Overlooked

How often we tend to overlook or even ignore the little things in life that actually matter. I think these flowers represent that very well. They're tiny, maybe not more than a centimetre or two in diameter and yet they're so beautiful. It also goes to show how beautiful and wonderful God's creation is even at a macro level.

These flowers grow all along the hillside on the way to Mussoorie which is a hill station in India. Most people don't notice them and some ignore it and fail to see the beauty in them. When I was taking pictures of these flower someone actually asked me why I was wasting time photographing these flowers!

Also notice the tiny insect on the flower in focus. I really wished I had my DIY flash adapter so I could take a few extreme macro shots. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to take it with me without damaging it and thus rendering it useless.

Almost Dry

Looks like the monsoons are early this year. We've been having rains for a few days straight with little or no direct sunlight. I personally prefer the sunlight to the rain but I just can't complain when we get a stunning sunset because of the clouds.

This particular insect didn't seem to mind the rain and it most certainly didn't mind the water on it. Fortunately it was pretty still so I could get two shots before it flew off.

Why two shots? Well two shots with different parts of the insect in focus can be used for focus stacking.

Cricket

Found another dead insect and decided to shoot it. Unfortunately I'm busy with exams and completely forgot about it until I noticed a really bad stench in my room. Turns out it was the cricket so I sprayed some deodorant on it and then took a few pictures before throwing it out.

Also, I didn't use the usual reverse-lens technique. Instead I used a few extension tubes. Not much of a difference except for the fact that I have to get closer to the subject with these tubes which can be a big disadvantage as it'll spook most subjects. However, it's not too close and I don't have to hold the lens. I can now hold an external flash which should make lighting a whole lot easier and better.

Thankfully my room isn't stinking now.

Patience

The title must seem a little weird since this is a picture of a bug but it's a really important quality.

Especially if you're going to get really close to these beautiful creatures.
Hope you had a great weekend! :)

Out On A Leaf

It's been a while since I've take extreme macro shots. Photography has been put on hold ever since my exams started but when I saw these flowers and the bugs that they attracted I just couldn't help myself.

This particular one didn't like me getting close so a good detailed shot of its eyes and everything wasn't going to happen. However it did allow me to get this shot before flying off.

Yes, I use the reverse-lens technique. It's challenging (as is all extreme macro stuff) but it's worth it.

Busy Feeding

This little insect was so busy feeding on this flower that it didn't notice me at all. I was able to get really close and it didn't move an inch.

The wind was strong which made it really difficult to get a steady shot.

Deadly Look

I tried to think of a good pun but came up empty.

This creature looks scary to some but I think it's pretty. Also it was dead when I found it.

It's Fly Time

Yup. Another extreme macro shot. This is of a common housefly.

It really surprised me. Not the fly but the picture. They are actually quite beautiful. God's creation truly is amazing!

Flies are a nuisance but they sure are pretty. Look at those massive compound eyes!

Always Defensive

I was out shooting the mountains when I noticed this little insect crawling on the plant.

It was just moving in hap-hazard lines and didn't really seem to be going anywhere in particular so I decided I'd take a shot of it.

As I took the camera near it must have sensed my presence because it immediately raised it's pincers in the air and stayed like that till I move away.

BTW I've seen these insects before and trust me, you don't want to go near them when they are mad. It actually hurts a lot!

Angry Insect

This is one of those times that a DSLR would come in real handy and where the SX50 HS just can't win. I wish I could have got a better macro shot of this insect but this is the best the SX50 could do...plus it's cropped.

Anyway this insect actually looked like it was frowning and like it was very angry. You know when you're really hungry and there is no break in sight you kinda get angry? Yeah? Well, that's the kinda angry it looked.

Below is a low res image of the insect cropped from the original image above. It looks angry, doesn't it?

Reaching Out

This is a shot of another branch from the same tree that I shared yesterday.

To me it looks like this is trying to reach out to the sky or is calling out to some insects or creatures to come and rest. Or maybe it's just my hyperactive imagination.

Well at least a lowly fly heard and responded to the call and is now resting on the branch.

Bugged

This again is one of the first 10 pictures I took when I got the camera back.

This little beetle was really busy. I don't really know what it was upto because I'm not sure whether beetles drink nectar or eat flowers. Do they?

It was gloomy day and thus the light was diffused which is pretty good for macro photography but since it was late in the evening the level of light was pretty low. I don't really like to use the built-in flash for macro shots because it produces really harsh shadows that don't really enhance the image most of the time. So I used a slow shutter speed and raised the ISO but not a great deal because noise is a massive problem with the SX50.

The challenge with nature photography is that most of the time you have to work with whatever light you can get and you have no control. It might take a while to get it right but it is worth it.

Just Hiding

I love a surprise and I was really surprised when I saw this spider. The rose looked pretty so I wanted to photograph it but when I went close to it I saw this tiny little spider. I didn't expect to see an insect there let alone a spider so that was a pleasant surprise.

Anyway I had to take a quick shot because the camera (look at me blaming the camera when it was actually me) spooked it and it kept moving around really really quick. I was quite pleased with what I was able to finally get after many blurred pictures.

A Private Meeting

Insects fascinate me. They are so tiny, yet there is so much to them that you could easily just stare at one and  find something new.

I went out to photograph some insects and I saw these two on a lemongrass leaf.

They didn't seem too bothered with me getting close and I was able to get a few shots before my arms started aching and my back hurt from bending down.

Remember, try and get the eyes in focus. Of course there are exceptions to this so it's upto you, the photographer, to decide what works best.

