Because of all the floral posts by all the floral guys lately, when I got home from work yesterday, I dusted off my 100/2.8, went out in the yard and took pictures of flowers and bugs. I've had this lens about a year now, and have seldom used it... because I need lessons! If you have any good technique tips (I detest tripods) you'd like to share, I'm listening So taking a break from Alaska photos, here's a few from the yard.
1. Shasta Daisy
2. Stargazer Lily
3. Dortmund Climbing Rose
Maggie
Lessons for you? You should be the one giving the lessons. Love the details, composition and colors especially in 2,3 6 and 8.
As always great work.
Harsha
Maggie, nice work. Love the BIF! Funny thing, I was out in the yard last night doing the same thing. Well maybe the same thing, most of mine ended up deleted! I really like 2, I can never pull those off. Great series. Maybe I'll go out in this grey morning and try again
Some lenses seem a little easier to pick up and use and others take a little using to get used too I think you have to work a little harder with the 100 macro but that can be a very sharp colorful lens.
No pod huh, that is where this lens can hurt you because you can easily be much closer than you are used to and have very limited DOF that movement will kill you on Seems you can easily see the sharp focus in the viewfinder but not always get it by the time you squeeze the shot off. Maggie, I know one of macro gurus uses a 'beanpole' to shoot with or slim plastic garden stake. Just wrap your hand around it and you can move in and out for focus and it eliminated the up down movement, not much differenet than a monopod but perhaps less mechanical and much smaller.
They are all pleasing in their own way, only the close-up of the bee is OOF.
The bumble bug in-flight is very very cool! You had fun, hope to see more like this from you, diffused flash can work quite well on these too for more flexibility with f/stops.
Karl Witt wrote:
Some lenses seem a little easier to pick up and use and others take a little using to get used too I think you have to work a little harder with the 100 macro but that can be a very sharp colorful lens.
No pod huh, that is where this lens can hurt you because you can easily be much closer than you are used to and have very limited DOF that movement will kill you on Seems you can easily see the sharp focus in the viewfinder but not always get it by the time you squeeze the shot off. Maggie, I know one of macro gurus uses a 'beanpole' to shoot with or slim plastic garden stake. Just wrap your hand around it and you can move in and out for focus and it eliminated the up down movement, not much differenet than a monopod but perhaps less mechanical and much smaller.
They are all pleasing in their own way, only the close-up of the bee is OOF.
The bumble bug in-flight is very very cool! You had fun, hope to see more like this from you, diffused flash can work quite well on these too for more flexibility with f/stops.
Karl, thank you. Now "this" is what I needed - direction This is a tough lens for me and I definitely struggle with it. Doesn't take the fun away, though You're absolutely right - I had problems when squeezing the shutter button - what had been in focus was now out of focus with that movement - very irritating. I have a monopod and will drag it out from under the bed. I kind of like the garden stake method, though. Thank you, Karl - you're awesome
If you have any good technique tips (I detest tripods) you'd like to share, I'm listening 
So taking a break from Alaska photos, here's a few from the yard.
