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Macro and Nature
Photography - IV
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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Fallow deer (Dama dama)
Last December we went to a holiday
park with the family. We had very much fun with the kids in the
swimming paradise there, but we also visited the wildlife park
on Saturday. There we saw this fallow deer coming out of the
woods. We were very quiet not to disturb it, but the deer was
clearly used to people as it walked by at a distance of 10
meters without even being bothered by our presence. We walked a
bit further and saw another fallow buck resting between the
trees.
Photo by Frank Panis
Shooting data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED @120mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/50sec @ f/5.6 and second one 1/60 @ f/5.6
Flash: no flash used.
Image: RAW, converted in Nikon Capture editor, sharpening
normal, WB adjusted, opened in PS7, cropped, sharpened and saved
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Chloephaga poliocephala (Ashy headed goose)
Nature
is really beautiful and this becomes more evident than ever when you are
amongst animals kept under the right conditions. Even when the animals
do nothing at all, as the sleeping goose in this photo, you can still
admire their symmetry, the color and pattern of their feathers, their
shape. The goose was sleeping next to the pond enjoying the sunny day in
mid January. Since the sun was already low I liked the warm color of the
light but I had to use the flash in i-TTL mode to fill in the shadows in
the back half of the body. I like this photo because I can see that it
"preserved" that moment in time. Needless to say, the goose didn't mind
my presence at all - which is as important to me as taking the photo.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Delicate
and beautiful
A white
flower with pink edges and a yellow central part. The only thing you can
ask for is to have your camera and a macro lens.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Rose
This is
a very sharp image of a rose taken with one of the sharpest normal
lenses ever made, the Nikkor AF 50 mm D, f/1.8. This lens is a real gem
and a joy to use. All you have to do is to keep your eyes open. What
attracted me to this rose is the complete absence of vivid colors, which
doesn't make it less beautiful.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8 D
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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A different perspective
This shot was taken while testing my
new fisheye lens. I already knew that this lens would have an extreme
depth of field so I tried to find a subject which could become the
"centre" of my image. With an 180o angle of view, this is
more difficult than it sounds since you have to find a scene which
contains nothing but one key element. The camera was placed just 1 meter
from the boat and a small aperture was selected to increase the depth of
field even more. The flash unit was also used, as a fill in, to reveal
some detail on the boat which would otherwise come out too dark because
of the extremely high light levels (reflected from the sky, the sea and
the sand).
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: AF Fisheye Nikkor 10.5 mm f/2.8 G ED
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/125 sec, f/19, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Unnatural environment
(Euphorbia pulcherrima; poinsettia)
The sight of this poinsettia being temporally in the snow
created a contrast between the bright red leaves, the green foliage and
the neutral, white snow.
Photo
by Kenneth A. Pass
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Zoom Nikkor
AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 70 mm
Sensitivity: ISO320
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast,
saved in JPEG, USM added. |
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A walk through the woods
The white snow cover makes any
footprint visible from a distance, as those in the picture which most
probably belong to a rabbit. With 10 inches of snow I was glad to have a
heated home.
Photo
by Kenneth A. Pass
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Zoom Nikkor
AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 40 mm
Sensitivity: ISO320
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/320 sec - f/9, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast,
saved in JPEG, USM added. |
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The village
The
wind-blown snow around those weed stems created some very interesting
patterns adding some "texture" to the uniformity of snow. This
image reminded me of a scene from the desert. Just liked the appearance.
Photo
by Kenneth A. Pass
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Zoom Nikkor
AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 70 mm
Sensitivity: ISO320
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/400 sec - f/10, Auto mode
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in PS CS, sharpening low, auto-contrast,
saved in JPEG, USM added. |
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Horses by
the sea
About
the last thing you expect to see when you go to the beach to swim (and
take some underwater photos) is to see horses in the nearby hills. The
blue sky offered the best background for them.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/180 sec, f/16, Aperture priority mode
Flash: no flash used
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Apis mellifera, Family:
Apidae
While I was taking close up pictures
of the bee feeding on this plant
a second one arrived. I had already focused on the first bee so,
bringing the newcomer in focus was out of the question since I was
working at the closest focusing distance of the 90 mm macro which is
less than 20 cm from the front of the lens. When the second bee started
feeding I took some shots counting on the small aperture for the
necessary depth of field.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec, f/32, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Marabu stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferum)
A close
up of a bird with the sun behind it always poses a problem and needs a
fill in flash. The grey color of this bird made things even more
difficult.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added.Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park
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Ciconia nigra; common name:
Black stork
One of
the very few birds which stood almost still for a long time allowing me
to take a good number of shots. Again, the use of a fill in flash was
mandatory to get some detail in the dark side. A really rare bird.
Photo
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: 1/125 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Anthropoides virgo, Family: Gruidae, common name:
Demoiselle Crane
This
crane was moving all the time while the distance from it asked for a
small aperture to give some depth of field. The result was a lot of
shots which were a bit blurred due to the bird's movement. At some time
the bird decided to stay still. This allowed me to take a couple of good
shots. The moral of the story is that you must spend some time with your
subject before leaving.
Photo
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: 1/125 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park
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Greater
Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Flamingo are gracious birds which always get the attention of visitors.
If you spend some time looking at them you will admire their harmony and
delicate moves as they enjoy their pond. No matter how many pictures you
take you will rarely find two of them doing the same thing. Sun was high
in the sky so the light was the worst possible for a nice shot. Some
underexposure added "life" in this picture.
Photo
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: 1/350 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: no flash used
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Cuvier's toucan (Ramphastos tucanus)
I love
toucans, all kinds of them. Thus, when I visit this park, I always take
some photos of them. However, what makes this photo special is the
expression of the toucan which seems wondering what the hell am I doing
with that black thing with the long snout.
Photo
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: 1/60 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Another
sunset in Athens
Another
day is about to come to an end in Athens. Just some hundred meters out
of the city borders, nature is still alive. The sun sets behind the
mountains painting the weeds on the foreground red with its last rays.
Deliberately underexposed to create the interesting shadows.
Photo
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: 1/400 sec, f/11, Aperture priority mode
Flash: no flash used
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted,
saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
Many thanks are due to Mrs. Eva Stets for the correct
identification of the birds
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