From time to time I point the camera at the self set forget-me-nots that come up all over the garden. Previous years have produced photos of swathes of blue, macros of individual flowers, even fish-eye shots. This year it's the soft and dreamy approach. So here are four shots with the FA77mm ltd + 20mm tube on a K3. The first 3 are at f2, the last at f2.8. No sharpness intended, none present.

What do you think? Which (if any) is your favourite? Why?

1.



2.



3.



4.



Steve

Agree with all of the above . This set screams 'LennyBloke'. I can't put my finger on why, but all credit to the photographer for having such a distinctive style that brings out the best in these sort of subjects.

And that tree is definitely not a ginko .

Steve

Striking light indeed and you've caught it beautifully. It's the sort of set that makes me feel relaxed and happy .

Steve

Speedgraphic.co.uk sells one, search their website for focusing cloth. 1.2m square, black on one side, red on the other, weighted corners. £48 but must be good value cos it's "Made in England from 100% top quality cotton".

Or perhaps creative application of velcro strips to the bath towel and weights on the corners would stop it sliding off.

Steve

You ain't done a REAL bee macro until the camera has looked through its eyes and caught a glimpse of its tiny soul .

Steve

Nice!

But beware - focus stacking is a slippery slope and you've put a foot on it. Soon, you'll be wanting to fill the frame with a single petal, then a tiny flower, then a stamen from a tiny flower... .

Steve

Good on ya! Now tell the buyer to join this forum - and that they would have got it cheaper if they had been a member .

Steve

Muck on the AF sensor could well have been responsible for AF problems. Never had the problem myself (so far and touching wood...) but have read accounts by folk who have (e.g. link).

You mentioning the 16-45mm has made me remember how much I used to use that lens and how much I liked the results. Then I got the 16-85mm, mainly for the extra reach and WR, and have hardly used its predecessor since. Note to self: get the 16-45mm out of retirement and play with it again!

Steve

No, I just don't need this lens. And like GrumpyGrandPa I don't want to lug a 2Kg lens around so don't want it either .

Steve

They don't stay as buds for very long so it's grab 'em when you can. Here are a few from the garden - and that includes the stinging nettle which is tolerated because of its value to wildlife. All taken during an evening with a half-decent sunset but the garden was in the shadow of the house so WB was set to 'shade' and fingers crossed. K3 + Irix 150mm on a tripod.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.

1. Iris



2. Iris - another crop



3. Poppy in the 'No Mow May' lawn



4. Nigella (Love in a Mist) in the vegetable patch



5. And last but not least, the latest in a continuing quest to make a stinging nettle photogenic...



Steve