In need of a spring fix I recently headed north to Palisade Colorado, where they grow the biggest, juiciest and most delicious peaches in the world! Accompanied by my husband Brent, it was just a day trip, 2 hours there, 1 hour of looking and shooting and 2 hours back … give or take. I could have spent more time there but you know how it is when you are with a non-photographer … you have to compromise! We found the area to be quite charming with houses nestled among the orchards, and I got the dose of spring I needed.
Here’s a little history: The first settler began raising fruit and vegetables here in 1882. Protection from the Palisade Cliffs, and morning winds from DeBeque Canyon, meant the orchards were better able to survive spring frosts. Diverting water from the Colorado River with a series of canals and dams transformed the dry desert into a bountiful land of orchards and vineyards.
I thought I’d follow up the MACRO Photography & The Natural World workshop I co-presented on June 15th with more macro images. These images were captured this spring and are all from the natural world. Here are 10 of the tips that participants learned:
Macro images require that your chosen center of interest be very sharp. Always use a tripod (or other support).
Use live view if you have it and mirror lock-up if you don’t to eliminate camera vibration caused by the mirror flipping up.
Use live view’s magnification and manual focus to insure your focus is as sharp as can be.
While watching your subject in live view, wait until it is perfectly still before releasing the shutter using a cable release or remote trigger.
Avoid busy backgrounds that compete with your subject by changing your position or using a shallow depth of field.
Consider bracketing your f-stops (aperture) for a choice of varying depth of field and backgrounds when you process the images.
Compose in camera whenever possible for the best quality and detail … and to make full use of your camera’s capability.
Choose a camera angle that parallels the same plane as the subject.
In bright, harsh light use a diffuser or umbrella diffuser to soften the light.
Be patient! Successful macro photography requires a lot of tripod and camera adjustments before clicking the shutter.
Scroll down to Very Experimental and Splendor In The Grass for some fun, macro photography ‘how-tos’. And, feel free to leave a comment by clicking ‘comments’ at the end of any post!
Denise Bush's Photo Blog 