Lens: Zoom with Macro Capability vs Prime Macro

I thought about what the best lens would be to use for macro photography.  I looked at a zoom lens with macro capability vs a prime macro lens.

The advantage of a zoom lens with macro capability is that you could for example if you see a small bird or insect in your garden and you want to take a photo of it, you can do so without having to go too close.  You can simply zoom in and then use the macro function on the lens.

However, the quality of a picture taken using the macro function on your zoom lens is lower than the quality you would get on a picture taken with a prime macro lens.

Here is an interesting article I have found on this matter:  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/compare-zoom-macro-and-fixed-macro-lenses.html

It might be worthwhile investing in both so that you can be assured you will have a lens for whichever situation, but one might end up having to carry around too much equipment 'just in case' you might need it.  In my opinion if you are serious about macro photography, the prime lens will be the way to go from what I have read and studied so far.  However, it is very tempting to maybe start out with the zoom lens with the macro capability just to experiment with it.

Surrounding yourself with the right people

If there is one thing I have realized this past weekend, it is that surrounding yourself with the right people is very inspiring to be the best you can be.

Even though I love photography, it is easy to get trapped in the rat-race and focus more on other things and not making time for doing what I love.  I also seem to at times feel a bit overwhelmed by trying to fit everything in that need to be done each day.  Then after having a weekend like the one that just passed, spending time with friends who love art and photography and being creative was so inspiring and made me want to drop everything that I'm busy with and just start snapping away and study every piece of photography study material that I can lay my hands on!

Looking at them and what they have accomplished as a family made me want to do better than what I'm doing at the moment and study harder and focus more on being creative and most of all enjoying life and teaching our kids to do the same.  It shouldn't become a chore, the art of photography should be enjoyed.

If you surround yourself with people who love doing what you love and are successful in the field, it will have a positive influence on your life.  There is so much one can learn from others greater than yourself and who already made a success in the field of photography.

Watching our friends interact as a family made me realize once again how important it is to spend quality time with your friends and family and those around you whom you care about and not to let the 'rat-race' isolate you from them.

I found this interesting link which reminded me not only to learn from others, but also to give back to those just starting out in the field to get on their feet:

http://addicted2success.com/success-advice/why-successful-people-leave-their-loser-friends-behind/

I don't think one should necessarily avoid all negative people, I doubt that it would be possible, but to take note of how much time you spend with positive, inspiring people and how much time you spend with negative people.  I truly hope that I will be able to inspire others as much as I have been inspired this weekend!

Photos (3)

Last weekend I took a couple of pictures of our pet bunny to see if I can get it right without having the red-eye effect.  I didn't use a flash at all as it was taken in daylight.  I do want to try taking pictures using bounce-flash, because I want to figure out how to use flash properly and not get the red-eye effect.

Here are a few of the pictures using different apertures:

(Aperture: f6.3; Speed: 1/500sec)

(Aperture: f8; Speed: 1/400sec)

I have taken a few flower shots as well which reminded me again why I really want a prime macro lens.  Especially for pictures like these where a macro lens would have been ideal:

I used my Sigma zoom lens for this shot, but it would have been much better and I would have been able to capture more detail on the 'little visitor' using a macro lens.

My Equipment - Studio Lighting Starter Kit

A few months ago I started looking for a studio lighting kit so I can start practicing taking proper studio photos.  I have searched online and phoned a few photographic gear shops and then finally found something which I thought is ideal to start out with.

I have purchased a Photon studio lighting starter kit which includes 3 heads, 3 stands, 1 umbrella and two soft boxes.  (See picture below).  It comes with a handy carry case which makes it ideal for travelling.

At the same time I bought a used backdrop and I love the color!  The original stand for the backdrop was quite pricey so the shop manager suggested I use normal light stands (used light stands) which they were also selling at a lower price than the new stands so I opted for those.

I can't wait to start using it!  Space is a bit limited at the moment, so I'm looking out for somewhere where I can actually set up the studio kit and start snapping away!  Exciting times...

Oh, by the way, I took more photos of our pet bunny (see post about red-eye effect) and this time took it in daylight, using no flash at all and the eyes came out perfect!  I will post pictures soon.

Watch this space...

Photos (2)

Here are a few more of my favorite photos.  The plan is to find time (daytime) over the weekend to try and take pictures of our pet bunny again (mentioned in a previous post - red-eye effect), and see if I can manage to get the color of the bunny's eyes to come out without the red-eye effect.  I will post the pictures if I get it right this time!

Photos

Some of my favorite photos I have taken while we lived in the UK.  Here are a few:

Red-eye effect in Animals

Yesterday I have tried taking photos of our pet bunny, but no matter what I tried, his (assuming it is a 'he') eyes had the red-eye effect.  I have found this with many animals and I cannot seem to figure this one out.  In the meantime I have read on Wikipedia that the red-eye reduction doesn't work on animals.  This is what Wikipedia had to say about the causes of the red-eye or red-eye effect in animals:

(Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-eye_effect)

Causes[edit]

Red-eye effect in dog's blue eye only

Odd-eyed cat displays red-eye effect on eyeshine only in its blue eye

Because the light of the flash occurs too fast for the pupil to close, much of the very bright light from the flash passes into the eye through the pupil, reflects off the fundus at the back of the eyeball and out through the pupil. The camera records this reflected light. The main cause of the red color is the ample amount of blood in the choroid which nourishes the back of the eye and is located behind the retina. The blood in the retinal circulation is far less than in the choroid, and plays virtually no role. The eye contains several photostable pigments that all absorb in the short wavelength region, and hence contribute somewhat to the red eye effect.^[1] The lens cuts off deep blue and violet light, below 430 nm (depending on age), and macular pigment absorbs between 400 and 500 nm, but this pigment is located exclusively in the tiny fovea. Melanin, located in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the choroid, shows a gradually increasing absorption towards the short wavelengths. But blood is the main determinant of the red color, because it is completely transparent at long wavelengths and abruptly starts absorbing at 600 nm. The amount of red light emerging from the pupil depends on the amount of melanin in the layers behind the retina. This amount varies strongly between individuals. Light skinned people with blue eyes have relatively low melanin in the fundus and thus show a much stronger red-eye effect than dark skinned people with brown eyes. The same holds for animals. The color of the iris itself is of virtually no importance for the red-eye effect. This is obvious because the red-eye effect is most apparent when photographing dark adapted subjects, hence with fully dilated pupils. Photographs taken with infra-red light through night vision devices always show very bright pupils because, in the dark, the pupils are fully dilated and the infra-red light is not absorbed by any ocular pigment.

The role of melanin in red-eye effect is nicely demonstrated in animals with heterochromia: only the blue eye displays the effect. The effect is still more pronounced in humans and animals with albinism. All forms of albinism involve abnormal production and/or deposition of melanin.

Red-eye effect is seen in photographs of children also because children's eyes have more rapid dark adaption: in low light a child's pupils enlarge sooner, and an enlarged pupil accentuates the red-eye effect.

_________________________________________________________________________________

From the Wikipedia link given above it would seem like a bounce-flash or using no flash or even using a slower shutter speed might have have helped.