Show us your best/favorite/interesting recent photos.

[Mugu]

For some strange/odd reason I have a personal aversion to starting photo threads. So, normally I wait for somebody else to do it and then dump my photos on them. I've have enough to drink tonight to overcome my aversion so lets see what y'all have got.

I'm not sure how long much longer that I can stay on my feet, but I'll start.

Yesterday, I found Crayons for $.25 at "the store that shall remain unnamed" and figured that there must be some way to utilize them for an interesting photo. I had several distructive ideas, but decided I should start with them intact and then become more creative when the weather prevents me from going out for photos.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. That Crayola photo is terrific!!!

Me, I just like blueberries.................

[Mugu]

3. I also love Blueberries (and your photo of them.)

I hope that my photos turn out as good as your's, but none of mine are quite ready for photographs yet. I do however have Mulberries and wild Raspberries.

[Lorax7844]

14. here is the best photo I have ever taken

I call it Colorado sky before rainfall




I just posted and broke the conversation, sorry I wasn't paying attention.

[Mugu]

18. Whoa, that's a nice photo.

I like that very much.

I've looked all through my photos and I can't find anything in a similar vein. I'm humbled.

[Lorax7844]

20. good camera that loves that kind of light

a digital Leica we got on ebay

Inside pictures are not as nice.

As I said, that one is the best photo I have EVER taken.

[Lorax7844]

21. nothing else I've taken has come out so well

I got lucky.

[Lorax7844]

23. Another from the same day

this one is called Casper says hi

[Mugu]

26. That's another absolutely splendid photo.

I spend so much of my time looking down while searching for bugs that I forget to look anywhere else. Clearly, I must learn to look up.

The only photo that I've taken of the sky (and I've posted it several times before) is this one taken late last winter.

[Lorax7844]

27. OOOOO! good one!

[mix]

2. that's beautiful...how did you get the circle so perfect?

[Mugu]

5. I placed a large rubber stopper

in the center of white poster board and then laid the Crayons around it. Believe it or not it took four strobes to light that photo and then considerable time to clean it up. Enough light to turn the poster board pure white washed out the Crayons and when the Crayons were exposed properly the poster board was grey. Nothing is ever easy.

[Lorax7844]

42. looks complicated

are you professional? The crayon shot looks like it could be in an ad.

[Mugu]

49. I've never sold a photo.

I'm just a guy (that's too young to retire, but too old to be wanted) with a camera and too much time on his hands, but I very flattered that you ask.

Another from this afternoon.

[Lorax7844]

50. also lovely

hang on and I'll find one of my flower pics, none are as clear as this.

I find the best way to get good pictures is to take a million shots, one will eventually be ok.

[Lorax7844]

52. my flower pics, if you have any advice let me know :)

best


the rest are all blurry






The color is also way off

[AllenVanAllen]

60. Well, for a guy who loves photography

your love serves all of us very well! Beautiful shots! :applause:

[Mugu]

69. Your kind words are very much appreciated.

Most everything is beautiful with proper light.

Common Thistle.

[qnr]

4. Very nice! I'm too lazy to pick a favorite, or best, so I'll just post my most recent;

A Wilson's Plover and a fiesty young one.


Edit: accidentally pasted the URL into the subject line

[Mugu]

7. What a cute photo. I would be proud to have taken that.

For my latest wildlife photo I found this strange little guy crawling around in my mail the other day. It was so small I wasn't sure what to do for a photo. I decided to sit it on a penny and this is the photo.

[qnr]

13. Whoa. Impressive. Both the subject and the photo n/t

[Blue_Tires]

64. creepy

how much zoom does it take to get that much detail?

[Mugu]

68. I don't know how to compute the amount of magnification that adds up to.

I'll have to look up the math of the extension tubes. I'm guessing about 4x, but that's just a guess.

After I took the shot I turned my back for what seemed like only a moment and when I looked back it was gone. It didn't appear to have wings so I quickly vacuumed the carpet around the table that I use for photos (I use my living room for a studio) hoping that I won't wake up to find that it has gotten revenge.

[Blue_Tires]

77. so what exactly did you use to take the photo?

i don't know much about the art; but i know that is a lot of magnification and detail...

[Mugu]

79. I used a doubler behind a 180mm lens

with 73mm (12+25+36) of extension tube. The doubler (a very inexpensive unit) is the leak link that I hope to someday replace, but for now it's this or nothing.

I believe that the Canon XSi utilizes a cropped sensor that adds an additional 1.6x.

