It's a leaked photo from development of the next generation of Pentax lens coatings. To complement WR lenses for all-weather use, Pentax is developing camouflage coating for wildlife photography. Still got a bit of work to do...

Steve

I had a major dilemma this evening: either (a) set up the kitchen macro kit and take stacks of ladybird pupae; or (b) open a bottle of Piddle brewery's finest, sit back and relax. The beer won. But did I do the right thing???

Steve

Ah, you've got soldier beetles. I saw my first one of the year yesterday, probably the first of many. If you want a real challenge, try to photograph it in flight. The trick is to be able to spot it preparing to take off, focus quickly then press the shutter button before you see it in flight. By the time the shutter fires, the beetle will probably be in the air. If you're lucky, it will still be in the frame and in focus. Expect lots of failures. But when it works, you'll forget the frustration and failures!

Glasses on or off? Do whatever seems best to you. I leave glasses (varifocals) on and adjust the dioptre for where I usually look through the lens (i.e. the one in the specs). Some people prefer to take their glasses off.

It sounds like you've spotted that macro is a whole new world, not just in technique but also in what's in that world and what you see. Keep playing, keep learning, there's always something new to see and do!

Steve

A great set . Having been to the place myself several times in recent years, the first (wider view) shots simply scream 'Harlow Carr' to me. The close-ups are great shots of the flowers, albeit they could have been taken anywhere. And there is definitely something about the close-ups that makes me think of paintings.

Steve

The collection of sempervivums (houseleeks) is going from strength to strength - 60+ varieties and too many plants to bother counting. Their geometric forms and pointed leaves suggest that photos should emphasise structure and sharpness. But feeling perverse, I wondered what the shallow DOF, soft approach I've been using recently for other plants and flowers would do for them. And here is what happens when a K3 with 20mm tube + FA77mm @f2.2 is pointed at a few sempervivums.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.

1. Feldmair



2. Another Feldmair



3. Yet another Feldmair



4. Reinhardt



5. Rosie



6. Gulle Dame



Steve

That courgette flower looks rather sinister! But those mini-cucumbers and blackcurrants are enticing . And you've managed to produce good backgrounds for them, too - not so easy in the fruit 'n veg patch in my experience.

Steve

A lovely set with a gentle, peaceful feel . If I had to choose a few for the wall, it would be 4 (rose), 5 and 9. And I'm with Lennybloke with his comment about the 'look' of the images shot with the Sigma 70mm.

Steve

Nicely done - by you for the photos and by your wife for the garden .

Is that really flowers among the gooseberries - all that grows among mine is bindweed .

Steve

... Or unless you are South Western Railway, which runs trains through Bournemouth... Our Train Stations. Perhaps it's a west country thing and it travelled to the US with emigrant ships from Plymouth.

Steve

You have just ordered a very good lens. Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy again!

Steve