Getting out of your comfort zone

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Getting out of your comfort zone

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #1 · Getting out of your comfort zone

This is a challenge to everyone , but I'll pic on two of our more dominant members. Oh Joooohn, Oh Briiiiiian . Now guys this is not an attack on you , but I want you to lead the way with this challenge .

John , no Bees for awhile and no Pink Dragons . Grab the 180 and shoot at 1to1 or under.

Brian , almost the same for you , No Hover flies, and get out of your backyard , go see John at the farm or something. But no Bees.

Everyone else pic your poison, do a self evaluation and run with it .

John and Brian, figure out what you think my comfort zone is and make me a challenge and I'll do my best.

This is meant to be fun . I'll stick this at the top and you can post some images here.

Everyone can post here.

Apr 15, 2009 at 01:25 AM

alliec
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p.1 #2 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Ive been shooting with the MPe-65 above life size with Flash for over a year now so on sunday went out with the Tamron 90mm and no flash, natural light only. Was definatley out of my comfort zone but it felt kinda liberating in a way. This was my favourite of the day. I definatley plan to take a step back and do more natural light work this year.

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Apr 15, 2009 at 07:48 AM

LordV
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p.1 #3 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Some non buggy shots including natural light and single shots ! . Fraid I don't shoot out of my garden (I'm just documenting what I find there).

As for your challenge Tom - would be nice to see some new macro shots of anything taken at 1:1 or higher - you don't post enough to show us how it should be done !

Brian V.

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Edited on Apr 17, 2009 at 07:11 AM · View previous versions

Apr 15, 2009 at 08:02 AM

ben.norland
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p.1 #4 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Here's a lily petal with the focus off a bit. Just stuck a 500d on the end of my sig 150.

2008 © ben.norland

Apr 15, 2009 at 02:23 PM

n0b0
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p.1 #5 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Can anyone tell me what my comfort zone is? I know I shoot mostly spiders and bugs with a few flower shots that I never uploaded. Don't ask me to do abstract/still life macro because not only is it out of my comfort zone, it's already in my "I don't get it" zone.

Maybe this will do?

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Apr 20, 2009 at 01:35 PM

Kenj8246
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p.1 #6 · Getting out of your comfort zone

All taken with Nikkor f4.5 300mm manual focus lens and extension for about 7/10 lifesize.

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Don't know about being out of my comfort zone...not comfortable enough with shooting near lifesize yet.

Apr 20, 2009 at 08:34 PM

LordV
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p.1 #7 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Kenny- I suspect out of comfort zone means something like shooting macro in the nude

Brian v.

Apr 21, 2009 at 06:28 AM

Kenj8246
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p.1 #8 · Getting out of your comfort zone

I doubt these Aggies will let me get away with that.

Apr 21, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Dalantech
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p.1 #9 · Getting out of your comfort zone

OK Tom I'll see what I can do. All of my shooting is in the field and seasonal -this time of year is solitary bee hunting season. But I still carry the 180L in my backpack and I promise not to point it at violet dragons and bees

I want to do more between 1/4 and 1/2 life size this year with no flash, but I have to wait for the good light

On the macro side I have been shooting more at 1x with the MPE-65mm -trying to back off and show more of the critter's surroundings.

Here's a couple with the 180L that's not a bee or violet dragon

I've been using an 81A warming filter full time on the 180 -like to see the effect in the view finder instead of adding it in post.

Apr 22, 2009 at 11:50 AM

Dalantech
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p.1 #10 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Does shooting a highly reflective insect with the MT-24EX count?

I've actually been going out of my way lately to look for new angles, compositions, and subjects because I don't want a gallery filled with images that all look the same.

Apr 22, 2009 at 12:06 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #11 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Seen Better Days

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Waiting

Decisions

For your challenge Tom I want to see you break in that MPE-65mm. I also want you to stop lurking -you're the moderator so that makes this your forum. If you don't like what Brian and I are posting then jump in...

Apr 26, 2009 at 05:29 PM

bignorm
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p.1 #12 · Getting out of your comfort zone

LordV wrote:
Some non buggy shots including natural light and single shots ! . Fraid I don't shoot out of my garden (I'm just documenting what I find there).

As for your challenge Tom - would be nice to see some new macro shots of anything taken at 1:1 or higher - you don't post enough to show us how it should be done !

Brian V.

