Shooting macro and shooting feathers of all things!!!
In my mind I can hear the song 'It's a Small World after All' in the back of my mind.
I learned about doing reflective water droplets by watching another tutorial. I decided to try a pigeon feather and use that red piece of wrapping paper with snowflakes on it for this project.
I was pretty excited to see the snowflakes of the paper show up in the droplets. You should see the little happy dance I did! The process sounded much more difficult but really it wasn't.
Table. Camera on Tripod. Xmas paper behind feather that I sprayed with a mister or a spray bottle. Set up a flashlight taped to a cup aimed at the paper.
Focus. Bingo.
These were my very first tries and I was excited about them. I decided to try it again but with a Christmas card behind the feather. I found some nicer feathers and used the face mister to add the droplets. I used Playdoh to hold the feather upright on the table.
I used a Christmas card to bounce light off from and then grabbed some of those multicolor curly cue ribbons in that I have and dropped them behind the feather. Apparently this can be done with a cell phone or any camera that you have.
I think I found a new love for creating abstracts and color in the small size.
What I started with. The colors in the background are curly ribbons reflecting light.
Two shots I ended up with.
Ribbons behind the feather.
Oh just smack me now. I can't wait to do more!
I always thought that photos like this needed fancy equipment and an art studio. Funny what can happen with a lot of experimentation and play.
A couple of more...
Really, it wasn't done in a studio or even in a special place. I shoved my Christmas Lego Village to the side and set this up on my work/display table with the living room brightly lit by the Christmas Chair and the lights behind the Village.
I am so enthralled by the abstract beauty that I found in my lens that I kept saying .... to no one...
OHHHHH AHHH
Look at that!
Oh MY word!
But if I don't reply or stop by your blogs this week it is because I have been summoned for Jury duty on a 4 day trial. If I am picked, I won't have access to the internet or my cell phone for most of the time.
I do not mind serving, I've done it before and found it quite interesting to do. If I am passed by, I'll see you all tomorrow!!!
So spectacular! Yet another new skill!
ReplyDeleteI love learning new things. I have to try another water bubble trick soon!
DeleteIt's simply amazing to me what you are able to do. These photos are beautiful. Best of luck with jury selection.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't selected, but they started with 100 people and went through 9 hours of calling folks up and dismissing them. It is a sexual abuse/assault case so it was emotional for many prospective jurors.
DeleteI think it would be an interesting case to hear tried so I may actually go back this week if we don't get freezing rain.
It was very very interesting. I served 4 years ago on a 2 day trail with child abuse in a different manner and that was incredibly interesting too.
The defendant's attorney was pretty damned slick in his questions to the prospective jurors.
That's stunning results. Some of them make me want to see the whole birdie resting in the light rain. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThank you, I had a sudden incredible rush of ADHD creative energy that wouldn't quit yesterday and it was quite fun.
DeleteI hope to continue that later on this week.
I did see a blue bird this morning again in our heated bird bath!
Oh so pretty Val. You will have to do some snowflakes one day...my daughter got an awesome shot of a snowflake on the hood of her car and the weather forecaster likes to use it as the background...she sent it in a few years back:) Keep having fun! I am swamped with "stuff" at the moment. Just stuff I need to get done! Hope you have fun at Jury Duty if they keep you. Hope Olive can let Charlie out!
ReplyDeleteI did try snowflakes a few times. I caught one on moss a few years ago and then another stuck on a moss 'flowers' a few years ago when a dry light snow fell. I will try that again.
DeleteSee my reply to Sandra. I would like to follow this trial, but we are in for an ice event Wednesday night through Thursday so I may not be able to.
Nice macros! Feathers are fun to photograph and have such intricate detail. I especially like the blurple ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I wish I had half of your photography knowledge! Your snowflake macros are always incredible.
DeleteAbsolutely spectacular photos!!!!! Lori
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou are really onto something.
ReplyDeleteI was once excused from jury duty at the end of the process due to physical concerns. It would have come at a very inopportune time, so I was relieved.
3 jurors were excused for those reasons after they'd been in the jury box for a while. It was so obvious that they were so uncomfortable or on diuretics and had to interrupt proceedings quite often. One poor guy never heard a word of anything!
DeleteCorrect! We do not need fancy stuff. We can do a lot without. These are the kinds of shots I enjoy doing. And have you tried the light coming up from under frozen things and also leaves? So many fun things with macro. And as macro photographers, we can't ever say, that there was nothing to shoot today.
ReplyDeleteThere's ALWAYS something to shoot.
Always.
I haven't tried the leaf trick yet as I've not really taken any lights with me very often. I usually take one for toy photography in dark shady areas.
DeleteWhat a great idea!
The leaf one is fun - I do that one inside with the macro lens. Saw it in a UK photography magazine where the really got in there with the light, lens and leaf. So fun.
Deleteahhhh! That would be so much easier than me trying it in snow and rain and fog the other day! LOL!
DeleteGood for you for serving. We need sane people on jury duty!
ReplyDeleteI agree, we sure do!
DeleteWonderful photos. I especially like the blue/purple background with drooping feathers - captivating!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am enjoying another method of photography!
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