Saturday, April 12, 2014

A Personal Photo Challenge: Close up/Macro







This is my first time joining in with The Personal Photo Challenge. It's a monthly challenge- which is just about perfect for the amount of time I have to work on something 'extra'- this month's prompt was closeup/macro- which I haven't done a lot of - on purpose anyways. I usually do get pretty close to small objects- but usually I just get close focus and shoot- and don't really think about the composition.

I think it makes a giant difference when there's something in the background- I took some photos of tiny rocks- and they were great- but they could have been boulders for all you'd see in the pictures. I use Irfanview (it's free and fairly easy to use, plus it's a download so it's more convenient that pic monkey I think- though it doesn't have as many trendy filters) for photo editing, but I'm usually pretty basic with it- I just cropped the first one, sharpened them and re-sized the images.

My camera is a Fuji Finepix S basically a glorified point and shoot-  I mostly use c (custom) setting so that I can control the shutter speed- I used an iso 100 on these to let in lots of natural light- because my camera was mostly blocking the light.  I also used the super macro button- no tripod- just me on my belly trying not to breathe at the wrong time!

I'm Linking up at A Personal Photo Challenge.

17 comments:

  1. Thank you for joining in on the photo challenge, Angela! We have a terrific group of participants and everybody is quite supportive. So I hope you will consider future challenges as well.

    These are quite lovely and reflect the end of a long and cold winter. I especially like your second photo which features a tenacious bud that is anxious for the spring season! I have never heard of Irfanview, so I'll check it out. If you look over on the sidebar of the photo challenge blog, you'll find a long list of web links for free photo editing sources. Perhaps you could investigate some of those too!

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  2. Oh, how I love the choices you've made and the natural colors. I appreciate the info, too. I use picmonkey but would like to try the editing site you mentioned. Very nice photos for the challenge!

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  3. Great photos Angela! Love the furry buds, and the detail of the ice photo! Great work! I hope you'll find time to join in the fun each month.

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  4. Hello Angela
    Your first photo is quite magical - it jumps off the page for me as in 3D!
    A wonderful macro shot.
    Thank you for the 'heads up' on Irfanview - I'm off to check it out - thank you!
    It's lovely to meet you at Donna's Photo Challenge.
    Shane

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  5. Oh goodness!! Winter at it's most harsh! LOVE these.....Great job...
    hughugs

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  6. I'm captivated by the ice photo, the color is so chilly - brrrrrrrrrrr. Glad you joined the challenge.

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  7. These are great macro photos, Angela. I love the ice, so convoluted and detailed. A miniature ice sculpture!

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  8. Angela, your photos really capture a mood! Great work!

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  9. Awesome. !!!
    What a fun party...and I am learning a few things.

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  10. ...meant to tell you that your word verification is on...

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  11. Hi Angela, I'm so glad you joined to Photo Challenge. I've been doing it for about half a year and I'm learning so much. Donna has a really great group of people -- so encouraging and helpful.

    I really like the monotone pallet of your photos. I know you're working with what you have this time of year and you've captured the distinct mood of retreating winter. Lovely.

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  12. This really illustrates that beauty can be found in the stillness of winter. Sometimes we are so anxious for spring to come we may miss something! Thanks for sharing your photos and welcome to this fun photo challenge. Ps. I really enjoying your Canadian artists feature.

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  13. Beautiful pictures of winter! I especially like the picture of the ice. It looks so cold!

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  14. I really love the last photo and I can't decide why. There is something quite seductive and hypnotizing about it. Maybe it is the stillness.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  15. Enjoying your photos..very different contribution.
    Also enjoyed reading some of your recent posts.
    Very creative!

    Thanks for joining in with us!

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  16. I like the life in the garden you've captured and the ice formation is awesome.

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