There is beauty in a dead flower

This is a single flower from hydrangea bunch from our backyard.  Last year's bloom that was nice and crisp.  The lines and forms were so inviting.  This was shot indoors with cross-lighting so as to bring out detail and texture.  Conversions to monochrome in NIK Silver Efex Pro.

Comments from attendees of my last Macro and Close-up workshop on the 25th

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of the participants for attending and helping make the workshop so enjoyable.  I too learn from you during my sessions - photography is all about sharing and learning from each other.  Thank you all for your wonderful feedback - I truly value and appreciate it.Here is what the participants had to say.I found the tips on how to do macro less expensively (Home Depot solutions) very valuable.I thought the presentation followed by the hands-on session was perfect. It allowed for questions to be answered and bugs to be worked out before you were alone trying it for the first time.I picked up lots of good tips in the morning session. All in all, an excellent day.Would like more hands-on - possibly a second day of all hands-on and outdoors.After hearing you speak last summer, I was looking forward to the workshop. Exceeded my expectations. Thanks, Shiv. Dan LoganShiv presented the overall basics of macro photography, but also gave specific training in Helicon Focus software. I appreciated advancing my macro skills with a technique I had not known. It was a very enjoyable day.I knew a lot of theory of Macro photography prior to the workshop, however I lacked the experience of actually taking images. Shiv's workshop gave me a lot of that experience. I had tried Helicon Focus about five years ago when it first came out. This workshop brought me up to date about Helicon Remote which automates much of the process of actually taking the multiple photos. This minimizes much of the manual frustrating work. Kent MessamoreShiv is truly a fantastic workshop leader. He shares all of his information with you freely rather than holding back "tricks of the trade". He is knowledgable and has come up with some ingenious ways of making your photography dollars stretch by making your own equipment rather than buying expensive gadgets. I look forward to taking another workshop with him in the very near future.Shiv is very technically knowledgable and has the organization to teach what he knows.Shiv delivers smoothly-paced training with lots of useful tips and plenty of visual examples, and he makes his expertise available during the hands-on session. A day well-spent.Shiv is truly a professional. His expertise is clearly evident. I would not hesitate to take another class with himIf you want to know more about macro and learn focus stacking this is a great workshop. The first part of the day is a comprehensive overview of different macro subject matter, as well as your "shopping list" and tips on saving money on the things you will need. The afternoon hands on part of the workshop has plenty of set-ups and items you can move around so you can shoot what interests you. Shiv is very patient and helpful, and will instruct on anything you ask to make sure you have a great experience.

Planning on another Macro & Close-up Workshop March 25

Based on the responses to the last two workshops I will be conducting another Macro & Close-up workshop on March 25.  Please email me at s.verma@me.com if you are interested - the spots fill up very fast.Details will be posted later today.In the mean time here are a few comments from the March 11 workshop participants:I’ve never gotten so much quality information from a single workshop. This class is perfectly geared to advanced amateur photographers. The material presented is neither too light nor overwhelming, and is well balanced between macro concepts, an introduction to the tools and software needed, and hands-on guided practice. You’ll leave with practical experience and knowledge of how to get started in this challenging and rewarding area of photography. - Abby 3/14/2012Shiv! I had already learned a lot from him over the years by paying attention to his commentaries on NECCC circuits, attending his Amherst presentations, and I enjoy his photography. I don't think I would have driven 100 miles for anyone else's workshop. 3/14/2012I came to the workshop wanting to learn more about focus stacking. Shiv did a great job and I felt that I learned a lot that I can apply to my photography. 3/12/2012Shiv covered all the essentials for macro techniques. I learned so much about the right equipment, best practices and software. I can't wait to try out everything I learned at home. 3/11/2012This was a very good workshop, and well worth the price I paid. The pacing was perfect, and in keeping the group small, it felt more like a bunch of friends talking, and not a regular class. All participants were encouraged to ask questions, and insert observations. 3/11/2012  

