Some of my kids rented macro lenses for me to try out for this week (early Mother’s Day gift). I have always wanted to take a picture like this. Taken in New Jersey where you can find many of these in most yards.
This is in response to Jude’s Macro in the Garden Photo Challenge
This is also a response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Abstract A special shout out to zerocreativity0.wordpress.com for reminding me about the challenge. 🙂
Note to my followers: Yes, I am back from vacation. 🙂
Momdeavor 
April 27, 2016 at 10:15 pm
Beautiful!
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April 28, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Thank you so much Brenda!
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April 27, 2016 at 11:28 pm
Beautiful! Which lens do you think you’ll get? Do you find the macro lens a little tricky?
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April 28, 2016 at 6:03 am
I find my macro lens very tricky to focus a lot of the time! There must be a trick I am missing! Do you have any tips? (I have an Olympus 60mm macro for the Olympus mirrorless system of cameras)
Jude xx
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April 28, 2016 at 10:20 am
Here is what I have learned, Jude. When shooting true macro with this lens, I use aperture priority and set it at 0.9-1.4, manual focus set at 1:2 and left there. You need an aperture of 5.6-14 (counterintuitive, but something to do with construction of this lens). Move slowly back and forth until you find the “sweet spot”. Shoot on a tripod I’d you can, but I find this tricky because you are moving tiny steps back and forth. Google Robin Wong and read her two excellent reviews.
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April 28, 2016 at 10:49 am
Ah, thank you. I have read those reviews and found them very enlightening. Seems it is a case of trial and error! But I do love it when it comes together.
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April 28, 2016 at 10:45 am
Thank you Susan. The lens I used is a Canon 100 mm f/2 ( I have a Canon Rebel SL1). This is the first time I used a macro lens. Due to the price. I will play with it for the rest of the week and postpone purchasing one for the time being. Here are some tips I got from National Geographic. http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/macro-photo-tips/#/solitary-bee-macro_26208_600x450.jpg
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April 27, 2016 at 11:44 pm
Great picture and may be good entry for abstract this week!
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April 28, 2016 at 10:46 am
Thank you so much and a great idea! I just got back from vacation and have been trying to figure out what to submit for that challenge. 🙂
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April 29, 2016 at 12:13 am
Still you can link that to Abstract.
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April 28, 2016 at 6:05 am
A lovely dandelion clock. I love photographing them but most end up in the bin! Thanks for squeezing one in this month 🙂
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April 28, 2016 at 10:47 am
Thank you Jude. Wonderful challenge.
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April 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Thank you 🙂
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April 28, 2016 at 1:03 pm
A beautiful take on a subject I’ve never fully captured. A very nice photo!
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May 3, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Thank you so much Tom! Such a wonderful compliment.
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April 28, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Oh my goodness that is beautiful! What lens and camera did you use to get this shot? Now I kind of want to get a macro lens of my own 🙂
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May 3, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Thank you so much Simon! Quite a compliment coming from you! I have a Canon Rebel Sl1. The lens I used is a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens. They are not cheap ($850). But renting a lens for a week is a great option to to see if you like it.
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May 3, 2016 at 4:24 pm
My brother has an SL1 and it’s a fantastic (but very little!) camera. Paired with an outstanding lens like that 100mm macro, it’s no wonder you can get such amazing shots! Of course the gear is only as good as the photographer using it, and in your case the gear is in very good hands 🙂
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May 3, 2016 at 5:49 pm
You are so sweet Simon. 🙂
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May 4, 2016 at 6:57 pm
Oh wow! ….you managed to capture the [normally] unseen beauty of this little flower;) …amazing, isn’t it? [PS: yes, the yards and even highway-medians are quite highly decorated here with them!:]
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