It may be just practice and technique, it may not be. When I first started to use manual focus I was useless. I use manual focus for nearly all my macro shots, and have manual lenses which I use fairly regularly, all on a K-r.

For landscape shots, when using manual focus, I tend to rely on the camera, but when taking macro shots, I rely on my eyesight, as I know which small part of the shot I need in focus. After a year of macro photography, I'm still improving, which, in a way, shows how useless I was to start with.

Thanks, Algi. I'm sure there are much better ones around. But I'm enjoying posting these shots here.

A few more species seen today, but haven't managed to put them in the camera to my satisfaction yet,

So, here's a Large White, which I haven't yet put in this thread, plus a couple of lovey-dovey Marbled Whites from 2 different angles.

Thanks, eenymac.

This one certainly didn't mind me being there. But there are quite a lot of them now in our "nature reserve" so there's a good chance of finding a friendly one!

Well, rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd add some more, as they seem to have come out of hiding recently.

A couple of a Small Skipper









I did get a chance at various others such as Peacocks and Red Admirals but they were a bit flighty and I thought I'd wait for some other opportunity.

OK, thanks everyone. Glad you enjoyed the comp.

Sutherland.

Firstly, thanks very much for all those that created images for this comp. I realise it was a bit different, but what the hell!

So, here are my comments and, at the end, the results.....

GlynM - Aquilegia and Knitting

Well, you certainly managed to get texture in this image! The texture and colour of the wool is a stark contrast to the flower and created an interesting effect. It's a striking image. I would have cropped the image square, personally.

milamber - No title, so I've called it Grunge Cat

I like the fact that you connected both the main image and the textured layer by using 2 cats. That, along with the coloured eyes and the crop, makes for an image that hits home. It's a little unsettling, which I like. It works really well.

tyronet2000 - Mouldy Old Dough

A clever title for a clever image. You have texture everywhere, the money, the mould, and also the surface the money is lying on. Each of those textures and colours contrasts with the others, which makes for an effective end result.

annieogg - I'll call it Letter Box!

There's plenty of texture in that wall, plus what also looks like a mould effect added. What is it with you lot? Again, it works quite well, but I might have tried to accentuate the mould by desaturating the letter box somewhat and also darkening the image, as the light is a bit harsh for me.

bforbes - Birthday Cake

This is very clever. The texture chosen converts the image into something we can all recognise, as you say, street art. An imaginative and creative use of texture to create something quite different.

JAK - Harbour Scene

First of all, I really like the composition and the light. The sepia layer gives the photo an old fashioned look, accentuated by the textured layer. All 3 work in harmony, and you could really be "fooled" into thinking it really was an old photo that had, say, been stuffed into somebody's wallet for years.

sandinista - Oia Archway

This is a great shot in itself. It helps, as I've been there myself! I like the idea that the texture was also taken in Santorini on your holiday. Nice that they connect. The rock texture does add something to both the sky and the archway, in particular. I think you have the opacity of the layer just right.

WaypointCharlie - Barleyfield in disguise

I think it's worth having a go with this image as a textured layer. I reckon it would work really well on the right photo. In itself, as an image, I like it, in a minimalistic abstract sort of a way. It's quite relaxing just to stare at it and follow the strands.

I picked out my 3 favourites, and started to have trouble choosing the winner, because all 3 shots are quite different from each other, but eventually I settled on this order.......trouble is, I had 4, so I had to have 2 3rd equals!

3rd= sandinista - Oia Archway
3rd= bforbes - Birthday Cake

2nd milamber - Grunge Cat

1st JAK - Harbour Scene

But well done to everyone!

Over to you, John!

Thanks, everyone.

I think you've explained that yourself, geordie! Need to get yourself to France!

Thanks, folks. I realise some of these are rather "documentary."

We haven't had as many butterflies as usual, with the weather being relatively cold. In fact, some species have hardly been visible at all.

Fortunately, some have just started to appear, and we have many Marbled Whites. The other 2 I've shown are much rarer and the Black-Veined has been extinct in the UK since the 1920's.

I'm sure the DA*300 is pretty good for butterflies, having seen it's performance. However, these were all taken with the DFA 100mm macro, on a K-r, some hand held, som on a tripod.

Hi Folks,

I was wondering just which image to upload to the gallery, when I decided just to show a few here instead. I don't particularly want c&c, unless you just can't resist it!

A Few of the High Brown Fritillary












Marbled White







The very rare Black-Veined White







That'll do ya. Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

ds