"Macro Art In Nature"

High-Key Floral, … and other stuff!

macroartinnature — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:09:25 +0000

Hello everyone,

Still very busy around here, … still shooting, … still creating, … and still putting up with the headaches!
Hope everyone has been doing well and that your season of shooting is in full swing.

Have been creating a new series of high-key florals for some consultants to show their clients, and it is one of my favorite types of images to produce.
Along with that is the series of “Ancient Landscapes” and the forever ongoing “In Their World” series of images. Yes, … I’ve been busy!

Hopefully I can get in here and resume writing and showing some new work like I use to, but luckily, … the phone keeps ringing! :)

Everyone take good care of yourselves, … and have some fun shooting this year!
Michael Brown

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Testing out new WordPress dashboard.

macroartinnature — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:53:09 +0000

This is just a test post along with a image from last year.
It is a bit incredible that WordPress changed everything around without letting the members know about it, and to the point that so many WP users are having a ton of issues.
It is an absolute chore to add any posts now, and incredibly ignorant with how you upload images and add them to your post.
And if I lose a bunch of existing posts after making this one, like it has happened to others, then I probably will stop all together.

Okay, … so I am fixing to add a image.
Cross your fingers!

Edit:
Well, looks like the work-around in fact, ……. worked!

Thanks for visiting everyone,
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Ancient Macro Landscapes - “Grassy Mountain Agatized Petrified Wood” & “Grossular Garnet”.

macroartinnature — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:10:46 +0000

This will probably be the last post showing rocks/minerals, … at least for awhile anyway.
I will continue to add any future rock & mineral type images to the “PhotoShelter Archives”.
Got to get busy with some other work!

The first image is from a cut slab of “Grassy Mountain Agatized Petrified Wood”.
I used the Canon 100mm macro and extension tube for this shot.
I could not help but to get the feel of a million year old landscape while viewing this composition through the lens. The feeling of looking down upon a ancient landscape from high above.
I can see a ocean with waves coming in to the shoreline and in late evening light, with a thin layer of clouds above.
Actually, the area that looks like clouds is a thin glassy layer that often appears in these pieces as a light creamy color, and sometimes with a hint of blue.
Then the streaks that you can see are possibly some growth rings mixed in with the texture of the tree.
Beautiful pieces to photograph!

© 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Grassy Mountain Agatized Petrified Wood”
“Ancient Landscapes” - Series

The second image shown is a large cut slab of “Grossular Garnet” - Green.
I probably will photograph this one again, as the colors in this piece are simply incredible and I don’t think that I accurately captured the overall richness in this one due to the lighting.
This piece is simply unreal in color when it is wet, which often helps to bring out the true colors in certain rocks and minerals.
Looking at this particular piece, one could easily think of a leafy vegetable or maybe being very high above a rain forest.
Spectacular greens, wonderful lines and shapes, … all found with the macro lens.

It is back to work tomorrow after a week off, … so I’m outta here to charge up the batteries, check the camera bag, clean the tripod, gas up the car, … and take a nap! :)

Thanks for visiting everyone,
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Macro Panoramic - “Dendritic Jasper” Rock.

macroartinnature — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:25:54 +0000

This is a “dendritic jasper” rock, a cut piece that is polished and flat.
There are many dendritic rocks that can give one the appearance of a landscape with plants and/or trees scattered about.
Using a macro lens, a macro slider, tripod, and a level base for each the rock and the tripod can give a individual many opportunities to create something different.
This piece of jasper is about 4 inches wide, and about 3 inches in height.
I stitched two images together to create this piece with a panoramic feel.
The upper portion has a touch more green, but I had a devil of a time with lighting and capturing it accurately.

Now, ….. you should see the tryptchs!

© 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Dendritic Jasper”
“Ancient Landscapes” - Series

Thanks for stopping by everyone!
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Some Morning Macro Photography, And Some Thoughts.

macroartinnature — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:05:53 +0000

Well, not the up close and personal type of macro photography. These images are a bit more from a distance.
I did get a few of those up close and personals on this particular morning.

Without a doubt though, I love photography in the morning.
The crisp clean air, the cooler colors, sometimes with fog, sometimes no fog at all.
I love it!

But this season, I am out to try something different, … something I have never tried before.
I want to do some night time abstracts in nature.
There are many things normally not seen in macro, even more that does not show itself until the sun has completely vanished below the horizon.
I have some ideas, something of which I will share as time goes on this season, … which is just around the corner.
Actually, looks like this might be one of those seasons that we pretty much skip winter and go straight to spring!

I read on a blog the other day, a blog that escapes me so I can’t give it some credit, something about creating your own doors of opportunity.
It certainly made a lot of sense, and something which I have been doing myself.
The only difference is, that when I create my own door of opportunity, I have a tendency not to open that door, but to kick it in instead.
Some years ago, I would always be a bit hesitant about doing just about anything.
But now, I simply kick that door in, jump in with both feet, and I seem to prosper a bit more from doing so.

