Friday, May 11, 2012

Dancing and Singing





                                                                                                                     Available for purchase here


Pawpaw/papaya flower


                                                    Available for purchase here


Sometimes it's as if the flowers in my garden are singing and dancing, opening and closing, swaying in the breeze, following the rhythm of the sun and the seasons. Capturing their beauty is a delight.


Front side of Raynox DCR-250 resting on it's lens cover


Last month I received my first DSLR but I do NOT have a macro lens. What I do have is this little Raynox Super Macro Conversion Lens (DCR-250). For all the above photos and most my recent macros, I have used this snap-on conversion lens with my 50mm lens (it also works well with my 18-55mm kit lens). I use this same Raynox lens with my fixed lens super zoom as I shared here.





On the reverse side you can see the spring-loaded lugs which allow it to quickly snap/clip on/off your camera lens. It's a brilliant system and quite versatile. I often head outside with the Raynox on and just unclip it for non-macro shots, just as you would a lens cover. No doubt a dedicated macro lens has it's own benefits but the portability, ease of use and price of the Raynox makes it a winner too. At less than $80 on Amazon or Ebay it's much more affordable.

As with other macro lenses it gives a very shallow depth of field, I have greater success using live-view manual focus.




Taken this morning with my 50mm, just to show we really do grow gerbera daisies in our gardens all year round in our area. I grew these from seedlings this year, three of which currently have their first flowers and more buds coming.




Hover fly enjoying a snack this morning - taken using the Raynox lens and a little editing. I think the hover fly was dancing and singing too!


Sharing at Shoot. Edit. Submit (chosen as a Top 5 Winner), Tina's Weekend Flowers (voted a Top 3 Winner),
  Sneak Peek Friday, Flower Art Friday, Weekly Top ShotMacro Monday.

66 comments:

Rosemary said...

Your Rynox lens gives stunning results, but lets not take away from the fact that you have a fantastic eye for composition.

Unknown said...

Incredibly beautiful all your flower shots. Can't tell which one I prefer.. :)
Have a wonderful weekend

geanina said...

wow...beautiful macros! great work...greetings :)

Molly said...

Beautiful images but the hover fly is stunning. He looks like he is sitting on a buttery warm cushion.

Mollyxxx

Lei said...

Oh my god it's brilliant!!! The raynox does a wonderful job! Of course your hardwork contribute a lot! Stunning results!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thought you may be pleasantly surprised Lei.....
Yes, I do practice a lot too along with improving my editing skills too (iPhoto).

Gabi said...

Pięknie Ci wychodzą zdjęcia.
Ja ciągle nie mogę się zebrać, aby wypróbować tak na dobre mojego Raynoxa.
Pozdrawiam.

Jennifer said...

Beautiful shots! I especially like the fourth one. It simply glows.Thanks for the information on the Raynox Super Macro Conversion Lens.

Unknown said...

These are beautiful!

Hmmm, now you have me thinking about a conversion lens.

Deanna said...

I am dancing and singing just viewing your lovelies!!

Unknown said...

So pretty! I can't even imagine growing gerberas but I do buy them in pots to put in the house. Thanks for the info on the lens!

Cropped Stories said...

Gorgeous shots! I love that second and last shot; AMAZING!

Isabelle said...

Beautiful way to share your gift Karen. Not everyone has the eye of a photographer. I 've promised myself to get the Raynox Conversion lens and I will... soon!

Cindy said...

I do think it is YOU who are singing and dancing, and it flows out to whatever you see, and ultimately in what you share with us! Blessings!

Sylvia K said...

Your gorgeous captures always bring color beauty into my day! Such wonderful colors! Thank you for sharing the beauty! Hope you and your family have a great weekend !

Sylvia

Mary Gene Atwood said...

Oh that last shot is lovely. Such crisp detail. I strive to do this someday!

Rosemary Aubut said...

Wow just looked at several of your posts incredible work. Love the lens macro kit, worth looking into! Thanks!

Cristina Ferreira said...

Adoro visitar teu jardim aqui nestas belas fotografias. Maravilhosas imagens.

Beijos.

Alesha Kay said...

Just beautiful!!!

Love the last one with the bee!
Alesha Kay

Karin M. said...

Wow ... stunning ... gorgeous works of art .... Thank you for singing and dancing flowers ..
Best regards, Karin

Tina´s PicStory said...

thanks for sharing your wonderful flowers with us :)

Marijke said...

How nice of you to show what you use making your beautiful photo's. Making good photograph's like you do has nothing to do how expensive your lense is. You have talent and eye for details something that is not to buy.
Have a lovely weekend Karen

Gail Dixon said...

