April 2009 Photo of the month thread - post contest images here

[Sage]

Originally Posted by TheLorax

I have a cut out round food storage container that I can slip over my lens to take close ups. I used it for a fly I took a picture of this morning. That was a really good idea. It has the added benefit of keeping raindrops off the lens. Now I need a styrofoam piece? I took over 100 photos to get 3 good photos of Ambystoma laterale (Blue-spotted salamander) and the flash turned the little guy white. The good photos I got were when the sun came out for a bit and I didn't need flash. What would the styrofoam do and what shape do I need to cut it into to make it work?

Go to post 26 ~Photos of Weeds, Grasses, Flowers~

[Prairiefreak]

Here's some photos

[CluelessGardener]

Originally Posted by TheLorax

This is a photo of the little salamander I mentioned before.

I have always had an immense fondness for Salamanders. When I was a little boy growing up near Tawas Michigan there were miles of swampy forest around our house and no nearby houses and they were so fun to go searching for. I didn't have any nearby playmates so frogs, salamanders, and the like filled the gap.

[Equilibrium]

Nice memories. Do you still have family in the area so your son will be able to run around in that swampy forest like you did?

[Sage]

CG, my cousins and I walked through the woods daily lifting stones in the creek and old dead branches from the ground to find the little critters underneath. Those years were the best!

[Quietman]

Please find photos below of the daffodils in my back yard....ok, ok, just kidding! Those daff photos are the fields in Northern Washington at the annual tulip festival, and more precisely the fields at Roozengarde.

Also find photos of my own tulips, and a clutch of Bluebird eggs I discovered in one of my nest boxes today!

Take care,

Quietman

P.S. Lorax! I'm embarrased, these birds were holding stock still for me and the photo is still a little blurry! Have to hurry when monitoring nest boxes so as not to arouse attention from predators...(what other excuses can I think of???)

[TheLorax]

Oh, and btw. a cheap trick for macros:

1. Get cheap syrofoam bowls from somewhere - small & med are good
2. Cut away the flat edge
3. Put your camera lens against the bowl and draw a circle around it
4. Cut away the circle leaving a round hole
5. Place the bowl on your camera lens, open side pointing out
6. Focus on subject of macro
7. Use your flash

I guess I don't understand. I couldn't find a styrofoam bowl. I used a round food storage bowl. My flash is on the body of the camera so it isn't inside the food storage container. Could you please take a photo of your DIY flash ring for me?

Proud new poppa of quints, I have to be honest with you. I can't see any birds in your photos. The eggs are beautiful. Which photo are the birds in please and can you direct me to a general area to look?

[Sage]

Originally Posted by TheLorax

I guess I don't understand. I couldn't find a styrofoam bowl. I used a round food storage bowl. My flash is on the body of the camera so it isn't inside the food storage container. Could you please take a photo of your DIY flash ring for me?

Yes, this is for cameras with built-in flashes. Tomorrow I will post shots for you. The styrofoam is opaque and works better than the translucent plastic, which I've tested. It's only important if you're doing close-up or macro work.

[Sage]

Lorax, I'll post it soon...

Walked through a woods today at a park I never knew existed, and found this little gem!

[TheLorax]

I see the tiny little red sprout sticking up but what is it?