So, why not create your own door this season.
What have you been wanting to do, and have not done yet?
Why have you not done it yet?
What is it that you really want to create?
What’s holding you up?
Go get’em!!

These two images were created near the ponds early one morning over at the Clemson Sandhills Research Center in Columbia.
There were no winds, the waters was an absolute calm, there was no dew to speak of which was a bit strange, there was a breaking fog on the other side of the pond that was allowing streaks of sunlight onto the waters, and nature was waking up. Simply beautiful!
I was standing on a bank and shooting down into the surrounding areas, with just enough depth to keep the main subject areas sharp while the background waters were smooth and flat. I really liked the transition of light and colors on this morning.
Both images were taken without ever moving, but the second image was flipped for composition and its overall flow. Just a personal taste.
It was fun!

So, … that’s it for awhile.
Got some shooting and playing around on my week off, so you guys/gals take good care of yourselves, and go out and have yourselves some fun creating something new and different!
Create yourself a new door!

Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

A Marriage Of Macro Photography & Georgia O’Keeffe Paintings.

macroartinnature — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:28:27 +0000

I have to say, that I owe it all to “Georgia O’Keeffe”.
Over the years, I have had a chance to visit various showings, have viewed and/or read many books about different artists and their styles, looked at a whole lot of work on line, and “none” has ever captured my attention like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. Again, ….. “none”!
Oh yes, I have seen many different artists and photographers over the years that amazed me and really cranked up my taste buds, … but none like Georgia.

It was these two Georgia O’Keeffe paintings (links below) that brought about the “marriage” of my macro work and a certain G.O. style that I admire.
The blends of color, the light and dark areas, the overall flow within her paintings, … this is what I love doing. It it what I truly love to create.
Here are the two Georgia O’Keeffe images that gave me some direction, even though it took me years to figure out how I wanted to go about it.
There are many more of her paintings that have influenced me, but these two are the ones that got me started.
Georgia O’Keeffe Red Canna 1923
Georgia O’Keeffe Music - Pink and Blue II

One can study her work and see where much of her thoughts and paintings were directed at, particularly in the floral areas.
For myself, I decided that I enjoy getting in areas that usually is much closer than what you would see in the majority of her work.
So, … that marriage of my macro photography and the art of Georgia O’Keeffe was born.
I continue to go after these abstracts in macro, the blends, the colors, the light and shadows, the depth, … and hopefully, what I do speaks to you and helps you in some ways, … much in the way Georgia’s art has done for me.

Below is a image that I do not believe I have ever shown.
It is similar to another image of a “baptisia” flower that some of you have seen, but this one is a bit closer, … a bit more abstract.

I also ran across a site today from Robert Genn, … “The Painter’s Keys”.
There is plenty of reading to be found there, … I think something for everyone!
Also some information to be found there about “notan”, … something that Georgia O’Keeffe used, and something that I am beginning to understand a bit more myself, ….. I think!

Thanks for stopping by gang.
Everyone take care, ….. now go out and create something!
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Reverse Nikkor 50mm 1.4 Lens - Brazil Agate & Flame Agate Macro.

macroartinnature — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:42:37 +0000

Now this is cool!

I managed to finish shooting a bit early the other day, and while I was out, I started to imagine what I could get within those rocks that I had on hand by reversing my old Nikkor 50mm lens and attaching it to the Canon 100mm macro lens.
I was amazed!

This first image is again, a “Flame Agate” rock, using some strong back lighting from a light box.
There are some stunning colors, shapes, and patterns that one can find and I have had some great shots coming from that large piece of rock.
But when I attached that Nikkor 50mm lens to the Canon 100mm macro, I found myself in an entirely different world.
This method helped to absorb those colors, to bring about some abstract possibilities that I had yet to see, to let me see the possibilities with creative depth, … I really had some fun!

When these rocks are sliced with a saw, I guess that there are some areas within that rock that has some air pockets.
I am not sure if that is the correct term or not, … so I’ll just say “air pockets”. (I will try to find out.)
So, the first image here of a flame agate is showing a hole, or a exposed “air pocket”, with little specks of crystal like pieces surrounding the hole.
This exposed or open area here is maybe a tad larger than the size of a pin head.

The second image here is of a “Brazil Agate”, using the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens in reverse and attached to the Canon 100mm macro.
I can easily see a type of storyline along with this image, but this time, I will let you … the viewer, to come up with your own vision and/or feelings about this one.

