!
November 27th, 2013
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Pardon my ignorance, Spanner. What's a macro filter? Something you apply in post production?
Look at a reversing ring, they are about $5 on fleabay. The key to using one of these "Single lens reverse macro rings" successfully is to set the aperture prior to mounting the lens backwards. Once it's on backwards you have no aperture control unless you have an old-school lens with aperture ring. Got to about f14-16, lock the aperture, take off the lens and reverse mount it. On my Canon, I have an aperture preview button, there must be an equivalent for Nikon. I would press that, hold it and remove the lens.
Here's a couple of simple articles about them:
Mounting Prime Lenses in Reverse
Reverse Lens Macro
Hope that helps a bit.
Mounting Prime Lenses in Reverse http://digital-photography-school.com/reverse-mounting-your-prime-lenses-for-affordable-macro-photography
Reverse Lens Macro http://digital-photography-school.com/reverse-lens-macro-close-up-photography-lesson-3
1. I was not overly impressed with how close the filters magnified, I think I want super macro.
2. I lack the time or imagination to do anything other than flower shots or insects, standard macro fodder. I am not dismissing these as themes, I admire people who do it. I just do not want to spend hours trying to compose the ideal macro shot - I appreciate people who do and who can.
It just is not me, I am definitely a different kind of person. I found the filters limited my imagination (although I do have one idea about them) and just made me attempt stuff half heartedly.
3. In no way am I suggesting that what I ended up posting was/is better than macro work. It is not - it was borne of a tired and frustrated brain.
Thank you for the links. They are most valuable.
As ever I really appreciate your time and advice.