Exercise #3 Plagiarism

OK this is an attempt to come close to the FP images in p151,152 and 153 in the book. The spiders web shots for me are just soooo impressive. I love the way the droplets come in and out of focus, together with the bokeh of a fine lens. Awesome.

So, this morning on the way to work the mist was low, the scenery was limited to just 50 yards in any direction, what better chance to try a dew and web shot. I think last time I learned that I had to be closer in, so this time I used the 100mm macro lens plus a 25mm extension tube plus a 2x converter (more experimentation).

The webs out in the peak district appear to be much larger and more robust than those in the garden, and they are very much more accessible.

I found one where I could get a really good angle and set up the tripod. The wind was the only real problem in that it kept the web continually moving. I also found that I needed to use f8 - f11 in order to make the droplets recede more slowly.

I think this has worked out really well, but maybe still needs to go closer to get that p151 feel.

Exercise #2: Back Yard

Well what a tremendous exercise, I really enjoyed myself. These are all taken in a radius of 7 paces in my back yard. I used the 16-35 lens but restricted myself to the 35mm focal length in order to emulate a 'normal' lens.

I did find I got several 'easy' shots but these soon ran short, and I had to start to look harder. I used extremely short depth of field using f2.8 to pick out features but lose distracting backgrounds.

The first is a Royal Fern (I think), I wanted the eye to flow down the fronds to the centre of the plant. The textures are really beautiful on this plant.

Turning round and there was a reed screen at the garage window. A nice obvious graphic image. I chose a place where the wire ties were not quite horizontal.

Pompoms, there were lots of flower seed heads to choose from, the hard part is making them stand out from what could be cluttered backgrounds.

OK, starting to have to look at details now, Where the paving slabs meet the pea-gravel was a small yellow green plant which I knew would stand out well in black and white. I chose a diagonal composition to add interest.


On the barbeque table was a child's pink fishing net - perfect for a closeup.


Stepping back I noticed that the bird nest box was visible through the bamboo screen. I wanted the eye to be drawn upto the nest box so used f2.8 and focussed on the nest box, then moved to get a clear view of the hols.


Garage door - OK so its not been opened in about 10 years (I use the back door), and I've painted over the locks several times ;-)


On the side wall of the garage just under the bird box is an old clematis. This is the gnarled old main stem - must be 25 years old now.


At the back of the garage is a pond, just outside the 7 paces radius, but the hostas at the edge were just inside the circle. I used the black stems to provide a graphical split.


Ahh - rattlesnake grass - always good for an image, again at f2.8 to lose the background.

Garden solar powered lamps from above, with a grey foliage groundcover plant beneath.


I was really getting into this by now, and laid flat on my stomach to get these delicate ferns against the darker backdrop of a beech hedge.

Fatsia Japonica, wery graphical leaves - couldn't not use this plant.

On the side of the garage one of the kid's dream catchers, a little faded now but still interesting.

Last but not least - a few daisies with a bee grabbing a load of pollen.

Hope you like them - I enjoyed the exersise.