© 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Brazil Agate” - Abstract
“Ancient Landscapes” - Series

That’s it for now gang.
Hope that everyone is doing just fine, and I will come back in here again soon, ….. hopefully!
Thanks again,
Michael Brown

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Brazil Agate, Flame Agate, & Picture Jasper. Rock Art In Macro!

macroartinnature — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:15:11 +0000

Last week I finally had a bit of time on my hands, so I decided to visit a few blog journals that I had not been to in awhile.
I went over to see a old online buddy of mine “Mark Graf” and his blog, and discovered this wonderful post of his about photographing colorful rocks in macro. “Pietersite Macro Art”
I then decided to write Mark, as my youngest son Joseph and I have been fooling around with doing the same thing since last year.
Looks like we all have a touch of “rock hound” in us!

I truly love all of the wildly beautiful lines, shapes, and patterns to be found within all of the rocks and minerals.
Lighting can be a bit touchy, depending on the cut and surface of the rock, but that is just a part of the fun while working with these little gems.
One thing that I have learned, is that I really enjoy shooting some of the more translucent type of rocks that carries a lot of color, and to use a very strong light source in the background, ….. such as a light box.

And, … getting your camera pointing downwards and the lens parallel to the flat surface of the rock can also be very tricky!
A pain in the butt actually!!

Often you can look at these rocks and minerals, and at times it is very hard to see all of the possibilities that exists as far as creating abstracts from them until you get in close.
If I go to a place that sells rocks/gems/minerals, looking for something to shoot, I will also carry with me a magnifying glass. It really helps me to see if there is something within that piece that captures my attention.

© 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Picture Jasper”
“Ancient Landscapes” - Series

So, if you are looking for something a bit different, … and even a bit educational, … find yourself some rocks to photograph.
Experiment, and most importantly, ….. have yourself some fun while doing it!

Everyone take care,
Michael Brown

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

Hey, … The Macro Lens Works On Larger Subjects Too You Know!

macroartinnature — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:00:19 +0000

Yes, … turn your macro lens around sometimes. Works for me!

Have been traveling the state and doing a lot of editing here at home, but when I am out in the field and shooting some macro subjects with the macro lens, I often find myself wanting to grab a shot of something else without grabbing another camera or another lens.
And I must say, … that the macro lens works wonders for just about anything it seems!

© 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
“Cypress Tree”
(2007, 2008 Drought In South Carolina)

Hope everyone is getting along fine, and hopefully I will be able to keep in touch here and there with all of you.
Thanks again for stopping by and visiting gang!

Michael Brown

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”

“Poinsett Waterfall”, & Links Of Interest In Photography.

macroartinnature — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:55:56 +0000

This is a image taken this past year from Poinsett State Park here in South Carolina.
I got below the falls at the crosswalk, and this is where the Gitzo Explorer 2220 tripod and RRS BH-40 came in handy, as I had to extend two of the legs and place them almost down into the water and bringing the center column into play at a weird angle so I could get the camera and lens at the same height of the swirling pool, which also showed off the bubbles playfully dancing about on the water’s surface. The RRS ballhead is a pure joy to work with in this situation!
It was fun, interesting, and I enjoyed the lighting that was involved here in the tea colored waters and the late afternoon light filtering in through the very tall hardwood trees.

Some interesting links I would like to share with you all.

“Bill Lockhart Photography”
Bill Lockhart is recognized internationally for his photographic work. His most recent works feature photographs taken in the American Northwest, Orkney, the Farne Islands, Alaska and South Africa.
Check out some of the wonderful interviews Bill has within his blog, which includes interviews with Darwin Wiggett, Royce Howland, Ruud Peters, and some incredible work from Phil Borges, … plus some more excellent photographers. There is much more to be found within Bill’s blog. Do check it out!

So, … you like HDR?
Then do check out the interview with “Royce Howland” that was mentioned above.
Royce is considered probably the best in the world at using HDR and nature photography!
One of the images within that interview is my favorite of all HDR images that I have ever seen.
Study the image, “Sunset At Godrevy Lighthouse”.
Man, ………. this is excellent stuff!!

“A Photo Editor”
Maybe not that much in line with what I am currently doing, but I do get plenty of enjoyment out of visiting there.
Good information, … and some laughs as well!

He’s young, rather handsome, has a head full of hair, ….. so I don’t like him no more!
But, … this old online buddy of mine, with all of his youth and a zest for nature photography, sure has a wonderful eye.
“Vito Paratore” from the New Jersey area is a outright wonderfully talented individual.
He’s the type that jumps right in with both feet, and will really have a go at it when it comes to nature photography.
Check out his site, take a look at his blog, and give him a holler!

“Shorpy - The 100 Year Old Photo Blog”
Want to see “a lot” of old images? This is a cool place to visit!

Well, … guess that will be it for awhile
Hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and hope that this New Year that we are now in will be your best one ever!

Take care gang,
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At “PhotoShelter”

“Macro Art In Nature”