Ladybug
I was desperate to photograph some bugs with my new macro lens, and was delighted one morning when this little guy landed on my balcony!...
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I was desperate to photograph some bugs with my new macro lens, and was delighted one morning when this little guy landed on my balcony!
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Feb, 2015Views
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KatieMcKinneyPhotography
February 11, 2015
I love the colors in this shot with the red and pop of green its very complimentary & of course a lovely subject, next time maybe broaden the focus to see a bit more detail in the Ladybug maybe at least around the face perhaps. Kind regards ~ Katie
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was snapped just after I'd bought my very first macro lens. I have always been inspired by macro photography and I'd been so eager to get my hands on a macro lens for many years. I was very excited when I purchased my 40mm f/2.8! My balcony in Plymouth is pretty high up and I rarely get cute little visitors to photograph, so I jumped at the opportunity to shoot this ladybug! This was the first proper macro photo session I'd ever had, and I sat on my balcony and shot this little guy whilst he enjoyed the sun on my roses. I must have spent at least 45 minutes experimenting with different compositions! I love the red and green contrasting backdrop the rose petal creates. I'm so proud of this photograph!Time
I took this photograph at 2:45pm exactly. I'd probably already spent 40 minutes photographing this ladybug, but when I finally took this I knew instantly that it was the one! The afternoon sun wasn't too harsh and created enough light to really focus the lens into the details of the ladybug.Lighting
I love natural lighting and I don't think I've ever used the flash on my Nikon! I was really happy with the available light that afternoon and I honestly couldn't have asked for any better. The camera settings I used were ISO 400 4.2 1/320.Equipment
I used my Nikon D3000 and my 40mm f/2.8 to capture this image. Now that I'm a little more experienced with macro photography, I would use my tripod if I was to do it again. I spotted the ladybug on a whim and couldn't bring myself to part with him in case he flew away! I'm so glad I stuck with it, this photo session really taught me a lot about my new lens. My only regret is that I wish I'd bought a macro lens sooner!Inspiration
My friend Julie who I met on Flickr always takes the most amazing macro photos, and she really inspired me to buy a lens myself. I don't think I've ever told her that, so thanks Julie! I also think it had something to do with the brand new lens I'd just received and fact that I'd never seen a ladybug on my balcony before! I used this image as my photo of the day for a 365 Project I was completing last year and had such fantastic feedback online, it really boosted my confidence. (Plus, I haven't seen a ladybug on my balcony since!)Editing
In all honesty, I'm not the strongest post-processor, so my editing is always kept to a minimum. The only thing I altered with the RAW file was the intensity of the blacks. I made the colour a little bit stronger so as to emphasise the detail of the ladybug and create a little contrast and depth.In my camera bag
The equipment that I have is very basic. I have only the one camera, my trusty Nikon D3000 and two lenses that I religiously use. First, my 50mm f/1.4 prime. Buying one of these was the best decision I ever made for my photography. For the first time, I could really see a style develop within my work and from that moment I was hooked on prime lenses! The second, my 40mm f/2.8. Not only is this lens amazing for my macro work, but it's great for candid photography which still gives you the lovely depth of field similar to a 50mm.Feedback
Patience is a virtue! I spent 45 minutes changing various camera settings and alternating my angles to capture this image. Also, try to think more about the bigger picture. Your subject may be in focus, but how does your background look? Sometimes the foreground can be just as important as the background! I would also recommend using a tripod when photographing small subjects to ensure your focus is spot on.