Comments from this weekend's Macro and Close-up workshop participants

I would like to express my sincerest thanks to all the participants who attended the workshop this weekend.  Most of all thanks for your wonderful comments - I am glad you all came away with something of value from the session.Comments from the participants:Shiv is a very knowledgeable photography instructor. He presents his material so that everyone can understand the concepts. He was very thorough and open to answering students' questions. He gave out a lot of useful, practical information that was well worth the price of the course.This workshop was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to learn about Macro or Micro Photography.Nothing beats this small group format for a workshop. It really provides a one on one feeling in addition to getting to practice what you learned with your peers. All this plus having someone there with Shiv's expertise to answer and questions, which he encourages you to ask, makes for a great learning experience. I would do this again in a heartbeat. -MattThis workshop was very informative from the presentation right through to the hands on. Shiv's skill as a workshop leader comes with his ability to articulate difficult concepts in a way for the lay person to understand. I highly recommend!!The information flowed well-the presentation was easy to follow. hands on with instructor assistance was outstanding. I would attend another seminar/workshop by Shiv any time. Bob B.Your work lead me to believe that I could learn something from you. Just didn't realize how much. You packed a lot into this workshop....well worth the price.Really enjoyed this and would do it again in a heartbeat.After attending many workshops, this is one of the best. Concepts around macro shooting are difficult to understand and your examples were clear and helped me immensely! I truly appreciate your ability to articulate a concept clearly and concisely. Thanks for a great day...inviting house, lunch and lots of things to work on!I particularly like how other participants more experienced help out those with less. I felt people were not intimated at all and were free to acknowledge their weaknesses and learn...you helped a great deal with that by announcing that no question was weak...everyone learns something.Depending on one's own level of experience...more experienced photographer will get more and those with less, get less but everyone comes away with something...a sign of success in my book. No presenter can meet everyone's needs but can make an impact even in a small way.The presentation included a lot more detail and information than I expected.

Macro and Close-up Workshop on March 11 is now full.

The March Macro and Close-up  workshop is now full.  I may consider another one in the spring.  If you are interested please let me know via email s.verma@me.com.

Macro & Close-up Photography Repeat Session - March 11, 2012

Black Eye Susan Stacked Focus Result

I will be repeating the 1 day Macro and Close-up photography workshop on Sunday March 11, 2012.  We will start at 9:30 AM and conclude at 5:00 PM.  A pizza lunch is included.In this macro photography workshop you will learn how to take beautiful macro photos like a pro. You’ll be able to take eye catching macro and close-up photos with great detail and sharpness.Click on this Macro & Closeup March 11 link for full details and a description of the program.

The January 29 - Macro Workshop is now full

I will schedule another session for March 11, 2012.  The program will be the same.  Please indicate the appropriate date in your registration form.

My Halloween Pennant wins a Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro

I submitted my Halloween Pennant image to a macro image competition conducted by Mike Moats a professional photographer who also presented at the PSA conference this year and sponsored by Tamron.  The image won and Tamron will be shipping me the lens soon I hope.  Feeling good..........Here is the image:

Macro & Close-Up Photography Workshop - Cape Cod Art Association - July 24, 2011

The workshop at the Cape Cod Art Association was a great day despite the occasional rain that did prevent the attendees from photographing in the rain.  Rain drop covered flowers and grasses made for some beautiful images.  Will post a few images created by the attendees when the submit.Below are a few quotes from the attendees:"I thought I knew something about macro photography. This class showed me I had a lot more to learn. Having both classroom and hands on was valuable as was then looking at the work. I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop!""Close Up photography has always been a challenge for me. This course was very helpful in better understanding macro techniques and the various camera accessories that are available to further enhance the effort. I am finally able to look forward to taking close up photos with confidence and enthusiasm."

A Violet - so simple

Violet

A weed so simple yet in its own way so captivating.  A stacked macro image with three texture layers and a single edge treatment.

Maple Leaf Emerging (Macro)

Unfurling Maple LeavesCanon 7d - 24 to 70 f2.8 26 image focus stackExposure triad:  ISO 100 f5.6 1/25 sec

Spring seems to be in the air.  The azaleas are blooming and the maple leaves are emerging.  With the slight rain last night the ornamental maple looked gorgeous this morning. This is a stacked macro of a set of leaves unfurling.

Anther and Filament of a Maple Flower

Anther & Filament of a Maple FlowerCanon 7D, 100 mm Macro with a 1.4x teleconverter and two full sets of extension tubes for a total of 136mm extension.

This is an image of one of the anthers of the maple flower from the image posted yesterday.  Macro done well can be so much fun.  Mirror lock up and twenty five images at f2.8 stacked using Helicon Focus.

Macro - Maple Flower Stack

Maple Flower Macro

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro lensExposure triad: ISO 100, f5.6. 1/3 sec.

Macro experiments - this is a 20 image stack of this maple flower.  Used Helicon Focus to do the stack.  The depth (front to back of the image) is 7/16 inch while the flower is about 1/4 inch.  The magnification is approximately 1.6X.  The image has absolutely no post processing or sharpening applied.