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Macro and Nature
Photography - VII
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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Falco peregrinus
(Family: Falconidae;
common name: Peregrine)
A
really difficult shot since the bird was resting very close to the front
of its cage and usually they don't like to stand there for long. I
decided to use the long end of the lens and hope for the best. The
bright sunshine allowed a high shutter speed of 1/500 sec so I didn't
even have to worry about the VR function. To increase the impact of the
shot I chose a lower angle, which gives this picture a more natural
appearance - as if the bird was resting on some branch in the wild.
After viewing the picture on my monitor I was happy to see that the neat
lines and the alert look of this bird of pray were nicely captured.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor AF-S VR 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 D @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/500 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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Kiliaris river, Kalyves (Chania), Crete island
Taking
a walk in the path brings you at this spot, next to the river and
suddenly everything seems more beautiful. For a brief moment, all your
problems seem so far away and all that exists is the beauty of nature.
You just compose your picture hoping that part of this beauty will be
captured.
Photo
by Christine J. Hatzidakis
Shooting Data (top):
Camera:
Nikon Coolpix 5700
Lens: fixed @ 8.9 mm
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/168 sec @ f/4.5
Flash: none
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, level adjustment, resized + USM added.
Shooting Data (bottom):
Camera:
Nikon Coolpix 5700
Lens: fixed @ 8.9 mm
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/97 sec @ f/3.5
Flash: none
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, level adjustment, resized + USM added. |
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Aix galericulata - also:
Dendronessa galericulata (Family: Anatidae; common name: Mandarin duck)
Sometimes, it is a pity that we can't
upload the original file so you can enjoy the fine detail and color
saturation of a particular shot. This one, is a perfect example of it.
The full size in JPEG format is larger than 5 MB which makes its use
prohibitive. One of the first shots taken with the Nikon D2X camera with
the Tamron macro lens attached, a combination which will give you almost
maximum detail and sharpness. This kind of results made this combination
of camera / lens / flash my preferred one for almost all shots.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Struthio camelus (Family: Struthioniformes; common name : Ostrich)
The detail in this picture is really
breathtaking. Take into account that the large picture you will see when
you click on the thumbnail at left is a compressed image of the original
which has been also reduced in size three times.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Asprosmictus Erythropterus (Order:Psittaciformes;
Family: Psittacidae; common name: Red Winged Parrot)
One of the most challenging issues for
photographers is to reveal the detail of a very dark object placed on an
even darker background. Like the iris and the cornea of this parrot. A
black iris is still perfectly visible on a dark brown background,
creating an absolutely natural image.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Eos bornea garrlulus (Order:Psittaciformes;
Family: Psittacidae; common name: Red Lory)
Playful
as ever, this parrot will never mind your presence or the use of your
flash. It will continue enjoying its fruit or display to the other
birds. A beautiful bird, full of energy yet friendly enough and playful.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data (top photo):
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/125 sec, f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized.
Photo
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: 1/250 sec, f/6.3, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Dahlia sp. (Family: Compositae)
The
centre of a Dahlia reveals the details of this beautiful flower which
are often overlooked since our eyes normally capture the sight of the
flowers as a whole.
Photo
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 sec, f/18, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. |
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Gerbera jamesonii (Family: Compositae; common name:
Barberton daisy)
While discussing with Frank about the usefulness of MLU
(Mirror Lock Up) found in the Nikon D2X camera (but not on the Nikon
D70) I decided to take a close up shot of a small flower of a dahlia and
make a comparison. The shot at left was shot with Mirror Lock up (to
minimize vibration due to mirror swap), a tripod, a Novoflex bellows,
the Nikon SB800 flash unit and, of course, the Tamron 180 mm macro.
Using the 90 mm macro would result in much better detail because of its
shorter focal length but the lens in question was the tele-macro one.
After I took the shot I was just surprised to see the complicated
structure of this flower.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 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 CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. |
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Tadorna ferruginea (Family:Anatidae; common name:
Ruddy Shelduck)
This duck has just got out of the
water and the very first thing to do is to take care of its feathers. I
wanted to capture the small droplets on its body which are naturally
"repelled" by the bird's feathers to keep its body dry.
Photo
by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/8, Aperture
priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Images: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and
resized. Photo taken at the
Attica Zoological Park |
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Rea americana
Those
two large birds had been walking together for some time when I saw them
approaching each other again. I took five shots in rapid sequence and
chose this one which reveals a human-like feeling of affection. Large
birds like Rea americana (and ostrich) are easier to shoot since they
move slowly and are less unpredictable than small birds. An additional
advantage is their size which makes focusing a child's play.
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: 1/500 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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May beetle (Melolontha
melolontha)
The 1st of May was a really warm day in
Belgium, and I was sitting outside with my wife after sunset with a
glass of wine. All of a sudden we heard a large bug buzzing above
our heads. That insect crash-landed very close to us so we quickly
saw that it was a May beetle. We caught it and put it in a plastic
container box with a naturally looking interior and a glass cover
for observation and the unavoidable photo session. The day after I
took around 200 pictures and after sunset I released the bug again.
Photos by Frank
Panis
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60sec - f/13 to f/16
Flash:SB-800 I-TTL
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Taking a bath (Streptopelia
decaocto, Family: Columbidae; common name: collared dove)
It was a rainy Sunday morning which meant that my plans for one more
shooting session at the zoo were completely ruined. I decided to read
the newspaper in the balcony with my camera sitting next to me (as
usually). A dove landed on the wires and I stopped reading, waiting to
see how the bird would react to the falling rain. After 3 minutes it
decided that this was a very good opportunity to take a bath. I was
nicely surprised so I started shooting. I was sure that I would need
high shutter speeds since, although the bird seemed motionless at first,
it continuously changed the shape of its wings and tail. I used the lens
wide open (I decided not to change the ISO settings to ensure maximum
image quality) and used the flash for fill in in half the shots (using
the function button of the camera which is programmed to disable the
flash when pressed). When the rain stopped, there was a bit more light
so I decided to close the lens down to f/5.6. I took about 100 photos of
the event and selected four of them, each showing a different stage of
the bath.. Washing its right wing, then the left wing, dry and - finally
- ready to go. In the end, this was a good day for shooting !
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 - aperture: 1/640sec - f/3.5, AP mode
Flash: None
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop
CS, levels, unsharp mask filter and resized.
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/750sec - f/3.5, AP mode
Flash: SB800, TTL-BL-FP mode
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop
CS, levels, unsharp mask filter and resized.
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500sec - f/5.6, AP mode
Flash: None
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop
CS, levels, unsharp mask filter and resized.
Shooting Data:
Camera:
Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500sec - f/5.6, AP mode
Flash: SB800,
TTL-BL-FP mode
Image: JPEG processed in Photoshop
CS, levels, unsharp mask filter and resized. |
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European green frog (Rana
esculenta)
During a visit to my parents I wanted to
take a look at the pond near their home. Once there I saw and heard
a huge amount of green frogs quacking like crazy. Of course I
brought my camera with the 80-400VR lens to catch them on my CF
card. I should have brought my Tamron 180mm too as it's much sharper
at all apertures, but afterwards I thought that 180mm would be not
be sufficient to fill the frame anyhow.
Photos by Frank Panis
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/320 f/10
Flash:none
Image: RAW, converted in Nikon Capture editor, curves, USM
100/5/4, cropped and saved.
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Many thanks are due to Mrs. Eva Stets for the correct
identification of the birds
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