This is the reason why I want a macro lens.

(f/9, 1/20sec, 50mm, ISO-400, 22/06/08)

I follow a number of different photoblogs and one thing amazes me in all of them is colour. I've no idea whether they're using post processing techniques to tweak curves and saturation or whether they're using filters on the camera, but whatever they do it always looks amazing.

A couple of great examples of this are Oswegan and ReallyJapan blogs. Whether its abstract stuff or cityscapes, these guys seem to always make the photo stand out.

Given the amount I've spent on camera gear in the last year, I'm not really in a position to buy a lot of filters, so I think my summers work will be learning how to make small tweaks in Lightroom/Photoshop/GIMP to improve the colours in the picture.

That's right, as well as having to live with my blurred and poorly composed shots, you'll now need to bear with me while I mess up the colour balance and intensity as well.

 

Seemed appropriate to look to higher powers for inspiration.

(f/7.1, 1/30sec, 55mm, ISO-200, 20/06/2008)

 

What I wanted was to make the sign feel vibrant against the leaves and tree. To make it draw your eye in whilst still being legible. What I ended up with, well the dirt on the sign looks like noise and the blue looks a little too electric, but I do quite like it.

I was out again on Sunday trying to take a photo of model cars racing. Yet again the wee blighters stumped me by being too small and moving too fast.

In no particular order I tried

• Pre-focusing on the track
• Using a really fast shutter speed
• Using continuous shoot mode on the camera
• Demanding my brother throw himself onto the track to make the drivers slow down

The first three had marginal successes. the last one, well let's just say the tire tracks on his head look well.

One shot I did get that I kind of liked was this. A little HDR to make it "gritty".

(f/8, 1/60sec, 55mm, ISO-200, 15/06/2008)

 

And yes, the car was stationary at the time....

It's been an interesting few days. Between getting a new flash gun (Canon Speedlite 430EX) and having a chance to play with the Canon 55-250 IS lens it's been a bit busy.

Proper thoughts and example shots using both these fine new toys will follow, but in the meantime here's a purple flower!

(f3.5, 1/2000sec, 50mm, ISO-200, 15/06/2008)

I promise this isn't going to turn into a flower blog. Lord, I don't even know their names. But, in their favour, they do sit still (sort of) and they don't complain half as much as my family who now hurt me when I take too many pictures.

And besides. It's purple. PURPLE.

 

Anyway, one of the interesting side effects of buying a new flash gun is that I've started trying to read a bit more about off camera flash. Currently I'm working my way through some of the articles on The Strobist and if I ever work out what I need to make my 400D and my 430EX do that funky dance I'll post my results.

 

Another less interesting side effect is that I'm broke. Cheque book photography is not recommended. Mr Canon, if your listening, your toys are lovely but very expensive.

 

 

Like I said, purple.

Ever since Dermot told me that taking photos of pink flowers was a nightmare I've been obsessed about trying it again. Basically any bright red or pink or purple flower.

These are still too contrasty or something. I'll get it one day.

 

(f/14, 1/30sec, 50mm, ISO-200, +10 close up  filter, 08/06/2008)

It's been a while since I found time to get some new shots and that's sent me scurrying back through my catalogues.

After a year of taking pictures, it's an interesting experience. Shots I felt were good 11 months ago are still emotionally important to me now, but I know if I took it today I'd not be happy. Does that mean I'm getting better or just getting more picky?

Probably the later.

Another thing I've noticed is the number of shots which appealed to me that I never got time for. The curse of digital I guess. you can take 100 photos in an afternoon and maybe only have time to really consider 5 of them. Shots like this of the digger (the same digger in the challenge). It's abstract, but I liked the colour of the arm against the blue sky.

(F/9, 40mm, 1/200sec, ISO-100, 04/05/2008)

Just a quick reminder that the challenge is still ongoing.

 

If you're interested in having a bit of a lugh and maybe winning the grand sum of £10 in amazon Vouchers (no expense spared!), then take a loo here.

... that sent their art in to Tony Hart for his gallery wall.

Dermot has finally talked me into taking part in the Peoples Photography exhibition in Dublin later in the summer.

Expect a lot of posts over the coming weeks where I panic about what photographs I should use, what way I want to mount them and what I need to bring and stuff.

All madness. Madness I tell you.

Anyway, if you're in Dublin at the end of August, it seems like it could be a fun thing to check out.

Honestly, nearly a year of posting and I don't post a shot with recognisable people in it, then suddenly it's two out of three....

Liked this shot because of the way the blue flag frames his head and the exhausted expression on the blokes face. Whilst I'm sure he's happy to be out on a nice sunny day doing what he loves, I'm guessing that armour weighs a bit.

(F/10, 1/200sec, 171mm, ISO-200, 01/06/2008)

 

A few tweaks to the image. Mainly to make the blues a little darker and the chain a little sharper.

 

You know I almost made it through this post without using the immortal line

"Once a squire, always a squire. But once a knights enough...."

So close, and yet...

I mentioned previously about wanting to try out Macro photography, but being reluctant to spend serious money on a good lens. Well, I think I've found my interim solution.

Previous experiments with my Tamron 55-200 left me cold. I felt it was too soft to achieve what I wanted and to be honest it never seemed like "macro" just "really close up".

I then tried a reversal ring, which mounts your typical lens backwards for some crazy close up action. Whilst impressive, you were left using the default aperture of the lens and typically the depth of field was razor thin. Good fun though, and at £10 worth a play.

But now...

Following on from that experiment, I picked up an (ebay special) set of close up filters. In my case I got a set of 4 different filters (+1, +2, +4 and +10) in a neat little leather case for £8.99 (including postage). Like the reversal ring, they're available in a number of different thread sizes.

Not, lets be honest. They're not world class filters. They're cheap and cheerful. They're soft at times but they are good fun. And more importantly, they give good picture. The eye picture from a few weeks back was made using them.

They have a few advantages over the reversal ring.

• Because the lens is mounted normally, you have access to all your functions as normal
• You can mount one or more of the filters in combination to take you right up to +17 which is..... close
• They're fast to mount and unmount and you've no risk of messing up the internals of your camera or lens

Hopefully these photos show the sort of effects you can expect.

Normal - 50mm

(f/2.5, 1/4000sec, 50mm, ISO=200, 07/06/2008)

 

50mm with +10 filter

 

(f/16, 1/125sec, 50mm, ISO=200, 07/06/2008)

 

50mm with +10, +4, +2, +1 filters

(f/13, 1/200sec, 50mm, ISO=200, 07/06/2008)

 

As you can (hopefully) see, it is possible to get right into the object in question.

All in all, great fun to play with and something that will become part of my kit bag for the foreseeable.

The only question remains, what would happen if you put a close up filter on a macro lens...

 

You can read the first two parts of Macro on a budget here and here.