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Brian, I love these shots.... number 2 is FAB.... what was your setup on there....

Apr 29, 2009 at 10:00 PM

LordV
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p.1 #13 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Thinks Bignorm

#2 was just a bluebell flower laying on the car bonnet taken around 2:1 I think and focus stacked using a 40D/MPE-65/430Ex flash

Brian v.

May 01, 2009 at 04:01 PM

Mark-A
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p.1 #14 · Getting out of your comfort zone

That first one LordV is amazing, I could see that in print may I ask the setup and processing please?

May 01, 2009 at 04:57 PM

LordV
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p.1 #15 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Mark-A wrote:
That first one LordV is amazing, I could see that in print may I ask the setup and processing please?

Thanks - The flower was shot against a pale green piece of paper taped to a window in our bay window. Shot with natural light .
I inverted the shot and did a faded fractallius filter on it (faded to 30%). Then reinverted the shot. I then selected the background colour in PS and reinverted just that.

Brian V.

May 01, 2009 at 06:48 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #16 · Getting out of your comfort zone

May 08, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #17 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Tech specs: Canon 40D (Aperture Priority F6.3, ISO 400) + a Canon 180mm L macro lens with an 81A warming filter. No flash.

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May 09, 2009 at 06:56 PM

Antony_B
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p.1 #18 · Getting out of your comfort zone

WOW!

May 10, 2009 at 01:07 PM

dancam
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p.1 #19 · Getting out of your comfort zone

There are so many excellent shots here. Great work everyone!

I really love macro shots like these but, have been neglecting my MP-E. This makes me want to go out and start working with macro again.

May 11, 2009 at 07:32 AM

Dalantech
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p.1 #20 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Tech specs: Canon 40D (shutter priority 1/250, ISO 400) + a Canon 180mm L macro with an 81A warming filter. I used the camera's pop up flash for a little fill (-2 FEC). To keep the camera stead I braced the lens on a hillbilly monopod (a cane close to the dragonfly).

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May 12, 2009 at 05:08 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #21 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Thought I was gonna get robbed by the background on this one but after seeing it on the computer I liked it.

Tech specs: Canon 40D (aperture priority F5, ISO 200) + a Canon 180mm L macro lens with an 81A warming filter and a Canon 1.4x teleconverter. No flash.

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May 13, 2009 at 05:28 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #22 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Tech specs: Canon 40D (aperture priority F6.3, ISO 200) + a Canon 180mm L macro lens with an 81A warming filter and a Canon 1.4x teleconverter. No flash.

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May 14, 2009 at 05:07 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #23 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Pssst Tom! I took this one last year...

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My macro work isn't about shooting what's comfortable, it's about shooting what's in season and how I shoot is determined by the weather conditions and the subject...

Still waiting to see you post something -anything...

May 14, 2009 at 07:27 PM

Tom Hicks
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p.1 #24 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Dalantech wrote:
Tech specs: Canon 40D (aperture priority F6.3, ISO 200) + a Canon 180mm L macro lens with an 81A warming filter and a Canon 1.4x teleconverter. No flash.

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John for me this is the best dragon you have posted in a while. Beautiful natural light and you actually shot this one on the sunny side , Always shoot on the sunny side.99% of the time I shoot on the sunny side . I always approach with the sun to my back paying attention not to shadow them , because we all know what happens then.

Again, very beautiful shot. John you are a fine photographer and one I highly respect. I can be critical at times but please don't take any of it as a personal attack .

I have been so busy with work and we have had a very windy and wet season it has not been good for shooting much. Now that I live by myself it is hard for me to focus on anything. I had gotten so use to the kids being around and that sort of thing I spend the rest of my time pacing around to house like an old Lion at the zoo. I have shot my MP very little . I hope to get the twin flash soon and start working on my higher mag stuff. I hope next year to get back to Belgium to visit a friend of mine , and if so I would like to make a trip to see you for a couple of days, shoot some and maybe show me some of your world.

Here is mine , not as good as yours , lost the file on this one when I had a crash. this is all I got and it's only 40 k

2008 © Tom Hicks

May 14, 2009 at 11:51 PM

Henry Hawk
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p.1 #25 · Getting out of your comfort zone

Agree with Tom. IMHO this is also one of your very best dragon shots John. Magnificent!

May 14, 2009 at 11:56 PM


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