Thread: Macro photos...

Stop it- Stop it! I can just feel my newest expensive hobby coming along!!

It is addictive. It's so cool to be able to see what those tiny creatures look like up close. I'll sort through some albums and add more soon.

I am limited by the camera body more than anything. My camera rates about like a volkswagen compared to some of the Cadillac's and Benz's I see out there. A guy who I was diving with in Lembeh had a video camera that cost more than my house did when we bought it. The underwater housing for that camera alone ran him ran him $75K. Of course, you'll often see his work on BBC, CBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic (among others as well). You won't see my work any of those places for any reason. I have fun trying to get there though.

Jim

Originally Posted by Yak Fish

It is addictive. It's so cool to be able to see what those tiny creatures look like up close. I'll sort through some albums and add more soon.

I am limited by the camera body more than anything. My camera rates about like a volkswagen compared to some of the Cadillac's and Benz's I see out there. A guy who I was diving with in Lembeh had a video camera that cost more than my house did when we bought it. The underwater housing for that camera alone ran him ran him $75K. Of course, you'll often see his work on BBC, CBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic (among others as well). You won't see my work any of those places for any reason. I have fun trying to get there though.

Jim

It is addictive for sure... I started photography in the early 90's, around 92 or so, taking wildlife and waterfowl images. Then I had a portrait studio and did some sports and some event photography such as civil war reenactments and such. Got tired of that grind, so went back to wildlife. Been published in magazines, post cards, brochures, etc. but never made it to BBC, Discovery or National Geographic.
Had a accident in 2001 and busted 5 vertebrae in my spine and after all was said and done, a few years later I realized that my body was not able to take the rigorous task needed to continue the wildlife/waterfowl route. So..I picked up macro photography and it is a great genre to explore for sure.
You don't need the expensive cameras...but I do recommend the best lens you can afford, that's where your quality is, in your glass.

Here's a few from Bangka, Indonesia off the tip of North Sulawesi I shot last winter.


Cuapetes Shrimp. Note eggs under shrimp right of center.


Marbled Shrimp.


Red & White Pygmy Goby.


Dancing Shrimp


Emperor Shrimp.


Pygmy Seahorse.


BiColor Parrotfish juvenile.

Jim

Originally Posted by stickum

It is addictive for sure... I started photography in the early 90's, around 92 or so, taking wildlife and waterfowl images. Then I had a portrait studio and did some sports and some event photography such as civil war reenactments and such. Got tired of that grind, so went back to wildlife. Been published in magazines, post cards, brochures, etc. but never made it to BBC, Discovery or National Geographic.
Had a accident in 2001 and busted 5 vertebrae in my spine and after all was said and done, a few years later I realized that my body was not able to take the rigorous task needed to continue the wildlife/waterfowl route. So..I picked up macro photography and it is a great genre to explore for sure.
You don't need the expensive cameras...but I do recommend the best lens you can afford, that's where your quality is, in your glass.

Sorry to hear about your accident. I started with a borrowed camera (thanks Dad!) in high school on wildlife and waterfowl too. I couldn't get as close as I'd hoped, nor what the lens allowed. Played around with junky cameras for a while. I started taking pictures with point & shoot cameras every day for my work, but inspection shots of houses, wells, and septic systems only get so good. It did help hone my composition skills though.

I got busted up in a vehicle crash on 4-21-2007, when we were T-boned by a drunk driver who ran a red light @ 70 mph. It put me in a coma and broke several bones, & did lots of soft tissue damage. The guy who hit us was a twice convicted felon, with a suspended driver's license, no job, and no money. He was driving his girlfriend's mother's SUV, which had the bare minimum insurance for N.C.. So, after I paid the attorney (who told me the guy was worthless...duh) 1/3 of the settlement, I barely had enough left to cover my first surgery. I have C-4,5, & 6 fused. My left shoulder AC joint was destroyed, and my pelvis fractured in 2 places, but mostly went back into place. I had a traumatic brain injury, which left me with permanent double vision in about 25% of my field of view. If I look left, I see two of everything at different levels and angles (if that makes sense). My wife was with me, but she got bumps and bruises only. I was in hospital until the start of June and was out of work until the end of October that year with several surgeries to go.

The guy who hit us received a 3 month jail sentence, which got suspended because he completed 72 hours of community service. (justice, right?) I have forgiven him, because angry is no way to go through life. I just wish I didn't hurt every day and the migraines would stop. I have to take medication every day, because I would be worse off without it.

I'm thankful to still be here and to be on the right side of the dirt. I was able to go back to work and I retired last October with 32 years in. I'm also happy to still be able to dive. I sometimes have trouble getting back on the boat in rough seas or in strong currents, but so do lots of more able bodied people. I'd love to see what I could do with a fancy full frame camera and killer lenses. I do the best I can with what I've got and enjoy the experience.

Jim

Sorry to hear of your accidents guys but glad you’re both better and shooting macro. Beautiful photos guys, quality stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Great photos!..those are some cool shrimp!!!
Sorry about your accident and injuries and I'm grateful that you're still here to post the cool photos. Life sucks at times but you just have to keep trudging along. I been down to the point of being confined to a wheelchair for 2.5 months and then up to being able to enjoy fishing and macro..some days are good...some, not so much. I am thankful to the Lord that he let me survive and continue my life even if at a different pace and style.

I have a hip replacement in my future. I don't love the idea, but if it improves mobility, I'll go with it. Some days I'm not thrilled with my situation, but if it happened 50 years ago, I wouldn't be up and about. There must be some things I still need to do and I've been given another chance, which I'm grateful for.

I look forward to the next chance I get to fish. I have a good idea where I want to go, the weather would just need to cooperate. Good Fishing next time you get out after 'em. I also hope you capture more stunning images. It is amazing what a good camera matched with a good skillset can compose. Keep after it!

Jim