Make Hay In The Moonlight

I hope the quote "Make hay while the sun shines" isn't copyright or something because then I'd be in big trouble for today's title.Yeah! Yeah! It might sound cheesy but that's what I came up with.

The first proper Daily Post on this blog was when I shared a picture of a spider in its web. Some found it creepy and some loved the picture. Either way thanks for your feedback because today I'm sharing another spider picture which I don't think I've shared before.

This spider disappears during the day and magically reappears in the night. It's as if it goes into a magic portal to another dimension and then returns after it has rested because when I do see it, it is always as busy as a bee. This is cool but it also makes it difficult to capture because of the continuous movement.

Thankfully the moon was pretty bright that night and I was able to get a good silhouette of the spider. Yes, that is the moon - not a street lamp of light from a torch. Many get confused and some don't even believe me.

I hope you've had a good weekend and had loads of fun.

Upside Down

Yes, yes! I know the titles are getting worse. I apologise....sincerely.

Anyway I went out to the garden to shoot this spider but it was really shy or just too scared of me to stay in one spot for more than one second. I did manage to get a few shots but I had to search for a different subject to shoot because it was soon gone. I did find this ladybird (or ladybug...whatever you want to call it) and was able to get this shot. It was really windy and that made matters worse.

Truth be told I didn't see this ladybird/bug in the beginning. I only say it after I had taken the first picture of this plant. Fortunately it didn't move too much which did help a lot especially since the plant was swaying in the breeze.

Macro photography can be frustrating but you shouldn't give up. Keep at it. You will end up throwing a lot of pictures but if you have a digital camera then there shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway hope you are having a good day :)

A Private Moment

I hope these insects are reading this post because I must apologise for barging in on such a private and personal moment and then taking pictures of it. If you are reading this post, little bugs then I'm sorry if I disturbed you but I just had to take pictures. Anyway given the fact that neither of you moved when I was there or seemed even remotely bothered I guess you didn't really mind, did you?

Getting this shot was really difficult because of the wind. If you have dabbled in macro photography you know that you have to work with a really shallow depth of field which means you have to keep your camera really steady in order to get the right parts in focus. It was quite a challenge trying to get the eyes in focus. I could get both in focus because of the angle I was working at. I should try focus stacking. Is there a way to auto-align and focus stack images in Photoshop CS2?

Btw if you are on G+ let me know what you think of the changes there? I'll be writing a little about those changes when I upload this picture there shortly so you might want to check my profile as well. Basically I like what they've done. If you aren't on G+ then I suggest you create a profile immediately because you don't know what you are missing. I find myself spending more and more time there everyday. Why? Because I think it is better that Facebook in many ways - especially for photographers.

That's it for now. See you tomorrow.

Thanks a lot for all your feedback, suggestions, comments, emails and messages. I really appreciate it. Keep 'em coming! :)

Hanging On A Leaf

Yes, I know I'm getting worse with these titles/captions. I honestly can't think of good ones...or I'm just too lazy. It's probably the latter.

Whenever I'm bored at home and can't go out I grab my camera and go out into the garden where there are these bushes/shrubs. I always (well, almost always) find a spider or some other bug to shoot and I wasn't disappointed on this visit either. I saw a spider which was really shy and then some bugs (which I'll share over the next few days) and also this little insect. I've seen the same species countless times but I can't seem to ID them.

Anyway the reason I mentioned lemongrass is because this thin, long leaf is lemongrass. You have to be careful when you are moving among these - specially when you stick your hand with the camera into the plant because the edges of the leaves are razor sharp - I've cut my fingers quite a few times in the past.

Always remember that in macro photography the depth of field is really shallow so you'll want to hold the camera as steady as possible so that what you want will be in focus and not come out blurred.

What Are You Looking At?

I was out shooting flowers in my mom's garden one day when I came across this little insect. It went so well with the flower and I wasn't even looking for it.

It kept moving around the flower for sometime before looking up at the camera as if to say "He! What are you looking at?" Maybe it did say that in its own language or maybe it's just my imagination.

It didn't move one bit while I took a few pictures of it. This is one of the few times when an insect has actually stayed still while I'm taking pictures, the others just seem paranoid. Never saw this tiny one again but it would be great to make friends :P

Another tip when shooting insects - keep the eyes in focus...always! You might have to use your LCD screen to get the focus right so it might take a while but it will be worth it...trust me.

I might not be able to post everyday for the next few weeks - it all depends on how soon I can get my laptop fixed. If I get it fixed by next week then I think I'll be able to maintain the "one picture a day" thing.

Take care.

Upside Down

A few years back a small child brought a few flowers to the primary school that my parents run for the local village children. Those flowers grow wild here and so no one really paid attention until that child walked up to my mom and asked her to look at the flowers. Lo and behold! My mom was surprised because there were some small yet really really beautiful insects on those flowers. She brought one of those insects home and I saw them when I got back from school. Unfortunately at that time I didn't know how to use a camera so I couldn't get a good picture.

I didn't see these insects for years. Last year I went out into the garden to shoot a few flowers and I was surprised to see this insect under this leaf. I was really excited because I hadn't seen it in a very long time. The sun had already set so level of light was very low and I had to use a relatively slow shutter speed and the insect kept moving so that made it difficult but I was able to get this shot of it just before it flew off.

The colours on these insects are really vibrant. Could you help me identify this beautiful insect?

How is the weather where you are? It's quite cool here. The sky is overcast but we had a really amazing sunset today. Sadly, my Dad is out of town so I don't have access to a camera.

Have a good day folks :)