Or actually... missing the trees for the forest. Most of the times I'm to concerned with the big picture (after all it's what landscape photography is all about, right?). But a few weeks ago I've decided to go to my cherished mountains with the Nikon D300 and just two lenses: the trusty Tamron SP 90mm Macro AF and my new Sigma 18-50mm EX DC. I have to tell you that my first true attempt to macro photography ended in complete frustration. I was expecting that things were easier. But I guess in photography, as much as in everything, if we don't feel the pain we'll not experience any gain. So, I devoted an entire afternoon to a single drop of water. I can hear you, macro-pros, already, crying: A whole afternoon????
Yep. Give it or take it a few minutes. But I'm a newbie. So I guess I deserve a little slack. First I had to find the right background. Then... the bloody wind was refusing to stop. Finally I had to deal with tripod vibration. It can actually be huge with that lens focused half'n inch from the famous drop. Focus. That, I think, is the major problem. To make it perfect requires... surgical eyes. Forget auto-focus. I'm not sure if it works for the demanded sharpness. And the best way seems to be pre-focusing the lens and then moving the whole rig using a macro/micro plate connecting the camera to the tripod head. I've tried the old method: let's call it focus bracketing. Several pictures in a row, from front focus to rear focus. One of them would, hopefully, be on focus. This was the best result. Nevertheless, sharpness in the picture is somewhat still compromised.
I guess the wind was too much for that afternoon attempt. And the pine limb wasn't stopping for a second.
Nikon D300
Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8
Manfrotto 190XDB tripod
Manfrotto 490 RC4 ballhead
Already on the descent, I've noticed this kind Chrysanthemum (in portuguese: Malmequer) flourishing in a rock crack. I shifted lens and snapped this one:
Nikon D300
Sigma DC 18-50mm f2.8 EX Macro HSM
Manfrotto 190XDB tripod
Manfrotto 490 RC4 ballhead
I guess the wind was too much for that afternoon attempt. And the pine limb wasn't stopping for a second.
Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8
Manfrotto 190XDB tripod
Manfrotto 490 RC4 ballhead
Already on the descent, I've noticed this kind Chrysanthemum (in portuguese: Malmequer) flourishing in a rock crack. I shifted lens and snapped this one:
Sigma DC 18-50mm f2.8 EX Macro HSM
Manfrotto 190XDB tripod
Manfrotto 490 RC4 ballhead
