Marvelous Macro

I enjoy many types of photography. Macro photography being one of them. I really like macro because it opens up these little worlds that you don't often see so close up and in intimate detail. Yesterday I received a new (used) macro lens. It's a lens that I have wanted for many, many years. I purchased a Tamron 180mm macro lens. I have owned several 100mm macro lenses over the years but I have always wanted a 180mm macro lens because it gives you quite a bit more working distance from the camera to the subject than the 100mm macro. For a 100mm macro the working distance is just over 10cm. With the 180mm it jumps all the way up to 25cm. That's a really huge difference if you are trying to photograph nervous insects. This morning was the first time I got to try the lens out and I was very pleased with my purchase. The lens has a good solid feel. It seems really well made and it came with a lens collar and a deep lens shade. It's actually too deep for my big hands as I have to take off the lens shade to get access to the lens cap. This morning I used it to photograph the sunrise through a crystal ball and later in the day I photographed a honeybee and a Skipper butterfly. All of these were handheld and I can see the need for a tripod to make the images sharper. I'm looking forward to putting this lens through its paces in the future. God's blessings upon your upcoming weekend, chris #WithMyTamron All of these images were created with a Canon EOS T1i camera and a Tamron 180mm macro lens handheld and in AV mode. Exposures varied

Bee Happy!

OK, I admit it. There are a few wasps thrown in here too. If I did that though the title just wouldn't work. "Bee and Wasp Happy" just doesn't cut it. Yesterday morning my pick up decided to act up when the engine light came on as I was taking Annika to school. I took it to Cal's Garage for repairs and ended up doing my downtown errands on foot. Willits is a small town so that really isn't much of a problem. I made the best of it by bringing my camera along with me. As many of you know walking on foot is a whole different experience for the senses than driving in a car. You tend to see, hear and feel way much more. My best find on my walking errand trip was the flowers in front of the fire station. Here there were bees and wasps aplenty feeding upon the bounty of flowers in a large, brick planter there. I spent well over a half an hour chasing down the flying little creatures. It was well worth the effort to enjoy the warm sunny day and bee happy.

God's love,

chris