Photography Challenge - Macro / Close-up

[Tim Mayo]

I thought it would be fun to experiment with some monthly photography challenges to help us all grow as photographers by experimenting with different niches outside of our comfort zones.

So for this month (April 2021) the challenge is macro or close-up photography. There's no need for a macro lens to participate, close-up shots taken with other lenses are welcome as well.

This is not a competition so there will be no winners announced, it's purely for fun and self-development.

Simple Rules:

• Canon R Series cameras only please
• Post as many times as you would like
• Have fun!

Macro and Close-up Photography Tips:

If you are looking for tips and inspiration then this article should help to get you started:
https://www.dpreview.com/learn/1063005124/10-macro-photography-tips-for-beginners

Enjoy!

 

[billsmut]

F10 1/160th iso200 Eos R5 Sigma 105mm f/2.8 ex dg os hsm Macro

 

[billsmut]

 

[JayAy]

Just a quick handheld test with IS on, of course, using natural light from a window.

The subject is a very well played with Dinky Toys Field Artillery Tractor model number 688 and I think is a pre-1964 version as it's stamped with Meccano Ltd on the base plate. It's been in my family longer than I have and I pre-date 1964 too.

 

[Joetheslug]

First attempt using focus stacking...5 images.
Waterboatman catching a mayfly. Canon 100mm 2.8 macro + R5
1/160 ss, f11 iso500.

Should have Faster ss, but was thinking about other things.

 

[Beverley]

Not a macro lens but the canon 70-200 at 70mm, R6 and canon adapter.. I’m loving my R6 and will try with the macro lens soon.

 

[Kathryn Milner]

Just a quick handheld test with IS on, of course, using natural light from a window.

The subject is a very well played with Dinky Toys Field Artillery Tractor model number 688 and I think is a pre-1964 version as it's stamped with Meccano Ltd on the base plate. It's been in my family longer than I have and I pre-date 1964 too.

View attachment 1590

What a great idea for practice. It is great to have pictures of treasured items as well.

 

[JayAy]

For comparison with the previous single image, this time using the R5's focus stacking, still just with natural lighting.

Both images are 40 slices deep stacked with Photoshop. I did try with Canon DPP and found the results very close to those from Photoshop. DPP knows how many images are in the stack, so that's a bit simpler to set up, but it is a lot slower processing the images.

Much cleaner images with than with the previous single shot approach, as expected, though a lot more effort is involved. There is some smearing form the stacking process which I'll have to find out how to resolve. Lots more to learn.

One form the other side too - I don't think that front tyre is roadworthy anymore.

 

[dmiller68]

Playing around with the RF 35mm

 

[Kathryn Milner]

April - I usually use my macro lens for wild flowers but experimented with my RF 100 to 500 and was happy how it performed with the R5. Hand held while lying on the ground. No sharpening was applied.

 

[JayAy]

Forget-me-nots. Tripod image at 1:1 with a crop too. The slightest breeze had these flying all over the frame.

 

[Kathryn Milner]

May - Yellowbell - The Yellowbell is one of the first flowers in spring and is found on prairie grasslands. It is actually a lily and has an edible bulb that was eaten by Native Americans.
I am loving using my RF 100 to 500 telephoto for macro shots.

 

[Kathryn Milner]

Cabbage Butterfly on a Dandelion

 

[Kathryn Milner]

May 8, 2021 - Spring Beauty if a beautiful little wildflower that blooms in the woodland in Alberta. It is one of the first blooms of spring. The plant is about 12 cm (5 in) tall and each bloom is 8 mm (1/3") across.

 

[GeraldHerd]

Spring Beauty if a beautiful little wildflower that blooms in the woodland in Alberta. It is one of the first blooms of spring. The plant is about 12 cm (5 in) tall and each bloom is 8 mm (1/3") across.

View attachment 2592View attachment 2593

Fwiw, I think this the better of the two.

 

[Kathryn Milner]

Wildflower - Smooth Blue Penstemon - I happy with how DPP got the colour just right on the flower. The colour was nice with Lightroom but the raw profile in DPP shows it the way it really was.

 

[slclick]

R6 + Adapted EF 100L

 

[Kathryn Milner]

June - Wildflower - This tiny bloom is called a Shooting Star and appears with two Spring Beauty blooms.

 

[MaraLee]

For comparison with the previous single image, this time using the R5's focus stacking, still just with natural lighting.

Both images are 40 slices deep stacked with Photoshop. I did try with Canon DPP and found the results very close to those from Photoshop. DPP knows how many images are in the stack, so that's a bit simpler to set up, but it is a lot slower processing the images.

Much cleaner images with than with the previous single shot approach, as expected, though a lot more effort is involved. There is some smearing form the stacking process which I'll have to find out how to resolve. Lots more to learn.

View attachment 1630

One form the other side too - I don't think that front tyre is roadworthy anymore.

View attachment 1631

Love these! Did you ever find out what's causing the smearing? I'm encountering it, too, with Photoshop in stacking. I thought it might be from too few images, but it did it really bad with 120 yesterday. I don't know if it's during the alignment or the blending stage. I've been doing auto-align while importing, but I might try doing it after import and see if that makes a difference. I'm using an R6, but I know it's PS, because the images are fine.

 

[JayAy]

Love these! Did you ever find out what's causing the smearing? I'm encountering it, too, with Photoshop in stacking. I thought it might be from too few images, but it did it really bad with 120 yesterday. I don't know if it's during the alignment or the blending stage. I've been doing auto-align while importing, but I might try doing it after import and see if that makes a difference. I'm using an R6, but I know it's PS, because the images are fine.

I've not had any time to dig further into this I'm afraid.

 

[Kathryn Milner]

June - Red Milkweed Beetle on Milkweed Buds - I love my RF 100 - 500 and I am amazed how it focuses so close for this type of shot and also does telephoto.

 

[MaraLee]

We were just discussing this lens yesterday as a possible next acquisition. You may have just sold one.

 

[Kevincolton]

Red Milkweed Beetle,

Canon R5, 100mm, f2.8, ISO 800,

 

[Kevincolton]

Lillys Canon R5, 100mm, f11, ISO 400, 5 stacked images.

 

[Kevincolton]

Just a fly in the Garden! Canon R5, 100mm, f11, ISO 400, 5 stacked images.

 

[Kevincolton]

A fly in the Garden, Canon R5, 100mm, f13, ISO 3200

,​

 

[Kathryn Milner]

Lillys Canon R5, 100mm, f11, ISO 400, 5 stacked images.View attachment 4421

So beautiful!

 

[Kathryn Milner]

Interesting, unknown insect. Fun to try a macro shot while we were camping. It is almost alien in appearance.

 

[Paul Iddon]

I like this thread already! Must add a couple once I have had a look around the rest of the forum.

Paul.

 

[Paul Iddon]

Bilbo's Nose!

Let me introduce you all to Bilbo Baggins Cat - our pet feline.

I have been playing around with the new to me R10, not yet familiar with the camera at all, and it's a million miles away from my recently owned 70D.

The macro lens I use is a full manual lens and reports no info back to the camera at all. With this in mind, I'm sure this is a photo where I was using AV mode on the R10, and it may well have at f/2 (according to my exif) though in truth I am unsure...

Paul.