SLR Photography Guide

Flickr Group – SLR Macro Photography (digital)

There are now quite a few interesting discussions going up over on our Flickr Group, SLR Macro Photography.

1. Penny has started a challenge for members on a theme called ‘Threads’ which is becoming popular. Members have posted photo’s of material such as denim, cotton and woollen objects. While others have taken the theme one step further to include threads seen in spider webs, or threads of a leek while preparing dinner.

To see more of this challenge and submit a macro yourself, visit: Challenge #1 “Threads”

2. Another popular discussion is talking about members favorite macro shots and the reasons why. Shown below is a sampling so far:

The macro shown above, called ‘Making a pig of himself’ is one of my personal favorites because the grasshopper looks so comical when viewed large. Like one of the animation characters in ‘A Bugs Life’.

Photo above posted by smooveflava: I was walking down the steps to one of the beaches on the Central Coast and I saw a whole bunch of bees flying around the flowers. I stopped to take a quick pic, trying to stay steady as I was capturing it without a tripod and I also had two very scared kids attached to me pulling at my leg screaming (they absolutely hate bees!) and I got this shot…very proud considering how difficult it was.

To see more favorite macro shots photographed by members visit: Your favorite macro shot.

3. Photographers who use a Canon Twin Lite Flash for their macro work might be interested in this post called, Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash.

The discussion has some really helpful tips on how to use Canon’s MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash, how to tame down the harshness of the lighting, as well as the effectiveness of diffusers with this macro setup. Macro images taken by two of our members, Dalantech and mplonsky in particular, are a must see for inspiration.

Flickr Group – SLR Macro Photography (digital)

If you love macro photography, we’ve started a new Flickr group called SLR Macro Photography (digital), where members win REAL prizes! To start the group off, this month we will be giving away a free book from Amazon called, ‘Close up shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography’. The winner will be announced on the 27th of March to celebrate the groups first month anniversary.

More details over at: SLR Macro Photography (digital) Group

Who is this flickr group for?

This group is mostly aimed towards those photographers who own an SLR/DSLR camera and enjoy taking macro or close up photographs of smaller objects, insects and flowers. I say mostly, because we do also have members that enjoy taking macro shots with their compact camera’s as well. The reason it’s initially been called ’SLR macro photography’, is that much of the groups discussions and RSS feed will revolve around SLR camera’s and settings.

You don’t need to own a dedicated macro lens to join. The idea behind this group is to inspire and encourage a love for macro photography. Many photographers first start enjoying close up photography with the use of macro filters on the end of their lens, or with a telephoto lens and the macro setting on their SLR. Once the enjoyment sets in, it usually doesn’t take long before they are looking at purchasing a real macro lens.

Whatever equipment you use to photograph your macro’s with, we ask only that the image appears to be a detail shot of smaller subjects.

To help give you an idea, acceptable images would include insects, flowers, small birds, frogs, leaves, coins, water droplets etc. On the other hand, unacceptable images would include a closeup shot of a horse or cat and similar larger objects.

Group News

SLR Macro Photography (digital) Group is off to a fantastic beginning. Since starting 5 days ago, we’ve had 476 members join, who have posted a total of 732 macro images into the group pool. The most popular discussion in the forum is titled, ‘What do you love about macro photography?’

Here is a sampling of answers so far:

I love entering a world that i cannot see with my naked eye. The detail, the beauty, flowers, bugs, inanimate objects, it doesn’t matter, just macro! … (posted by belle’sbeauties)

Of all types of photography, macro has always been no.1 for me. Seeing an insect or bug at a higher magnification reveals such amazing details of that bug. “1:1 will let you see a bug’s nose.. but at 3:1 or higher, you’ll see what’s inside the nose!!” … (posted by Lordmint)

When I shoot macro,I feel like i’m an Alice in the wonderland, everyhing is real, but kinda unreal … (posted by Moczkos)

I love the ability of showing people things that most never even realize are there. Or have never given a droplet on a flower or blade of grass much thought. I love showing them that there is a whole other world they are missing out on … (posted by farmmommy5)

More over at: SLR Macro Photography (digital) Group