[Forkboy]

6. I'm so anal retentive that if I had done that all the labels would be facing up.

:crazy:

It's pretty damn cool, I must say. :thumbsup:

This isn't a photo, but it's the latest halfway artistic thing I've done.

[Mugu]

8. You're not the only one (anal retentive that is.)

After I got the photo on the computer I noticed that the labels weren't all facing up.

I fully intend to reshoot it when the weather gets bad.

Your image is very cool. Would you mind a short explanation of how you did it?


Edit: Even after the first edit I left out a word.

[Forkboy]

12. Glad I'm not the only one!

The pic I did started with a picture of a snow drift and some kind of spiky fish. I took a small piece of each photo and made a mirror image of each one separately. Then I just layered the two, messed with the transparency, and that's it. They look cool but rarely take more than 60 minutes to do. I've done about 80 of them. Simple, but relaxing to do.

[Mugu]

22. That's the sort of thing that artistic people do

that I can't even imagine.

It's all I can do to point a camera. Actually creating something is well outside my capabilities.

[Forkboy]

24. I think it has more to do with being bipolar.

;)

And don't kid yourself, photography is just as much art as anything else.

[Mugu]

36. I don't know what it is (the gift that is.)

I only know that I'll never have it. I've known a few artist and it's like being an athlete. If you weren't born with it, you'll never be great no matter how bad you want it, .

I won't say that photography isn't an art, but it's something that if you learn a few rules you can do an adequate job. However, most of us will only ever be technicians and not truly capable of seeing or capturing what the artist does.

[Sigh Sister]

82. They are beautiful.

You should sell them.

[Forkboy]

88. Thank you.

I can't bring myself to sell my art, especially this digital stuff as it really is easy to do (I could teach you to do it in under a half an hour). Once I'm done with it people can take it and do anything they want with it, I don't even care if I get credit. I get a lot more enjoyment giving it to someone who likes it than I'd ever would selling it, or just seeing someone do something creative with it themselves. I'm tempted with some of the actual hand drawn art I do, but even that doesn't feel right to me for some reason. Needless to say, this attitude has driven friends and family alike insane. :)

[Sigh Sister]

96. I don't have a creative bone in my body

and admire people who do. Those of us who lack artistic abilities rely on people like you to create beautiful things and then let us buy it! Even if it seems simple to you! :).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. A detail of my stained glass window...it's 3 feet in diameter...

[Mugu]

10. Wow, that's gorgeous

and your photo is masterful. I don't have anything so beautiful in or around my old farm house so I'll do the only thing that I know to do and fall back on my wild friends.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear Mugu!

Thank you, sweetie!

It was honestly hard to photograph...

The light through it does funny (as in weird) things to the walls. They are white, but you can't tell from this pic!

And your pic is wonderful!

Never in a million years could I get something that good, really!

That is a masterful shot...

You should enter it in the July photo contest...the theme is "Your Backyard."


:hug:

[Mugu]

15. Peggy, I've attempted such photos and realize the level of difficulty.

Hence the reason for my comment.

You're always very kind. All my photos are taken in my backyard (except the ones that I take in the house,) but I'm not much into contests (plus there's the issue of no star.)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. My dear Mugu...

The star is no longer an issue, sweetie...

Please, enter the contest. I did.

At least check it out!

:D

[Mugu]

67. Dearest Peggy

I didn't realize what you meant when you said "the star is no longer an issue." I thought that you meant that stars are no longer required, but it finally dawned on me (the body isn't the only thing failing.)

You're most generous and I'm most appreciative, thank you. I'll do my best to make sure that it's money well spent.

Again, thank you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

80. ...

:hug:

[Forkboy]

16. Did you do that?

I made stained glass years and years ago and I know that that is a major piece of work. It's damned impressive no matter who did it. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. My dear Forkboy!

Ah, no, I didn't make it! My oldest daughter designed it for my husband and I on our 30th wedding anniversary...

It took the lady several years to complete...

We love it!

I have zero ability with such things, lol!

Thanks for your compliments, sweetie!

:hug:

[Forkboy]

25. I'm not suprised it took that long at all.

Pass on my praises if you can, because that's something else. :)

[monmouth]

66. Dear Cal Peggy, The stained glass window is quite beautiful...Do

you ever feel the impulse to genuflect or make a sign of the cross when in that room?? Just kidding, it really is gorgeous and I would bet the light that filters through is awesome.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

81. My dear monmouth!

LOL!

My husband calls our family room (that's where it is) the Chapel!

The light is amazing...

If I stand there, and just gaze at it, I feel as though I've entered another place, another dimension...

