Macro

Autumn Harvest

Posted by Gustav on Oct 13, 2009 in Fall, Macro, Seasons, Technique | 0 comments

G’day Everyone,

In last month’s blog, Rob explained his technique for photographing insects and other small wildlife without a tripod.  Equipped with a macro lens, a strobe, and a diffuser, Rob enjoys (or so he claims) chasing his flighty subjects across the meadows and through the forests and wetlands hoping to creep up on them whenever they land, if they ever do.  First, he has to find his subject.  Then he as to keep up with it.  If it lands, it may not land in an accessible location let alone a photogenic one that will enable him to create a pleasing composition.  Even if he’s lucky and all this actually happens, he still has to hope that his photographic quarry allows him to get his lens within inches of it and keep the subject within the thumbnail-thin DOF long enough to get off a frame or two before he has to commence chasing it all over again.  Whew!!!  Asked why he does it, he says “It’s all about the thrill of the hunt.” 

Hand-Held Macro Photography

Posted by Rob on Sep 15, 2009 in Equipment, Flash, Lenses, Macro, Summer, Technique | 13 comments

Hey all – Rob here…

Since starting photography in 2004, May to August have always been my most productive months. There are plenty of subjects to choose from: birds, amphibians, flowers, insects, landscapes… On weekends, I’d often head out before dawn to the Ile Bizard marsh to photograph birds, frogs, turtles, otters or other marsh residents. When I don’t feel like getting up before dawn, I’d set up for macro photography a little later in the morning.

This year? Man, oh man… May, June and July were cool, very wet and windy. Montreal had record amounts of rain in July (4.6 inches), with some rainfall on 26 days out of 31 days. You can forget about going to the Ile Bizard marsh for bird photography in these conditions, as it will be very quiet. And windy or very sunny conditions make traditional macro photography extremely difficult.

Rob’s June 2009 Vacation

Posted by Rob on Jun 10, 2009 in Filters, Landscapes, Macro, Spring, Vermont, Workshops & Tours | 2 comments

Hey friends,

For many years now, I’ve been taking a vacation during the first week of June. Not only does this coincide with my birthday, but early June tends to be very nice weather-wise and is great for nature photography. Coincidentally, this is the same week as the Green Mountain Nature Photography Workshop takes places, and for the third year in a row, I headed down to northern Vermont for 5 days to be co-instructor of the workshop.