ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday, 26 March 2015

I HOPE IT WEARS OFF. (26/03/15)

Yesterday turned out sunny and warm. Today is cold and damp. I spent the morning making more macro scales and then went out with the MP-E 65mm lens. I have trouble hand holding it but got middling results on a monopod.

_V0G7689    Loch Ness yesterday afternoon.

_V0G7691     The river Foyers a few minutes later.

Now it’s back to macro and today.

_MG_3083

_MG_3084

_MG_3093  Though these were taken at between 1.56X and 3X and on different Alder trees I think it is all the same stuff. Most of these lichens grow on stones so bearing this in mind I decided to go for Lecanora chlarotera. The little volcano things produce spores, whether they also produce the fungus bit I don’t know.

This morning I noticed that the Lungwort was also starting to fruit.

_MG_3085

_MG_3098

_MG_3100    Spore cups on Lobaria pulmonaria. What has been nibbling at the one in the middle image I don’t know, a pity it wasn’t still there it would have added interest and no doubt kept me busy for another hour whilst I misidentified it.

_MG_3086    Old Man’s Beard. I’ll guess at Usenea filipendula.

Many thanks to Trevor for helping with identifying Cladonia digitata and the one with red bits Cladonia macilenta. The jury is still out on the Earth Tongue as I can’t find a reference image that looks like that one. I’ll have to find someone to send it to. There used to be a lady near Braemar but that was ten years ago.

Have fun, I am but I’m looking forward to this macro lark wearing off, I’m having too much of a good thing.

Posted by at

23 comments:

  1. Midmarsh John26 March 2015 at 15:35

    Brilliant macros Adrian. How do you get the even lighting - ring flash or diffused flash?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN26 March 2015 at 15:59

      John ring flash but biased left to right. Full power on one side and 1/4 the other usually. If it's sunny I shade stuff with my jacket. I used to have a brolly but I used it to help myself up and it bent in half.

      Delete
    2. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 03:46

      PS. John I set the flash duration bias but 90% of the time then rely on ETTL which keeps the bias but is otherwise automatic. It's as well to check as now and again it seems to get confused. I have never had much luck with high speed sync. so usually set shutter speed to 160s-200s and aperture to f16. I can go down to f22 but I get fuzzy edges which doesn't matter for the web but looks awful in print though adding a vignette helps.

      Delete
  2. The Herald26 March 2015 at 15:54

    I wouldn't trust going out very far in that little dingy...both of it's bloody wheels have dropped off!

    Don't give up on the macro shots Adrian, especially with the Lichen, you're getting some wonderful shots of a fascinating miniature world. Those first two images make beautiful abstracts too.

    Sorry I couldn't give more help with the Earth Tongue, it would be good though if you could eventually get a positive ID on it....[;o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN26 March 2015 at 16:06

      Trevor, I noticed it was wheel less. I'll leave a note on it for the fisherman.

      I'll go back tomorrow and check the Earth Tongue. The mycologists need a big form filling in with columns headed with words I can't understand. Not to worry I'll just guess as usual.

      Delete
  3. Author R. Mac Wheeler26 March 2015 at 16:01

    ok, i've been weirded out ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Graham Edwards26 March 2015 at 16:34

    I can sit and gaze in awe at these but my inquisitiveness runs out pretty early in a field that I know that I'll never be able to devote enough time to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN26 March 2015 at 16:55

      Graham, there are thousands and thousands of lichen. They fall into manageable groups...I hope. I just like the look of the things.

      Delete
  5. Margaret Birding For Pleasure26 March 2015 at 17:25

    HI Adrian Love the first 2 shots and the wonderful reflections. Now I amsure these are wonderful macro shots but they make my head spin! Anyhow, whatever makes you happy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN26 March 2015 at 18:14

      Margaret. they are a challenge. I will try focus stacking them tomorrow or over the weekend.

      Delete
  6. Laura. M26 March 2015 at 17:59

    Me quedo con las dos primaras Adrian... Que buenos reflejos.
    Buen jueves ;)
    Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yorkshire Pudding26 March 2015 at 19:48

    With your macro photography you are showing us another world that was here all the time but we didn't have eyes to see it. Thanks Lord Adrian of Macro-Lichen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 02:16

      YP, it never ceases to fascinate me. I prefer insects but I can't find any at the moment.

      Delete
  8. Douglas Mcfarlane26 March 2015 at 21:43

    Got to say the second image is brilliant. I really hope the macro bug doesn't wear off, I'm enjoying the world through a macro lens even if I haven't got a clue what it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 02:23

      Douglas, I use this site for ID.

      LASTDRAGON

      I could do with a bit of mist for some interesting landscapes.

      Delete
  9. Bill 26 March 2015 at 23:43

    Kinda puts me in the mood for pizza. But I love looking at these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 02:27

      Bill, macro doesn't have to be expensive. Point and shoot cameras are pretty good as you automatically get a much greater depth of field. Most have a macro setting. Failing that then a magnifying glass is always handy on a walk.

      Delete
  10. Red27 March 2015 at 03:30

    You found many of your favorite subjects. Awesome shot of the lake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 03:49

      Red, they are a subject i enjoy but I prefer insects. It's a bit early for them so these keep me amused.

      Delete
  11. Anvilcloud27 March 2015 at 12:35

    I don't own a macro lens and sometimes wish I did although I am generally not too drawn to this aspect of photography. You do it quite well though. I especially liked your first few macro images.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ADRIAN27 March 2015 at 17:02

      John, it's not easy but I enjoy it. Some look good printed at a couple of feet across.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)