Cute But Stupid
Where are the pixies?
Posted by amy (Nanaimo, BC, Canada) on 22 May 2007 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
Took this shot using both my tripod and remote control. Ok, yes I see how your ability to get a shot truly in focus becomes possible using these most important pieces of equipment. I also used my camera manual as a white reflector to add a bit of light under these mushrooms.
You can view my gallery of images and calendar for sale at: cute but stupid . I'm slowly adding more to the site and if there is something in my portfolio you would like to purchase but is not available on my site just contact me and I'll make it available.
I appreciate all visits and comments and thank you always... ;-)
@Craiger: Many thanks Craig!! At least I had some deep wood off on so the mosquitos couldn't eat me too much!!
kairospix from Singapore, Singapore
Awesome shot!
yes tripod, remote release and reflector (very creative us of the manual - at least it now has more than one use! hahaha) are essential to getting very sharp shot!
of course a sharp lens would help too!
also MLU and self-timer would be great too!
amy, it's great capture!
22 May 2007 8:44am
@kairospix: Thanks Kairospix!! This was my first time using the remote... and wow, what a great tool it is!!! ;-)
Sidonie from Sydney, Australia
Professional approach and with beautiful lighting. Lovely work, Amy!
22 May 2007 9:09am
@Sidonie: Hey Sidonie!! Thanks so very much!!! You wouldn't have thought I was being too professional if you had've been there with me... cursing a blue streak at the impossible terrain I was trying to balance the tripod on... LOL .. think I scared away the bears with my muttering!!!
Jen from Jessup, United States
FANTASTIC!!!!
I believe the pixies snuck away on the little piece of cobweb ; )
Absolutely stunning Amy, really!!
22 May 2007 10:52am
@Jen: There's that f-word again!!! Love it!!!! This one's going into my favourites.. sincerely thanks, Jen. ;-D
Behrooz from Tehran, Iran
It's fabulous, Amy. You did a great job. I really love this one.
22 May 2007 11:04am
@Behrooz: Thank you, Behrooz!! It sure makes a difference using the remote and yes, the manual as a reflector. Who knew?!! ;-)
@Helen: Thanks again Helen!! ;-D
@alla: Hey alla!! Thanks a zillion for this comment!! No, I wouldn't suggest you eat these. They were growing on the inside of a fallen tree. They wouldn't make much of a meal anyways as they were only about as big as a the tip of a pen. ;-D
Robert from Oshawa, Canada
Super close up, Amy. Beautifully compsed. Mushrooms make the perfect subject. I have over 4 thousand shots of hundreds of varieties that I took two autums ago down by the river.
22 May 2007 1:22pm
@Robert: Thanks Robert!! I'd love to see some of those shots... do you have them still posted? How far back does your site go? Must go have a look see through your stuff... I have to admit I do love mushroom shots. Not sure why unless it is the fantasy aspect of them?! ;-)
kaveh from TEHRAN, Iran
Wow. Amazing macro shot. The color and light looks great.
22 May 2007 1:31pm
@kaveh: Thanks kaveh!!!! ;-)
@Roberta: Thanks Roberta!! Loooved your post today!!! ;-)
Beckie from New Hope, United States
Great capture, Amy. I just use a point & shoot.
22 May 2007 3:35pm
@Beckie: Thanks Beckie!! Now remember, as long as you get the shot you wanted the rest doesn't matter!!!! Keep pointing and shooting.. the learning curve is worth it!!!!! ;-)
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
excellent composition I like the dark area between the mushrooms bravo
22 May 2007 5:17pm
@yiannis krikis: Thanks yiannis!! That dark area is what really got me hopping when I downloaded my shots... I didn't see that in the view finder when I was composing the shot.. well, at least at the degree it came out at. ;-)
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
You definitely had the right kit with you. I think a reflector is really important for shots like this, and impossible without a tripod. Those flexible gorilla-pod things that wrap round objects look useful for macro work in undergrowth like places.
Fantastic shot, the light and colours are magnificent. Theres a little too much brightness at lower right, but could easily be toned back with the burn tool in your image editor, great shot Amy
22 May 2007 6:19pm
@Richard_Irwin: Yes, Richard, having the right kit is absolutely important... which I'm discovering now. The gorillapods are great, too, but for this shot the wood of the tree was too decomposed to get a good grip. But the more I see on the blogs here the more I learn!!! ;-)
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Very beautiful. Those tools make a world of difference especially when using a macro lens. Well done!!!
22 May 2007 6:25pm
@Laurie: Thanks so much Laurie!!! I've used a lot of the advice you've given me and you were the one who gave me the impetus to get the remote control. What a fantastic tool that remote is... don't know how I got on without it before!!! ;-)
@William: Hey thanks so much William!! ;-)
@badala: Thanks so much badala! ;-) I so appreciate all your visits.
Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium
way to utilize your equipment for some excellent results. I like the falloff of light as the mushrooms emerge from the darkness.
22 May 2007 9:03pm
@Jason Kravitz: Hello Jason!! Although I did improvise for the reflector it was the holding of the camera strap in my teeth while trying to balance the tripod on my foot and use the remote control while holding the manual as the reflector.... a real cluster!!! So it's so worth it to share this shot and know it was all worth it... including the mosquitos!!! LOL ;-D
Sergio from Málaga, Spain
hey is fantastic !!
where are you from? im from spain hehe
seee U!
22 May 2007 10:03pm
@Sergio: Hey Sergio or should I say Hola!! Thanks for the visit... and I'm from a small town in Canada. ;-)
@Reza: Hey Reza! Thanks so much! Always like to see your footprints on my site.. ;-)
tengtan from Melbourne, Australia
Another ringing endorsement here for the clarity and the skilful use of DoF, Amy.
23 May 2007 12:41am
@tengtan: Wow! Thanks! And may I say you have some damn fine shots yourself!! ;-)
@DTW: Thanks a lot DTW!! ;-)
@Anup: What ever's at hand,eh?! Thanks Anup!
Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FANTASTIC... ooopppsss another F-word LOL.. Now you know why i always kept reminding you the tripod hehehe... Do you still miss me ? Didnt you sure know i would catch up with everything you shoot hehehe....
23 May 2007 4:15pm
@Rahul: Should've known you would catch up Rahul!! Again, THANK YOU! And yeah, you're right about the tripod... but you didn't tell me about the remote or using the manual for a reflector!! LOL ;-)
Candace from Emmaus, United States
Fabulous photo...great use of that manual. lol
24 May 2007 2:59am
@Candace: Thanks so much Candace!! It's funny what'll work when in desperate need, eh?! LOL ;-)
Nikon D70
1/60 second
F/11.0
ISO 200
90 mm (35mm equiv.)