I am working like crazy to finish that d*** thesis and because I have nothing else to talk about I thought I’d to a very ‘technical’ photography post for once. I hope I’m not boring y’all too much, but I will put some pretty pictures in here for compensation 🙂
I just love shallow depth-of-field and bokeh. It’s not easy to achieve without a DSLR though.
Before I got my 50mm 1.4 lens I used to always shoot wide open, that is, opening up the aperture to its biggest opening/smallest number. With my Canon 450D that depended on the lens I was using (f4.5 on the kit lens 18-55mm and the 70-300mm and I think f3.5 on my dad’s 28-135mm). Before I got my DSLR however, I had a Fuji S5600 (a bridge camera) and even though the smallest f-stop was 2.8 it wasn’t easy getting that lovely bokeh.
There are a couple of tricks of course but for those great macro shots of flowers and such I opted to buy a snap-on macro lens, the Raynox DCR-250. Wow, that opened up a whole new world!
This shot was taken on my balcony, it shows raindrops in a spider web:
Those macro lenses reduce your area in focus to nearly a pinpoint so they take a LOT of practice. Your first 100 or so images will be blurry, trust me. But when you get to know that lens a little, boy, will you have fun!
This one was taken on the same rainy day, on the bamboo which since has not survived my gardening skills (seriously who manages to kill bamboo? they’re like the most undemanding plants ever):
I have a lovely close-up of ladybugs somewhere on another harddrive but since I am too lazy busy to search for it (and dying to get back to my thesis…kidding here) I will safe that for another day and leave you with a picture of my sweet kitty’s nose…it kind of sparkles in the sun…vampire kitty anyone??
Sorry, feeling silly this morning, the nearly-finished-my-university-education giddiness is already setting in 😉
little home by hand 
Great pics! I want a new camera!! I love your kitty’s nose.
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Thanks Lynda 🙂 None of these were taken with my DSLR though, so until you get a new one try to get the most out of the camera you’ve got 🙂 It’s always great to practice, no matter with which ‘instrument’.
By the way, I will answer your comment on the grapefruitseed extract on your blog, I’m just hoping to hear back from some people who know a lot more about soapmaking than I do first 🙂
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I have no idea about technical issues of photography :S but your photos are so great! I love all of them! (I hope someday I know a little about that)… thesis really can become a kick in the ass, right? i remember mine!
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Thanks Rosamaria! The technical side isn’t really all that bad, you just have to take the plunge and do a lot of reading once so you get the basics and then you’ll be having soo much more fun taking photos, I swear!
Uh, yeah, I never, ever want to write another thesis again. I’m usually pretty good about getting things done (if I do say so myself) but this just took forever and I was constantly feeling bad about not putting enough work and energy into it!
What did you write your thesis about and what did you study?
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Would love to follow your beautiful, beautiful blog – but can’t find the widgety-thang. What photos! I fall at your feet amazed!
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Aw, thanks Claire :)) The google friend connect widget won’t work on here, so the only way to follow would be to subscribe to the feed http://tidytipsy.wordpress.com/feed/. I always just bookmark my favourite blogs 😉
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Look! It’s Edward Cullen’s cat!
What’s your thesis about? And hey, at least the weather is warming up, right? No snow. Those images are just beautiful. I loved the first one.
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Haha, thanks, at least you thought that was funny too 😀 My thesis is on time management and procrastination and whether that’s really the same thing with or not. It’s all very theoretical though, lots of testing factor models and such.
Yeah, at least no snow at the moment, I can’t wait for warm weather!!
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Wow !!! Those photography close ups are STUNNING !!!!!! I love em !!! Thanks for the tips !!
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Hi,
Just happened to land up on your page, while browsing for Raynox DCR – 250 snap on lenses. Your shots are amazing. Cant wait to got through the rest of the blog.
Just need a favor from you, could you help me take a decision on whether Raynox DCR – 250 is a good choice for my Canon 550D?
Is there some place where I can read up about how to attach it to your lens and how to use it.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance.
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I’m glad this was helpful Jayashree! The Raynox is a snap on lens, so you just snap it onto your lens. It fits a variety of lenses, it depends on what lens you have. I’ve no experience using the Raynox on a DSLR though, so I can’t really recommend anything here, sorry
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