It never fails to astonish me.

Thank you!

:hi:

[bluesbassman]

28. Sports photography is my hobby.

Love the crayons -kinda hypnotic if you stare at them for a while. Nice shot!

I like this one of my daughter at a recent game.

[Lorax7844]

30. great shot

we got our camera from a sports photog, he was selling it brand new cause it didn't shoot fast enough.

[bluesbassman]

32. Thanks Lorax!

I use a Nikon D40x with a 70-300 zoom. It's fast enough, but but it struggles in low light.

[Lorax7844]

33. mine is a digital leica

that struggles inside

[Mugu]

37. That's a wonderful capture.

I hope to someday photograph subjects with only two legs. Not having any children I have to be careful where/what I photograph. So, at least in the foreseeable future I'll continue to practice with my four, six, and eight legged friends (no need for a model release.)

I've shown this one before, but I like it too good to not use at least one more time.

[Lorax7844]

38. I have a deer one too!

All of these are also from our trip to CO

bull deer?


Top of Pike's Peak


Funny gopher guy we saw on the side of the road.

[Mugu]

45. I don't know if he's a Bull Deer or not, But, he's certainly a Buck.

The Pike's Peak photo and the gopher with the world behind him/her photo are also masterful captures. Bravo.

Long live the Queen.

[Lorax7844]

47. point, shoot, and crop

also none of my flower pics are as good as these, same with the bug pic. I think your micro feature is better, what kind of camera?

[Mugu]

51. A Canon XSi (450D)

I'm most fortunate to have friends that are willing to loan me equipment as long as I promise to take care of it.

The bug photo used a 180mm lens, a doubler, 73mm of extension tube, and three studio strobes.

[Lorax7844]

53. auto or manual focus?

mine is auto so I'm cheating ;)

[Mugu]

57. It depends.

If I'm able to get outside then it's mainly auto because along with everything else my eyesight is failing. If I have my subject indoors so I can take my time, I generally figure out where the center of mass is and manually focus there, then set my aperture for enough DOF.

When I first started shooting macros I was very frustrated. I saw the wonderful photos that others shot, but couldn't shoot anything but blurry crap. It finally dawned on me that the people who shot the great photos were using faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures than I. It took a while, but it finally dawned on me that they must be using a flash. So I clamped a flash on, set the shutter to 1/200 and the aperture to f:22, and went stalking my prey. The difference was immediate and almost startling. Remember that a photo is simply a recording of visible light. When it came time to purchase equipment I first bought a lens, I then bought a flash, and last, with the money that I had left over bought a camera.

While many will counsel against using a small aperture because of loss of contrast. I seek to get my entire subject in focus and then worry about contrast during post processing.

I've had too much to drink and the hour is late so I'm going to have to call it a night. I'll be back in a few hours.

Thank you all and good night.

[Lorax7844]

58. Thank you so much for your help

and for sharing your beautiful pictures. Have a good night.

:hug:

[Lorax7844]

56. ok I have no clue what any of that means

doubler, 73mm of extension tube, and three studio strobes?

off to look at wiki to figure all three terms out. I don't have anything but the camera, I also completely suck at focusing. I might have an ok eye but as I said I just get lucky.

[Mugu]

59. Please forgive me, but I have to get some sleep.

I'll be back in a few hours and we can take up where we left off.

Good night. Mugu

[RebelOne]

62. No such thing as a bull deer. That's a mule deer. Notice the ears. n/t

[Lorax7844]

39. love the red winged black bird

which zoo is this? We have those kinds of birds here

[Mugu]

54. You're very kind.

The deer photo was captured out my bathroom window as was this one.



I'm not able to get around very well anymore, so I have to wait for my subjects to come to me.

[Lorax7844]

55. wow, your nature pics rock!

you always catch'em eating, the color is gorgeous

I love how defined the feathers are. So close, you must be a quiet photographer, I'm not so lucky. The birds hear me a mile away.

[handmade34]

29. not best but interesting

Watts Tower LA (on my way to Oakland)

[Lorax7844]

31. Wow, good pic!

[handmade34]

34. your "Colorado sky before rainfall"

is so classy and beautiful

This picture is just interesting for me because as a midwesterner, I remember hearing and watching the 'Watt's Riots' on TV. It was good to go to the park where the tower is and see the timelime of Watt's history on the walkway.

[Lorax7844]

35. thanx, I just got lucky with a good camera. Yours makes me sad

It's both poignant and important.

[Mugu]

40. That's the sort of photo that's just fun to look at.

With such wonderful colors, textures, and shapes one can't help but enjoy looking at it.

