As a macro-photographer, I spend a lot of time taking photographs of small things; little insects, a leaf, perhaps, a curly green tendril, or a drop of cool morning dew on a blade of grass - given the diversity of subjects and settings, the possibilities are innumerable.
The online artist community that I am a part of probably has at least a few thousand other macro photographers, and I often find myself browsing through photographs taken by some of these men and women whom I have become acquainted with and wishing I could take photographs that are as good. Sometimes, I find that I can do better. I have always maintained that a good photographer is good because he has a unique way of putting things into perspective and then capturing it. On the other hand, I have also felt that I could do so much more, had I the equipment to do so.
I was out in our garden the other day and I happened to find a tiny, green damselfly that couldn't have been more than two centimetres in length! It was the most fascinating little thing! I lay on the grass and watched as it perched on a blade of grass. Soon, I noticed there were others too! I brought my camera out and crawled around on the grass again, looking for them. It took a while, because they were so small and well camouflaged in the grass.
It's been several days now and I haven't tired of watching them and taking photographs. Once I've found one, I lie quiet on the grass and sneak up to it as slowly as my excitement would allow me. Most times, they would zoom off and perch on another blade of grass a few feet away. Sometimes though, they don't think I pose any threat, so they just sit there, and I try to focus as well as I can and take photographs.
Most of the photographs didn't come out as well as I hoped they would. One reason was that my camera produces photographs with high levels of noise. To get around this, I made a sort of extension tube out of cardboard, which had a macro lens on one end and fit snugly onto my father's camera, which produces excellent photographs but does not have the macro capabilities that mine does. I found that it worked very well!! I got several clear shots sans the noise yet with a magnification ratio that I suspect is more than 1:1.
The online artist community that I am a part of probably has at least a few thousand other macro photographers, and I often find myself browsing through photographs taken by some of these men and women whom I have become acquainted with and wishing I could take photographs that are as good. Sometimes, I find that I can do better. I have always maintained that a good photographer is good because he has a unique way of putting things into perspective and then capturing it. On the other hand, I have also felt that I could do so much more, had I the equipment to do so.
I was out in our garden the other day and I happened to find a tiny, green damselfly that couldn't have been more than two centimetres in length! It was the most fascinating little thing! I lay on the grass and watched as it perched on a blade of grass. Soon, I noticed there were others too! I brought my camera out and crawled around on the grass again, looking for them. It took a while, because they were so small and well camouflaged in the grass.
It's been several days now and I haven't tired of watching them and taking photographs. Once I've found one, I lie quiet on the grass and sneak up to it as slowly as my excitement would allow me. Most times, they would zoom off and perch on another blade of grass a few feet away. Sometimes though, they don't think I pose any threat, so they just sit there, and I try to focus as well as I can and take photographs.
Most of the photographs didn't come out as well as I hoped they would. One reason was that my camera produces photographs with high levels of noise. To get around this, I made a sort of extension tube out of cardboard, which had a macro lens on one end and fit snugly onto my father's camera, which produces excellent photographs but does not have the macro capabilities that mine does. I found that it worked very well!! I got several clear shots sans the noise yet with a magnification ratio that I suspect is more than 1:1.
Well, it's like life, I reckon. Make the best of what you have, as it has been said. If I'd sat on my derrierre, daydreaming of what I might do with something I do not have, I wouldn't have achieved much, so I try and make do with what I have and stay within the limitations of my equipment. Sometimes, though, it's fun to try and stretch these limits... the results can be quite satisfying!
1 comment:
oh my gosh! this is so nice khushi! i'm SO proud of you!!!! :) i love you!
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