Photos: Got Snack (newt)

posted by Andy

Here's a great shot of yet another rough skinned newt, this time with a bit of snack still on his lips. He was crossing the road so I had to lay down in the water to get this shot. Worth it?

Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing when I go out to photograph stuff. I just look for anything that might make a decent composition. Most of the time the shots I'd like to turn out just suck. Usually the images I end up liking most are ones that I took on a whim, like this. I didn't even know what was stuck to his face, I thought it was dirt.

Photos: Birds of Finley

posted by Andy

Here are a few birds found in and around the William L. Finley wildlife refuge. These first two images are heavily edited (duh) in Photoshop using gradient maps of various hues and layer masking to pull in the other colors so the images aren't completely mono tone.

Next up is a hawk found along the road getting a drink. It must be a juvenile since it didn't freak as I inched the car closer. Most hawks seem near impossible to get close to.

And finally, I passed a group of ducks also strangely unafraid of me. I'm guessing they're escapees or migrating city park ducks. They were nibbling the grass and punting aroud a large puddle out in a field.

How To: Macro Photography

posted by Andy

Prompted by Will, I thought I'd write up my experiences with macro photography. Sorry film snobs, but I gave up huffing chemicals in college. Digital is the future ... 5 years ago.

TERMS
Technically, "macro" means any setup that gives a 1:1 subject-to-film ratio. For example a ladybug should take up as much area in the photo as it would if placed directly on the negative or digital sensor. So, when you enlarge that image to say 8x10 the bug looks huge.

There are 2 main types of cameras:

1. Fixed Lens - like a digicam. The main lens can not be removed, but adaptors can be added on the end. Kodak DX4900 and Fuji Finepix S7000 are the 2 I've used.
   
2. removable Lens - typically SLRs or DSLRs (digital single lens reflex). These are your typical 35mm cameras that have interchangeable lenses. Canon XT/350D or Nikon D70 are good intro level options.
   

MACRO RINGS (macro filters)
This is the cheapest way to go. Free in fact, if you have the supplies around the house. Basically, it's just a magnifying lens held in front of your main lens. Higher quality glass = better images. To make your own all you need is a magnifying lens and some way to hold it in place. Here's one example.

Or you can buy some. These days I use +1, +2, +4 stacked together. The more you stack the lower the image quality (purple fringe, distortion around the edges) but if you put them on a decent lens (like this one) it reduces the effects.

If your fixed lens camera has screw threads around the lens somewhere chances are you can find macro rings for it. Sometimes you'll need an adaptor as well - either a long tube to hold the filter beyond the main lens or a step-up/step-down ring to adjust for differences in the filter's diameter.

REVERSE LENS
Holding a 2nd lens backwards up to your main lens gives incredible magnification. Just be careful not to scratch your glass! You may also be able to find a reverse ring or reverse mount. These have threads on both sides so you can screw on the 2nd lens for hands free shooting.

The drawbacks I've found are that the aperture of the 2nd lens (iris) may create vignettes or black circle around the outside of the frame. Also, hand held shots are nearly impossible to keep in focus. And, more glass = lower quality, unless you spend $.

EXTENSION TUBES (bevels)
These go between the camera and the lens allowing you to focus closer. Honestly, I have not used these but plan to get some soon. Bevels are similar but expand or contract like an accordion. I'd guess that any distortions you have with your main lens will only be magnified with these. :-)

MACRO LENS
The highest quality option, but also the most expensive. Being short on gobs of cash I don't have any experience in this dept either. I do know that lots of lenses claim to be "macro" but expect to pay as much as a zoom when shopping for a real 1:1 or 2:1 macro lens.

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Some other stuff that might be useful ...

APERTURE (f-stop)
For macro this mainly effects depth of field (DOF) or how much is in focus. But, like the your own pupil aperture also effects how much light gets in. More DOF = less light. See the problem? Greater focus area = less light = slower shutter speed = more chance of a blurred image.

ISO (film speed)
You can offset low light with higher ISO setting. Higher numbers = faster exposure = more noise or spots in the image. DSLRs can usually go up to 1600 ISO without too much noise, but digicams look terrible at high settings.

FILL FLASH
One thing new photographers don't realize is that using your flash in daylight can be good, especially for macro where less light is getting in. Getting the right flash setting takes some practice, but the results are worth it.

An on-camera flash is usually too close to the lens for macro work, casting a shadow over your subject. See "milk bottle" below for a solution. A decent external flash may reach past the end of your lens and even detect how you're shooting to adjust the light level. Adding a diffuser (technical term for "piece-of-plastic-to-cover-flash") helps spread the light out.

There are 2 ways you can build your own diffuser:

1. White Paper - fold it over several times and tape it over the flash. Take a few test shots to make sure it's not too thin or too thick.
2. Milk Bottle (see image) - Cut off a large corner of the bottle and then cut a hole to fit the lens. You want a cone shape with a hole slightly off center.
   

HUNTING BUGS
And finally, how to match wits with insects.

Capturing insects really is a lot like hunting. You have to be sneaky and move real slow. But, instead of being down wind from your prey, you have to be down light - watch where you cast your shadow. A distracted bug won't notice much. Move in slow as it's eating or cleaning itself. Freeze if it pauses to look at you. Having a huge lens in the face would ruin anyone's meal.

predators are harder to capture, they have big eyes, are fast and tend to notice any movement. Dragonflies, wasps and roaming spiders are really camera shy. Dragonflies tend to return to the same spot, watch where they go. If you're there when they land they'll treat you like scenery until you move too fast. Spiders you can herd towards your lens ... if you dare. Wasps, well ... don't get stung.

Most bugs are slow moving in the morning when it's cold out, but then again aren't we all.

I hope this was useful to someone out there. Thanks for reading.

Photos: Nature

posted by Andy

Misc Nature Photos: (1) Sign outside the William L. Finley Wetlands; (2) A field along 99, south of Corvallis; (3) Happy tree farm, also south of Corvallis near Finley; (4) ROUS, only not so unusual and not a very large nutria at that; (5) Weeds in a river making ripples in Southern Oregon; (6) Caged turkey at E.E. Wilson Wildlife area.

Photos: Rough Skinned Newt

posted by Andy

Rough Skinned Newt says, "Why'd the newt cross the road?" ... "What'daya gonna do, bite me?!" Because they're so poisonous their only enemies are cars and garter snakes. The latter has, to misquote farmboy, "spent several years building up an immunity to newts." I love this snipit from a Seattle Times article:

Every known mammal spits them out instantly -- except men in bars who have been drinking heavily. A 29-year-old from Oregon went into a bar July 9, 1979, and, on a bet, swallowed a rough-skinned newt. He was dead before the day was out.

Photos: Burying Beetle

posted by Andy

Burring Beetle: I noticed this ferocious looking critter because some other insect had been bothering it and flew away quickly as I walked past. Possibly a wasp, but all I noticed was the motion blur. I guess these bugs are usually nocturnal in their search for dead things, like mice. Which they haul away and bury for their babies. While trying to identify what type of insect I'd found I also ran across a reference stating some carry mites which hop off to feed on fly eggs, thus ensuring the survival of the burying beetle's offspring.

Photos: Grasshopper Porn

posted by Andy

Wet grasshopper found early in the morning. It was too cold for it to move about. I hear putting insects in the fridge makes them lethargic enough to photograph, but I've never tried ... honest.

Mating Hoppers found along a river bank. Insects are easier to photograph when they're distracted, well these guys were about as oblivious as they get.