Photo By: Carrie
If you are familiar with this blog you know that as much as I love photographing trees I am equally fond of getting as close as I can to flowers. Like nose in, acting like a bee, laying on my stomach, becoming one with the ground, close. I drool over macro images I see in my reader and think…man, I have macro lens envy.
My new camera takes a clean, crisp image but I keep feeling like I am not close enough. When I do get as close as I want everything is out of focus and that is very frustrating. But, when I was having an honest conversation with Leanne Cole on her blog the other day, she pointed out something that maybe should have been obvious to me but actually wasn’t at all.
Most of these macro images that I love are more than likely cropped. What? Really?
Of course they are, why didn’t that register before? I look for a nice crop when I am looking for multiple edits of one image with the One Four Challenges, I guess I just had a mental block about macro images. I always thought they were in their original composition. It is still sinking in that this is not the case.
The original unprocessed image
The trick (I should really say skill) of course, is a completely still hand. When you crop an image tight any flaws or out of focus parts are deeply exaggerated. I shoot handheld almost exclusively, especially with flowers. And many times the image isn’t razor sharp, but once in a while I get lucky.
So, my mind is blown yet again and here in lies a new creative path that I can’t wait to go skipping down. Any macro tips you are willing to share? Please include them in the comments, I would love to hear from you.
**Last week I posted a Flowers on Friday post (inspired by a post from Robyn at Captivate Me) and I think I am going to continue this series indefinitely. So look for it every Friday, I know I am going to look forward to working on these posts each week.
The Shady Tree 
Since photography is an unknown land for me, I don’t have any tips, Carrie, just the message that I really enjoy it when you take me inside your photographer’s mind and craft. It is a new language for me.
🙂 Well, welcome! I am really just learning, I have learned so much over this past year or so. So much! But, I have tons to learn still, it is that way with art I think and the learning and exploring comes in waves. I am really excited about this latest discovery…I am ready to run with it!
Thank you for acting like a bee, laying on the ground, and capturing the hidden world of these amazing flowers. I grow flowers but seldom see them, or take the time to see them, from your viewpoint. You’ve inspired me to look closely and be more aware, to really appreciate my garden. The first photo’s texture, light and colors are beautiful
Oh Mercy, Thank you! What a lovely comment. Yes, go have a “new” look at your garden. You will be amazed at what you see! Although, I should warn you, it makes you see details everywhere which means you get places a lot slower than before 🙂 Enjoy!!
It really is all about finding that completely crisp original. once you have that, your artistic eye can decide how to crop. Nicely done with this one!
Thank you, Laurie. I so appreciate your comment. I am having fun with this new knowledge!
Glad you love the crop. It really can change a photo. Beautiful flowers become more stunning 🙂
Yes, Karen, I totally agree. I have always enjoyed these deeper perspectives of flowers. My mistake was trying to figure out how to create the image I wanted strictly from the camera. Why I didn’t realize I could go deeper with a crop, well I’m not sure. But, the door is open and I am so happy to see what is on the other side!
Lovely sunny flower Carrie 😃
Im so glad youre with me once again for flowers on Friday 😃😃
If cropping works for you and gets you closer… Enjoy!!
Thanks Robyn, I hope you don’t mind me using your title, I am loving focusing on flowers on Fridays. What a happy way to end the week 🙂
I don’t mind at all. They are Flowers on Fridays 😃😃
I love them too Carrie and ending the week this way!