I figure that when nothing else quite fits, resort to fireworks.

[Lorax7844]

41. good pic, none of my firework pictures come out so well

my shutter isn't fast enough, which is why the photog that sold it to us got rid of it.

[Mugu]

85. The secret to fireworks photography is a small aperture, a long exposure

and most important--a tripod. My only tripod is this huge studio unit. Nobody wants such a big, heavy monster so consequently it was in my price range (free.) I practically had a coronary while hauling it to the park, but it did just what I needed, provided a rock steady support.

The previous photo was shot at ISO-100, f18, for 20 seconds, these two used the same settings for 10 seconds each.

[noamnety]

43. playing with condensation

[Lorax7844]

44. also awesome, we should start a DU photog group

how the hell did you get this shot?

[noamnety]

46. That's my bread box and a fork

I have a plexiglass bread box, and I noticed that if I put freshly baked bread in it, even though there were some vent holes, by morning it would have some really nice patterns of condensation from the steam. I spent a couple days playing around with refractions through the water droplets. Here's another, looking through the breadbox at a green teacup for color:

[Lorax7844]

48. cool

looks like a bunch of eyes

:)

[Mugu]

70. What a lovely photo and most creative.

[REP]

61. Plants, mostly

[Mugu]

71. I like them all.

But, 2 and 5 really stand out. Bravo.

[REP]

92. I grew 5 from a seedling

It's Zygoneria Adelaide Meadows. The one above it is Dendrobium wassellii; the flowers are about 1/4 inch each.

[seemunkee]

63. Criterion Race

I was trying to get a good shot of Magnus Backsted, the big guy in the yellow and blue jersey, at a race in VA last year. It's not great but I'm pleased with how it came out

[Mugu]

72. I have enough difficulty trying to deal with things that just crawl around.

Focusing on something in the middle of a fast moving pack with a telephoto is well outside of my capabilities.

Nicely done.

[Schema Thing]

73. ooh, that's nice!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

65. within the past week...

[Mugu]

75. Very nice all.

There are some Thistle like yours growing in a flower bed. My ladyfriend has been after me to deal with them. I'm claiming that my inaction is due to my wanting a photo when they bloom (that's my excuse anyway.)

Your Daisy photo reminded me of a photo from earlier this summer. I was mowing when I found some wild Daisies growing in my path. So I cut them off and brought them in the house. It turned out to be one of my most prized photos.

[Bertha Venation]

87. I like the dandy-lines hiding under the daisies.

:hi:

[Schema Thing]

74. I Like your crayons, they almost seem to have a vibrating effect

Nice work.





this still needs a lot of processing/editing, but I love the look of her hair; almost seems underwater:

[Mugu]

78. The floating hair, big eyes, and cute expression all come together

to make a fun/memorable photo.

I'm sure that through the years it will continue to bring a smile every time you look at it.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

76. Two of my personal favorites

Rose In Winter



New DU Member



"Rose" is a few years old, and I've posted it here a few times in the past. "Member" was taken this weekend, and features Lucy The Nuclear Powered Ninja Kitteh.

[Mugu]

83. The rose is most lovely.

The photo of Lucy is most cute.

[guitar man]

84. cool

Here's a couple I took of a storm that moved through last Thursday

[Mugu]

86. Nicely done. I love storm photos.

However, I have yet to capture any. Hopefully someday.

[guitar man]

90. Thanks

come on down here to Oklahoma, the opportunity presents itself quite often at certain times of the year. :hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

89. Clouds

[Mugu]

93. Clouds are always fun because each person sees something different.

Your photo reminds me of an angry Pillsbury Doughboy.

Wonderful capture.

[Bertha Venation]

91. a few from my photobucket account

[Mugu]

94. Lovely photos all.

Your beach photos are very nicely done. I particularly like the reflections of the sun in the clouds in the first one.

Your Mantis photos remind me that for several years I have searched in vein for a Mantis or Walking Stick to photograph. I would so love to get a close-up of such a creature. I know that they're here and I'm sure that they're laughing at me. Hopefully someday, preferably soon, I'll get the last laugh.

It looks like your kitty is proactive in training the doggy. Your photo brings back memories of a kitty named Socks that was a lovable and faithful companion for many years.

[Orsino]

95. Some cooling shots for summer.

Tigerella tomato



Pool water

[applegrove]

97. My cats Monster and Twilight when Twilight was a kitten. She's still pretty

small.

[applegrove]

98. My cats Monster and Twilight when Twilight was a kitten. She's still pretty

small.