Fine Art Nature Photography Class

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I debated about whether to add this discussion in the Photography group of here in the Art Cafe.  I'm thinking since my photos taken for this class will probably look a little more like "art" (at least I hope they do), it should probably be here.  I'm excited about the class.  I just finished the first lesson and it's confusing but intriguing at the same time.  I'm feeling like a total novice compared to the others in this class who have posted some of their prior work which is amazing.  They have big time equipment...I don't.  Anyway for me this is all about learning to look at things a little more creatively and having fun.  So, here are my first "assignment shots".  The instructor will critique them next Monday.  Since this is the first lesson, I'm pretty clueless about what she'll be looking for.  I'll let you know and add any key "learnings" to this discussion.

This one is actually tree mold that I thought looked pretty neat...

[Donna K & Quincy]

Love them all!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you, Donna.

[Carol and Banjo]

SO beautiful Jane.....how did you do the last one?   Amazing!!!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks Carol.  The last one was pretty much an accident.  It's just the way the light happened to hit the mirror.  In Photography, it would be considered a mistake....I just thought it was kind of cool.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Okay Jane...I am totally confused now.  I have the Composer with the lens with the green ring around it which is called the double glass.  Then I have the Sweet 35. I watched all the videos on their website.  I didn't know that you have to be in Aperture Priority and not Manual and also that the Sweet 35 lens is not compatible with the macro lenses but I can use the converters on it.  The Macro Lenses will work on the double glass and I need to shoot in Aperture Priority and do manual focus.  All of the Lensbaby stuff is manual focus...right?  Is it all also AP?  Tomorrow I am going to try again.  I wasn't using AP so that could be my problem.  I couldn't get anything to focus! Very frustrating new toy if I do say!!!!!  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Nancy, I use the double glass optic (usually with a +4 macro ring).  I'm always in Aperture Priority with my camera set to Manual Focus.  I believe that the Canon and Olympus (that's what I use), allow you to shoot in Aperture Priority.  I'm thinking I read that the Nikon requires that you shoot in Manual.  What kind do you have, Nancie?  I would start with the Double Glass Optic and an Aperture ring of 4 or a little higher.  The larger number rings (smaller holes) will give you a bigger focus point.  My favorite is the 4 for flowers.  I always use my viewfinder to focus with the Lensbaby...not the display.  I'd say not to bend at all at the beginning...you need to get good at shooting straight ahead before you start bending.  Pick a subject, focus on it turning your outside black ring very slowly.  You should see a sweet spot emerge which is in focus....just keep slowly turning until it's where you want it to be.  Move it just a tiny bit and shoot...do that a lot.  I took tons of pictures when I was just beginning with lens to get a sense for what worked best.  If you want to upload any photos, I can look at them and probably tell you what you might want to do differently.  Keep at it because once you get some practice it will seem like second nature.  It's my favorite lense now and I always manually focus no matter what lens I'm using. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh, and it helps for YOU to move around as you're trying to get the focus where you want it.  I'm often crawling on the ground shooting up.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I found I had to move the camera for the extension tube shots. but crawling around is beginning to sound entirely too much like calendar shots : )

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thanks Jane...I'll put my knee pads on and go out and start crawling around.  I am just finding it harder to get up afterward...ha ha

[F, Calla & Luca]

Just when I thought they couldn't get better! I simply love the first one but they are all great.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks so much F.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

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