Just Under The Canopy
this composition has about 4 images from Butterfly World in Florida, image from a Swamp area and of course Textures used with varying Blend Modes in Layers in A...
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this composition has about 4 images from Butterfly World in Florida, image from a Swamp area and of course Textures used with varying Blend Modes in Layers in Adobe CS6.
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Jan, 2016Views
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Awards
People's Choice in The Camera never lies Photo Challenge
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
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Absolute Masterpiece
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mihrt
May 09, 2016
thank you for the congrats Terry - was a pleasant surprise email I received today!
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Bazz
May 09, 2016
Congratulations on winning People's Choice in The Camera Never Lies Photo Challenge for May 2016. Well deserved!! It is stunning!
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mihrt
October 25, 2016
Thank you so much to those who have congratulated me on winning People's Choice 'The Camera Never Lies Photo Challenge' and for all the visits and other votes...you are all so kind.
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This composition uses 5 images. 4 taken in Butterfly World, located inside Tradewinds Park South , Coconut Creek, Florida. The spider was behind glass inside the Museum Insectarium. There is part of an image at the top of the composition where you can see swamp grasses that was taken along a trail in a parcel of land just West and South of Indiantown Road - close to Pratt Whitney Road. An area of protected land that the public can explore and camp in as they choose.Time
It was hot and humid, with bright full sun at Butterfly World when we visited between 2 and 4:30 pm.Lighting
There are six aviaries filled with ten thousand butterflies and free flying birds. These butterfly captures were taken in the Tropical Rain Forest Area. There is shelter from the hot sun overhead - screened walls keep the butterflies in and harmful insects and predators out. The lighting was ideal as it afforded me to use natural lighting but with the advantage of no really bright sunshine from above. It was perfect for shooting at a wide open aperture. Had there not been the wonderful natural lighting conditions, I would have used my External Flash to access better exposure in the shadowed areas.Equipment
All images were handheld with my Canon EOS Rebel T4i - Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM - shot wide open at f/2.8 - Manual Focus - Aperture f/2.8, Shooting in Aperture Priority and experimenting with Spot and Evaluative Metering and various ISO settings. The partial image of the tall grasses in the swamp area was taken with a Canon EF2.8 200mm IS USM. I shot wide open as this trip was my first time using this lens. On the lens, I left the IS on as well as selected AF rather than MF for this experiment. The day was slightly overcast making shooting Wide Open ideal.Inspiration
I was at Butterfly World to take as many images that I could. I really love being challenged to do compositions composed of many of my images. Over the last 5 years I have taken Matt Kloskowski's Book "The Complete Guide to Photoshop's Most Powerful Feature LAYERS " nearly everywhere I go. If I have to wait in a Dr. or Dentist office the book is with me or in the car when we are on vacation. I try to learn something from that book nearly everyday. I often go back over chapters to refresh my memory-there so much to be learned about Layers and corresponding Blend Modes. I decided one day that I wanted to make a composition that looked like an 'imaginary world' where these beautiful creatures lived. From there on it was deciding which images I would choose.Editing
I use Adobe CS6 and have a Library of Textures that I have collected or made over the years. There are many to be found online for free - I have purchased a few. I enjoy Florabella Photoshop Actions that I have been collecting as well - sometimes they are great to put on a 'Wish List' for gifts :) I don't have them all but the actions are totally editable. I enjoy Shana Rae's 'Gentle Colour' Action that softly enhances colours - they are not 'overdone'. The darker colours in this composition are due to using Textures, Layers and Various Blend Modes and Opacities within the Layers Palette. With this composition I wanted to try using the Gradient Tool that I had read you could use to erase parts of images that are layered on top of each other, thus helping with a more subtle blending of images. You do this work on a Layer Mask beside the image you are working on. It worked quite well for me in a few areas but I found I had to be patient with myself - I still haven't mastered it. There are excellent videos online about using Textures and Layers. If anyone is interested they can PM me and I will arrange to send what links I have saved. I was TERRIFIED of using LAYERS for years - a complete mental block. But once I got Matt's book and started using his advice, I was so sorry I had not tried earlier. It really is not so difficult at all.In my camera bag
I usually attempt to go out with an 'intent' in mind. It is cumbersome taking ALL your lenses with you. I have a Leather Purse that is also a Back Pack. It is large enough that I can fit my Camera and a couple lenses in it. I put the extra lens(s) in Bubble Wrap Bags, Camera in a larger Bubble Wrap Bag. My go to lens for this kind of Photography is always my Canon EF f2.8 Macro USM. If I know I am going to take Macros of Insects or Flowers it is usually my 100mm that gets used. The other lenses are usually in my larger Backpack in my car. They include my Canon EF 2.8 200mm USM, Canon EF 24-105 f4L IS USM and my Canon 430 EX ll Flash. I always have an extra Battery and Memory Card and a lens cleaning cloth for the LED Screen on the back of the Camera. As of this date, while I would like some, I have not purchased any Filters or Tele Converters for my Camera. I would also like to purchase something along the lines of a Macro Ring Flash.Feedback
For insect Photography you mainly need a Macro Lens - whether it be a 60mm, 90, 100, 105, or 200mm. Mind you I have seen excellent close up images on this site taken with 100-300 or 400mm lenses. I have also managed to get the odd good Macro with the original 18-55mm EF-S Canon Lens. Other excellent results come from Reversing your Lens but I do not have the Adapter to do that yet. The one thing I have learned over the last 10 years of Macro Photography - no matter what Camera you have - it pays to invest in good glass. My Canon EF 2.8 100mm Macro USM is my go to lens - even for Portraits. A friend I met from another Photo Site who is a Professional Camera and Lens Tester in Jupiter,(also makes Custom Lenses and Cameras for over the last 30 years) was good enough to tutor me a bit. He advised that I PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. It takes good muscle control in your arms and hands to do HANDHELD Macro Photography. When I can't get outdoors, I practice indoors to keep the 'memory' in my muscles. Something else I am learning is to have your Camera in the same Focal Plane as your Subject. Much better focus is achieved. I have seen excellent Macro and Bird images from a Canon Rebel Xti - but good EF or L glass was always on the Camera. I only use a Tripod when I am able to move a tiny bug on a leaf or stick and put it on the Picnic Table under our Gazebo. I have more control this way. I have experimented with Live View and ALWAYS use a Shutter Release Cord. When using Live View - just try taking the image of a small insect by gently pressing on the Shutter. You will be surprised to see how much 'shake' is introduced just by pressing the shutter. Another advantage of using Live View and a Shutter Release Cord - you have to lock the Mirror inside the camera. Even less shake is introduced when you do this. I am still longing to get those fabulous highly detailed Macro shots - I just have to keep PRACTICING ! For many of these Layered Type images you will see - it often takes a decent original shot to use Textures. I prefer to Layer them myself instead of doing it with a Program but I have a lot of Patience to watch the image 'bake'. I have Topaze but have not yet perfected it at all. I would rather use my own images. I do NOT freeze insects. The only other advice I have and this will seem really silly to many - but if you have NEVER set up the DIOPTER on your camera to match YOUR EYE - PLEASE DO IT. I have helped many people set up their Rebels properly who HAD NEVER READ OR HEARD of setting up the DIOPTER. If you ever get the urge to try something like this, know that it can be done in PS Elements as well. If you ever have any questions, I'm not an expert, but will be glad to help if I can. Just send a message and maybe I can help with a nagging question or two. Wishing you great images always, Gail Harmer (mihrt)
