Crocuses in dreamy conditions. ISO 100 - 180 mm - f/3.5 - 1/160 sec.
As soon as the snowdrops and crocuses come above the ground in January, I start preparing my macro lenses for the first macro shoot of the year. This was not entirely the case this year because during the short frost period I used my macro lenses to photograph mushrooms with frost on their heads.
Mushrooms covered with frost. ISO 100 - 100 mm - f/2.8 - 1/20 sec.
While the first snowdrops were already blooming, beautiful winter mornings with fog presented themselves and there was ice on the puddles again, unfortunately I didn't have the strength to photograph, Covid had taken away my body's powers and energy. After weeks of recovery, and that is still going on, I found the courage in my garden to make some images of these beautiful spring bloomers between intense coughing and with the necessary moments of rest. This time I had the idea to make less registering images of the crocuses and to concentrate more on the abstract shapes that become visible when you carefully place the lens in the flowers.
Crocuses captured in a more abstract way. ISO 100 - 180 mm - f/3.5 - 1/80 sec.
Behind the scenes
How I made these images? Actually quite simple, and now a lot easier for me by using the Bat tripod from Benro. Macro lens on the body, lens gondola rotated upwards and mounted under the center column. Then placed the lens in the flowers and to compose I used live view. Unfortunately, I don't have a folding screen yet, so it was sometimes a bit difficult to look at the screen on the back of the camera. By slowly turning the focus ring, the beautiful shapes of the crocuses became visible. By including a touch of orange in the image, there is something of recognition, but is not immediately necessary.
In progress.
Crocus captured with a little touch of orange. ISO 100 - 180 mm - f/3.5 - 1/100 sec.
In addition to the crocuses, I have also made a few images of the snowdrops in the last week in my garden. I used more or less the same method which I used for the crocuses for the snowdrops. Sometimes I use an old mirror to soften the background and to use the reflections of the colors in the mirror. To soften the background a little bit more I greased the mirror with some vaseline. To enhance the white in the image, I used a plastic sandwich bag, sometimes it works and sometimes the image looks better just natural.
Making images of snowdrops with the old mirror.
In progress.
Snowdrop isolated in a field of white where I used a plastic bag. ISO 100 - 180 mm - f/3.5 - 1/80 sec.
Finally the daffodils, I don't have much experience with these beautiful yellow flowers in the grass and I am experimenting with my 100-400 mm lens, a first experience below.
Daffodils captured with my 100-400 mm lens. ISO 100 - 400 mm - f/5.6 - 1/320 sec.