Going Macro

For macro shot and for better photography, I always recommend a DSLR camera.

Next, get some macro extender tubes. Don’t forget the flash, in my case, I’ll go with the Canon Speedlite 580 EX II.

Why not use the twin flash? Well the 580 EX II is quite cheaper and rather more useful than a twin flash.

What about the lenses? I recommend you use a prime lens. In my case, I’ll use a 50mm. It’s lightweight, focuses super fast and it’s not expensive.

What about the extender tubes? I decided to get the combo that brings the 12mm, the 20mm and the 36mm tubes.

Now that all the equipment is ready, the time is now, to set your camera.

Shooting in manual mode, establish the white balance for the occasion.

Some moments will require the sunlight setting and some others, the auto white balance.

I rather go with the sunlight setting. The apertures will be set between f/9.0 to f/11.

The speed must be set at 1/250. Make sure you shoot in RAW format, JPEG format won’t work for macro shots.

So now comes a very interesting question: what can I shoot macro?

That’s a question you are going to have to answer yourself.

I’m an wildlife animal lover, so you can always start in your backyard. We can start by insects on plants, we can continue with lizards and try to end this assignment safe and sound, try to shoot a wasp without getting stung.

When shooting animals (or people), we always focus the eyes. Many DSLR have the area-of-interest focus points.

Only the points selected of the chosen area will be more in focus and the rest can create a nice and interesting bokeh.

Lots of planning will be needed but, be very careful and very observant. For some shots, that are not so close, the 12mm tube works. If you simply want to get closer, use the 20mm or the 36mm. Or simply combine them.

When using the extender tubes, you gotta get much closer. Sometimes it’ll happen, that the animals may get scared and simply run away. Don’t get frustrated, it’s a matter of time.

If you would like to read the rest of this article, please click here: How to improve your macro photography.

Going Macro

 Roberto Schmidt, the chief photographer for South Asia for Agence France-Presse, was at the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal when an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake hit. His dramatic images of the avalanche and its aftermath were published around the world. Mr. Schmidt, 49, recounted his experiences in a phone conversation with James Estrin, which has been edited.

Q. Why were you at the base camp?

The funny thing is I thought the tremor was caused by an avalanche. I had no idea that there was an avalanche starting to form and that it was caused by a massive earthquake with the epicenter just west of Kathmandu.

We walked out of the tent to see what was happening and then we heard this very loud, deep rumbling noise. Though I am far from an expert mountaineer, I knew something was coming. It was a very cloudy day so you couldn’t see anything when you looked up.

The noise got deeper and stronger and Ammu rushed into the tent to get her camera. I turned to my left and looked up and suddenly out of the clouds came this massive exploding avalanche of snow that looked like a cloud. I just had time to raise my camera and shoot three frames. As I looked through the viewfinder, I thought, “Man, I’m shooting too tight.” I then dove into the tent and shouted to Ammu, “Get down, get down, get down!” because this thing was right on top of us. I don’t remember hitting the ground or getting under the table.

There was a sudden wind and then just a crash like a wave. It was like when you’re in the ocean and you measure the waves wrong and a wave comes and crashes over you and you’re tumbling right-side down, right-side up. You have no idea what’s happening.

I came to rest on my back, but I think a table might have been near my legs protecting me. All I could hear was, “pat, pat, pat,” the snow accumulating on top of me. I was in a panic and thinking: “I don’t want to die. I’m going to be buried alive. I don’t want to die like this.”

To read the rest of the artical from Lens go here.