Sunday, March 28, 2010

Playing with Macro

March 28th, 2010
Playing with Macro

My 40th birthday is coming up, and I decided to buy myself a new lens.  So I ordered a Sigma 50mm F/2.8 DG Macro Lens.  Basically, a Macro Lens gives you the ability to do extreme close-up photography.

My lens arrived yesterday while I was out hiking, so today I started playing around with it.

This first photo was taken with a F/2.8 aperture setting.  You can see how narrow the depth of field (ie range of focus) is.


For this next one, I minimized the aperture (high F/#) to F/36, which gives a much wider depth of field.  Yes, this calculator has been setting around gathering dust, but I didn't realize how dusty it was until I viewed it through a Macro Lens.  Its kind of discusting!


Just to give an idea of size, this is a small pocket calculator.  The buttons are about 1/4" wide.


This next shot is another example of a wide open aperture (low F/#) of 2.8 which again gives a very narrow depth of field.  I was focusing on the eyes and you can see the range of focus is only a few milimemetes. 



One of the Yahoo Photo groups I belong to has a monthy photo contest.  One of the themes this month is "Words of Wisdom".  So for this final shot, I was created my entry over Chinese Food Lunch.  This photo is dedicated to my wife Amy who I wouldn't let eat any of the fortune cookies until after I got the shot I wanted!

"Words of Wisdom"
ISO 100,  F/5.6,  1/8 second exposure

6 comments:

James Robert Smith said...

Happy 40th!

Anonymous said...

Im liking the macro! I want to get a dedicated macro lens. Hey, my 41st bday is coming up on the 3rd... wonder if I can get me a new lens? ;)

wayne15575 said...

nice work. I thought about a micro, but you have to get too close to the subject for me... I like what you have done with it though.

Jack Thyen said...

Thanks Bob!

Christina, a birthday is always an excellent excuse to get a new lens.

Wayne, Thanks! I enjoy photographing wildflowers, so a Macro Lens just seemed like an obvious choice.

myrna said...

very pretty jack, keep up the great work.

myrna said...

great shots jack, keep up the great work.

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