As a matter of fact, the world of close-up macro was more technical then anything... and technical stuff just rings a bell with me. What more could I ask but to be technical and taking photographs!
Soon, it was a world of extension tubes and magnifying glasses... reversing lenses and blah blah.
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After investing in a SB700 flash unit, and a set of Kenko Extension Tubes, and trying them out with coins and pens at home, I set off to the Singapore Botanics Gardens to try out my first outdoor close-up macro shoot. Soon I realize I forgot something.. a towel to wipe my sweat in the tropical heat of Singapore. Yes, I did not know taking photo can be so strenuous.
I now realize why in the past I thought it was weird for a photographer to go around taking photographs with his flash attached under the broad daylight... NOW I KNOW bright daylight may still not be bright enough!
Two hours later... I post the few "can-show-people" results...
This first one is a common moth (I will get the proper ID of all the postings here once I get it figured out). This was my first model of the day, and first model for my close-up macro... not too bad I think but the photo was a little "flat" as the moth was simply "doing nothing".
Then while walking through the Cactus Garden, I came upon three beetles (ID?) feeding on the nectar of some flowers (dunno what name). Immediately I tried to capture them but they were very elusive and had their head in the flower all the time. After a while, finally the one I was working with decided to peek outside to take a breather (?) and this shot was captured.
Still at the nectar feeding area, I found this beetle seemingly wrestling with an ant. Protective over its nectar.
This one is my favorite from today's shots but believe it or not, it was the only shot I took of it (a bee I think) and that's it. Again, spontaneity rules the day. The photo was very much under-exposed and I had to push it up a notch in post-production. But otherwise, I think this shows the lil' fellow in its most natural pose.
I contemplated for a while to post or not to post this image, but finally I decide to post it just to serve as a reminder to myself. Even in close-up macro, it pays to make sure the surrounding is clean. I thought the bee looks "okay" for a newbie like me, but the mess it was in... unacceptable. But I guess this is the natural habitat... (good excuse!)
This last image is not exactly a close-up macro. It was more a telephoto shot (300mm DX). The lil' fellow got ALOT of attention as the crowd were whipping out their cameras and screaming Chipmunk Chipmunk! Someone pointed out that it was a squirrel as it had a large bushy tail.. well, noone would know for sure as that part of its anatomy was out of the camera's field of view (that's a pointer to remember for myself).
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Today's lil' project took me 2 hours in Singapore Botanics Garden and I am quite proud of myself for being able to come back with something. I was a lil' apprehensive in the beginning, and a lil' shy hogging ant/bug infested flowers... in the end, it was a good day.
Maybe I can go out tonight after dinner at Sengkang river?
