Backlit Macro Photography.

Backlit macro photography is something that is rarely seen anymore.
Over the years, the majority of written articles on macro photography have preached about things such as “maximum depth & details”, “using a flash for even lighting”, “fill the frame”, … and so on.
All of this is good of course and something that should be learned, but some of the most dramatic macro type images can easily be obtained with some good ol’ fashion harsh type lighting, … or strong backlighting.
You can see wonderful examples of strong backlit subjects in nature photography, such as those wide open landscapes, animals, trees, and so on, … but again, rarely do you see it in the areas of macro.

Try it sometime!
Just find a area out in nature with some interesting subjects, a place that looks like it could offer up some uniquely different compositions. Have some fun, and create something new for a change.
Use the available light for some dramatic and stark looking silhouettes, then if you wish, you can practice balancing out some of the lighting by using a flash.
Personally I do not like using a flash. I will use it when it is absolutely the only way to obtain the needed results, preferring natural light along with some bounce lighting using various reflectors and/or mirrors.

© 2007 – Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Halloween Pennant” Dragonfly – Odonata
“In Their World” – Series

Canon XTi
Canon 100mm macro and 2x teleconverter
1/160 sec. @ f9 – Cable release
ISO 100
Gitzo Explorer 2220 tripod
RRS BH-40 Ballhead

It was a wonderfully cool Sunday, … at least it was much cooler than it had been these past few weeks.
I sat at the edge of the pond, my pants slowly soaking up the moisture from the ground, watching the sun approach the tops of the trees, and witnessing the golden light that occurs late in the day.
I had the Gitzo Explorer tripod low to the ground, with the center column tilted 90 degrees over to its left and at eye level. All I had to do, was to lay there, watch, listen, … and only slightly moving my head and eyes to the camera.
A very relaxed position while one just lays, … and waits.

It was not long at all before all of nature came to me. I was now a part of it.
I was just sitting, … just watching, … just listening, ….. and learning.
I only took a few shots that day.
It is remarkable what one can hear, but only if one chooses to do so.
To hear a grasshopper land on a dried and hollowed reed with a distinct “click”.
To actually hear a dragonfly.
To hear the echo from a bull frog, with the sound starting clearly from the other side of the pond.
To hear the cranes coming in from a distance and then right over your head.
To hear a turtle slip below the water’s surface.
To hear the carp.
To hear the wind.

For many years, I had said it was nature talking to me.
But finally, I learned that it has always been another who was doing all the talking!

My day of shooting was postponed until tomorrow, so thought I would post something here today.
Thanks again for visiting gang, and will see you all again in a couple of weeks with some more of my ramblings! :)

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Could Your Passion In Photography Also Lead To A World Of Hurt?

Okay, ….. one of my monthly rants!

So, … you have a passion for photography?
I was thinking the other day, if that passion could also get you into a world of hurt at home?

So, … do you enjoy going online into the many photography forums?
Do you enjoy blogging about your photography?
Do you sometimes talk about all the camera gear you have?
Do you sometimes talk about the computers you have?
Do you sometimes talk about how much all of this cost?
Do you talk about that huge pay raise you just got?
While talking online in a forum or while blogging, do you sometimes talk about that new widescreen HDTV you just bought?
Do you sometimes talk about hunting, and maybe the firearms you have in your home?
Do you sometimes talk about general things, such as how you need to do certain repairs to your home?
Think about it!

Now, … how many of you will sometimes go online in your favorite forum, or maybe on your blog, and announce to the world that you are going to be away from your home for a certain period of time?
Not thinking, you can easily give the dates to so many outright “evil” individuals out there on when you will not be at home.
They already know what might be in your home, ….. right?
Who or what could have possibly given them the idea of what is in your home?
They already know that you make good money.
They already know that you have great computers.
They already know that you have firearms.
They already know that you have expensive camera gear.
And, … you gave them all of this information online from the forums and from blogging.

Why would anyone go into a forum, or write on their blog, that they are finally taking their “month long” dream photography vacation for example, … to Africa.
Why would one give the exact dates that they will be leaving and returning?
Why would one let everyone else know that they would be gone for a certain amount of days or weeks, leaving their spouse at home alone?
Why would anyone let everyone else know, that they will be gone on their photography vacation, leaving the kids at home alone? They are old enough to take care of themselves, ….. right?
Why would anyone let everyone else know, that absolutely no one will be at home, but your parents will stop by to water and feed the dogs?

Sounds like I am the paranoid type, ….. huh?
No, … not at all.
I might mention that I am going on a trip somewhere, but I will never (unless I slip up), give out the information in a forum or on my blog that I or my entire family will not be at home on a certain date or time.
You can see this all the time in many of the forums and on blogs.
Well, … maybe I should not bring something like this up here in my blog, as it could give many individuals some ideas.
Not to worry, right? They don’t know where you live anyway, ….. right?
Google it!
But, I think that it is something that many should think about.
It is a great feeling to finally be able to do what you have wanted to do for a long time, to take that trip of a lifetime, to put that camera gear and what you have learned over the years to the test, to simply enjoy one’s self.
You want to share your joy with others, that you are finally going to do it. You have earned it!
We live in a different kind of world now, where there are those who will look for any kind of edge that they can get in order to make it a bit easier to take what is not rightfully theirs.
And unfortunately, there are those who could care less about life.
I will no longer take that kind of risk!

Bottom line, … I think that letting everyone know in a public forum and/or on a blog that you will not be home on certain dates is just like leaving a key under the doormat along with a welcome note, letting them know where the freshly baked cookies are!

© 2004 – Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Creeping Jenny”

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”