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Macro and Nature
Photography - X
You can see the high resolution pictures by clicking on each thumbnail in the
table below. Please note that some of the files are really large
(even larger than 1 MB) so they may take a while to download. As always, your comments
are welcomed !
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Sceliphron caementarium (common
name: Black
and yellow mud dauber)
While preparing one more update for our website, this insect
came in the office trying to find a place suitable for its nest.
These insects use mud to build a nest and collect spiders to put
in the compartments which will be used by their larvae as food.
After a while it landed on the support of my office lamp. The
camera was next to me with the macro lens on so I managed to
take some pictures before it left. Since this insect can deliver
a really painful sting, trying to trap it was out of the
question.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/60, f3.5 Aperture priority
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image:
JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
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Upopa epops (Family: Upupidae; common name:
Hoopoe)
Although we have already included some
pictures of a hoopoe in this section, this one shows the bird at
large. The hoopoe population in our area is steadily increasing and
we can now see 2 or even 3 of them at the same time. A magnificent
bird with a characteristic flight pattern..
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/400, f3.5 Aperture priority
Flash:None
Image:
JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
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Canna indica x Generalis (Family: Cannaceae)
I have been seeing this particular plant for ages. However,
when I saw the light of the setting sun coming from behind, I thought
that this would be a unique shot of a very common plant.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/160, f8 Aperture priority
Flash: None
Image:
JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
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Lilium sp. (?)
I was very lucky
to have two nice friends in USA (Ken and Roy) who shared their time with
me and gave me an unforgettable tour in Albany (NY, USA) and the
surrounding area (which even included Massachusetts ). During our visit
to a local botanic garden I saw those Lilium flowers against the green
grass and I thought of the nice contrast their colors would make. I
decided to shoot this scene with and without flash to be sure that I
would get the most saturated colors.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data (top):
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/60, f14 Aperture priority
Flash: SB800 in i-TTL
Image:
JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
Shooting Data (bottom):
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/200, f5.6 Aperture priority
Flash: None
Image:
JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
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Family: Apidae; subfamily: Apinae; tribe: Bombini species:
Bombus terestris (common name: Bumble bee)
Looking among the thorns, you can always find interesting
insects living their lives there, usually passing unnoticed by the
visitors. This bumble bee is covered with tiny whitish things (which I
don't know where they came from) creating a very interesting image.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens:
Tamron
SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/7.1, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. |
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Echinops ritro (common name:
Globe thistle)
A strange shape with enough blue color hues to satisfy
the eye. Very common in most areas yet so often overlooked for the more
vividly colored plants and flowers.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens:
Tamron
SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/20, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and
resized. |
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Leaf on the grass
A leaf is just a leaf,
I know that. However, there was something interesting with this one
(probably a maple leaf) which was resting there, away from any tree,
while the morning rain had decorated it with droplets. It was the
first time I used this particular lens so I was really anxious to
see if it got it right - which it did.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Zoom Nikkor
AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 60 mm
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/80, f7.1 Aperture priority
Flash: None
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and
resized.
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Rhyticeros plicatus (common name:
Blyth's hornbill)
When I saw this bird, it was almost love
at first sight. Not only because of its size and interesting,
contrast coloration but mostly because of its unique behavior. It
was early in the morning and the visitors were really very few so it
probably felt lonely. When it saw the camera it flew to the front of
its cage and tried everything possible to hit it with its powerful
bill. I spent more than 30 minutes there, playing with it (trying to
avoid its bill) and it never left away. On the other hand, this
meant that I would have to use a macro lens at a very close distance
- luckily the lens which was on my camera.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron
SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/500, f9.5 Aperture priority
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photos taken at the
Attica Zoological Park
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Panthera tigris (Common name:
tiger)
Tigers are always the highlight of any
zoo. This is justified because of their sheer size, their nonchalant
moves, their striking coloration and the feeling of sheer power they
show. Getting close to them is out of the question so you have a
limited number of options. I used a long telephoto lens and a medium
aperture to avoid the wires of the cage but still have some depth of
field to capture the magnificent head of this animal.
Photos by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: AF
VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED @ 400 mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/250 and 1/350, f8 Aperture priority
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photos taken at the
Attica Zoological Park
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Helianthus annuus (common name: sunflower) +
Elasmucha grisea (Family: Scutelleridae; common name: parent bug)
The combination of the large sunflower and the small
parent bug on it was striking. I also liked the light which hit the
flower from above creating this shadow. The fill in flash managed to
light up the shadow area while still preserving the tonal difference
between the two parts. Working with this flash is always a nice
experience because you know that it will do what you expect. The colors
were not edited at all since I felt they were already bright and vivid
enough.
Photo by
George
J. Reclos
Shooting data:
Camera:
Nikon
D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/160 sec @ f/16,
Aperture priority mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted,
increased contrast, Smart sharpening added and resized.
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Rosa sp.
(common name: rose)
Recently, I discussed with Frank a new approach.
Using extremely small aperture settings and flash in close up
photos. This has two advantages. First, maximum depth of field
(although this may affect the overall sharpness of the image) and
second, a black background if there is no subject close, behind the
subject. This rose really stands out of the picture without the
distracting background which was quite evident at f/8 and f/10.
Since most cameras respond to red in different ways, I was expecting
to see a deeper red by the D2X (as compared to the D70 and the
CP5700), which is what I actually got.
Photo by
George
J. Reclos
Shooting data:
Camera:
Nikon
D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec @ f/22,
Aperture priority mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted,
increased contrast, Smart sharpening added and resized.
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Musophaga violacea (common
name: violet turaco)
An extremely shy
bird, always hiding behind a trunk or among the leaves, this turaco
only appeared there for a couple of seconds. I had been watching the
way it moved for some minutes and I knew it would visit that point
at some time. I prefocused and kept the shutter release button half
pressed till I saw it coming in the viewfinder. I took two pictures
before it left again.
Photo by
George
J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/10
in aperture priority
mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Trichoglossus haematodus (Common Name:
Rainbow lory)
This is a bird which can be used to
evaluate the color accuracy of your camera since it has almost every
color on it (except green). I took the first shot with the normal
settings and, since the bird didn't fly away, I decided to use very
small aperture settings to "eliminate" the background. This is
evident in the second and third photos, which also show a greater
depth of field. Getting fine detail is easier when shooting parrots
and lories because of the peculiar construction of their feathers.
Photos by
George J. Reclos
Shooting Data
(pictures from top to bottom):
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/8 in aperture priority
mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop
CS2, sharpness and contrast added, resized and saved.
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/22
in aperture priority
mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop
CS2, sharpness and contrast added, resized and saved.
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/32
in aperture priority
mode
Flash:SB800 in i-TTL
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photos taken at the
Attica Zoological Park
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The T- day (Chrysemys scripta
elegan; common name: common name:
red ear slider)
This photo was entitled "T-day" where "T" stands for
"turtle". The impression I had when I saw this scene was that of an
invasion (like the one in Normandy) with some of them already landed
while the rest of the "fleet" awaits its turn.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photos taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
Many thanks are due to Mrs. Eva Stets for the correct
identification of the birds
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