I really need to get something like the Raynox for macro photography. Thanks for sharing your tips! Love the photos, as always.

Maude Lynn said...

That second shot is stunning!

LeAnne said...

Stunning all, but that bee! Oh my that is awesome. Very beautiful. I would so love it if you would share this image at my flower art friday linkup! Here's the link. http://www.photosbyleanne.net/2012/05/flower-art-friday-3-may-11-2012.html Hope to see you there!

Roxanne Reinhart said...

Your photos are always amazing. I love them.

Debbie said...

those purple gerber dasies are stunning!!

have a lovely weekend!!

Seeing Each Day said...

I'm sighing over your fourth photo.

Unknown said...

Some great shots, my email is still eating yours, so you might have to reply to this and it should work!

Carletta said...

The soft focus of these macros is purely lovely!!!!!
I think the first one fits your caption well. I smiled at that one.
Thanks for the info on the conversion lens. I can't swing a true macro lens but this is a possibility. :)

Ida said...

Wow these are wonderful and that last shot is breathtaking.

Claire Justine said...

Wonderrful shots :)

Sarah said...

Amazing shot!!!! The last one is brilliant! Love Sarah

Sarah said...

I get the Translate Gagets....Thanks for your reading!! : ) Love Sarah

Jenni C's said...

love your photo's, you always seem to capture the essence...of your subject matter...

ZielonaMila said...

Beautiful photographs, flowers are unusual. I am greeting

Carole M. said...

beautiful floral images; glad you're enjoying your conversion lens too.

Jama said...

I use the Raynox 250 too with the kit lens!

Unknown said...

Your photos really are soooo pretty. I just love these.

Hugs~

Red Nomad OZ said...

All your shots are great, but the 2nd one is magnificent!!

FilipBlog said...

Great macro's, the last one is the best for me.

Greetings,
Filip

Unknown said...

These are gorgeous. I love the soft colors and lighting.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Gorgeous shots!! I had no idea you could use a conversion lens. I did not know they even existed! lol I just always thought getting a macro lens wasn't going to happen for a while, even though it would be so fun. I just might have to get me one of these! :)

Sarah said...

Thank you so much for your lovely words! Yes, you guessed right thats me on the picture...i guess my husband mother did the thing ( i don't know in English) on the little window...i will ask her : ) Have a nice Motherday tomorrow...Love Sarah

Rod said...

You must have a stunning garden. You also have wonderful skills to be able to capture these pictures so well. I especially like the one with the native bee on the flower.

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful shots you've achieved with your snap on lens! Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot!

LadyFi said...

Magically fabulous shots as always. That snap-on lens is a good idea.

Unknown said...

I love thinking of flowers singing and dancing, I can't help but smile and want to go and look for flowers in my garden now.

Love the Raynox Super Macro Conversion Lens, will have to look out for one of those. Incredible photos again. Thanks for sharing them.

Dave said...

Interesting about your lens Karen.
It sound ideal - Dave

muellerssicht said...

wonderful macros. Love the details and the graphical beauty.

Costin Comba said...

Beautiful picture. Great macro. Have a nice week. Greetings from Romania.

Rosie@leavesnbloom said...

Beautiful especially that pink daisy with such a shallow dof. After our email conversation yesterday I was thinking that you could even buy a reversal ring for your 50mm as that gives good macro shots and you don't end up having to carry a couple of lens around with you.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thanks Rosie, I will look into it.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Beautiful macro shots... really like your perspective on many of them (shooting up).

momto8blog said...

your pictures are fabulous!

Nikki said...

Your flower images are beautiful. Before I read the story, I thought these were taken with a macro lens. Your conversion lens gives great results. The last image with the insect is my favourite. Absolutely stunning!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos!!!

TheChieftess said...

Wow! Beautiful pics...and how interesting about your Raynox lens...and this is your first DSLR camera!!! I'm impressed!!!

Cottage and Broome said...

Amazing photos!!! Laura

Kim said...

Gorgeous photos, Karen.

mariondejong said...

Beautiful!
Best regards, Marion

Angie said...

Congrats on your Rynox lens! Your images are simply awesome. I am so inspired by you! xo

Tina´s PicStory said...

congrats! you won at weekend flowers :)

Nicole said...

Thanks for sharing this informative review! I'm impressed that you're new at shooting with a dslr.

Charlotte Wilson said...

Hi karen,

so you are the lady from Australia that Tammy has raved about!
She is going to give me a macro lesson in her kitchen this week after we go to the Farmer's Market.
so good to meet you and view your gorgeous photos!

♥charlotte

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for linking up to macro Monday and your captures are proof that, that lens rocks. Thank you for the info!

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