Shallow Depth of Focus - Technique 2

My second technique for getting a shallow depth of field required a F1.8 aperture. The only F1.8 lens I have is an Olympus 50mm from my film days so I attached it to my Fuji with an adaptor. I am very impressed with the results. The lens is more contrasty than I remember and produced some clean sharp images with the required narrow depth of field. Taken in the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge.

Shallow Depth of Focus - Different Techniques

In August we are running a Flower Photography Day at Scotsdales Garden Centre so I am gearing up to this by trying all types of creative techniques. First using the camera with a Macro 80 mm lens at 2.8/5.6 plus 16mm extension ring. 

In the Meadows at Wicken Fen

Some of the species seen and photographed at Wicken Fen yesterday - Ruddy Darter, Emerald Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Essex skipper and Large Skipper etc.

Marvel of Metamorphosis

I always enjoy this time of year when a visit to our pond early in the morning will usually be rewarded with views of emerging dragonflies - here a Southern Hawker. Difficult to photograph as early on flash is required or I use focus stacking as in image 2 (25 shots on Fuji X-T2 at f2.8) but this is very hit and miss with the dragonfly often moving. Later F8 and then F13 can be used but the lighting is much harsher (small amount of fill-in flash)

Infrared at Stowe Gardens NT

Yesterday, Jonathan ran an RPS outing to Stowe Gardens with infrared photography as one of the topics. I have two infrared digital cameras - an ancient EOS 1D mark II which is heavy to carry but produces beautiful sharp gentle images. My travel infrared is a Sony RX100 which I am still exploring to produce the most reliable results. I loaned it out for some of the time. Here a variety of effects that these cameras can produce. The first four images are from the Sony - I take both RAW and jpeg, the latter having creative style Autumn leaves which gives an interesting hue to the image as in the first image, the second is a monochrome conversion from RAW, the third, the water lilies, is a JPEG from the Sony with a bit of colour enhancement, and the fourth Channel Swopped to give blue sky etc . The other six images are from the Canon Raw (I have not included any monochrome conversions here). The first three images show the results of different profiles created to convert the Raw to a suitable spectrum for adjustment. My favourite is the daisies image - I always like the soft blue images obtained in shade or dull conditions. The last three are Channel swopped etc!

Final views from Northumberland

Back a week now and here are images from the final two days - a visit to Lindisfarne and a walk along the golf course at Embleton and back along the beach. Ending, as is traditional, with a fine sunset from just near our holiday house at Seahouses.