Macro Monday: #Nine

Width of the frame: 7 cm / 2,7 inches

Cats are supposed to have nine lives. But what If 6 Was 9...

Some of you may remember this black Schleich cat, because it already starred in the "Superstition" theme back in May. So maybe it's about time to give it a name ;-) For this theme I had an early idea to create the nine from negative space. Luckily I tried out an early setup on Friday night, and I soon realised that the way I had imagined it it would never work within the 7,5 cm / 3 inches frame. Time for plan B. For this, I first printed several "9"s in different sizes and different fonts, and then checked out which would work best as a shadow number. Then I tested different positions of the cat, the lamp / light, and the "paper 9", and angles of view. An angle slightly from above worked best. Taken handheld. Processed entirely in Luminar 3 where I applied the "Accent AI" filter (at 21), enhanced the details (small, medium and large), applied the matte filter (cat only), and burned the shadows (the 9 at 100 %). The part of the kitty you see in the frame is just slightly under 4 cm; cropped the frame accordingly (to the above-mentioned 7 cm).

A Happy Macro Monday, Everyone! I'm very busy today, so won't be able to spend too much time on Flickr; I'll catch up with you toníght. Have a pleasant week ahead, dear Flickr friends!

Neun Leben ...

... haben Katzen ja angeblich. Einige von Euch werden sich vielleicht an diese schwarze Schleich-Mieze erinnern, denn sie war bereits die Hauptdarstellerin beim Foto für das Thema "Superstition" Ende Mai. Vielleicht sollte ich langsam mal darüber nachdenken, ihr einen Namen zu geben ;-) Eigentlich wollte ich ja die neun als Negativraum darstellen. Zum Glück habe ich den Aufbau für jene Idee aber schon Freitagabend ausprobiert und schnell festgestellt, dass meine Idee im Rahmen der MM-Grenzen nicht funktionieren würde. Zeit für Plan B. Hier habe ich zunächst ein paar Neunen in verschiedenen Schriftypen und -größen ausgedruckt, ausgeschnitten und dann ausprobiert, welche sich am besten als Schattenzahl machen würde. Danach habe ich dann mit dem Licht, dem Schattenwurf, der Position der Katze und dem Blickwinkel experimentiert. Ein Blick leicht von oben funktionierte dabei am besten. Dann habe ich noch das Bild so beschnitten, dass auch alles brav ins MM-Schema passt (die Katze ist hier mit knapp 4 cm im Bild, sodass ich hier auf ca. 7 cm Bildbreite komme).

Ich wünsche Euch eine schöne Herbstwoche, liebe Flickr-Freunde!

Ring of Fire

#MacroMondays

#Desk

One of the many pens on my (and everybody else's) desk, adorned with the gold-coloured metal single pen holder you've already seen for our June 2022 theme "Flexible" (you can find the photo in the first comment). The pen is a very slim Japanese ballpoint pen (OHTO Slim Line) with a super thin tip. I've also taken a few shots of a lead pencil (that had lint on the tip, so I focused on the lint, of course), and it turned out nice as well, but here I managed to get more of the pen holder's flexible coil into the image, so I chose this image as today's MM participant.

Photographed with the manual Laowa macro lens at 2x magnification. Focusing at maximum magnification was a little tricky because since I can't turn the focus ring anymore (I could, of course, but I'd lose maximum magnification) neither magnification mode nor focus peaking will be activated on the display. But if I remember correctly, I can re-assign one of the buttons to activate magnification mode and focus peaking, and this is the next task because both are essential for getting in focus what is supposed to be in focus. Several times I was absolutely sure the pens' tips were sharp, but the focus was ever so slightly off, so in the end I used a loupe to control the tips' sharpness on the display. I think I also need new glasses ;)

HMM, Everyone, and have a nice autumn/spring week ahead!

10 gummi bears having fun in the pool, celebrating 10 years of Macro Mondays - without water, because gummi bears always have to watch their shape ;-)

The pool: a filter box, 6,5 cm / 2,55906 inches in diameter. I used focus stacking (seven images) for more details. I have another one (no jelly babies) which I will upload tonight.

Zehn Gummibärchen planschen im Pool und feiern 10 Jahre Macro Monday. Ohne Wasser, weil Gummibärchen immer besonders auf ihre Linie achten müssen, aber Spaß haben sie trotzdem ;-) Sie sitzen in einer Filterdose mit 6,5 cm Durchmesser, das Foto ist ein Focus-Stacking aus sieben Aufnahmen. Ich habe noch eine andere Version (keine Gummitiere), die ich heute Abend hochladen werde.

Thank you for your kind comments, I appreciate every single one, and your faves! Vielen Dank für Eure tollen Kommentare und Faves!

A Happy Macro Monday everyone, and a Happy 10th!

Taken back in 2019. Just playing about with some old photos. Love the level of detail this lense and camera capture.

Nikon Z6, Nikon 24-70mm f/4 S,

Exposure X5, Silver Efex Pro 2

"Allow nature's peace to flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees." ~John Muir~

Reflections on Valdez Lake, AK

Another quick shot. I have started making a list of skills that I want to strengthen this year during this 365 day project. One of them is to get better at post processing my photos. I would also like to get quicker at taking photos as well. I think this photo helps with both. How can I be quicker in camera when I need to be and still get a good final result with post processing. I feel like I am learning more every day, including how lazy I can be! 😊

This is a Blue-faced Honeyeater, (Entomyzon cyanotis,

Meliphagidae) photographed in the very early morning, 6:24 AM, early bird lighting, on the honey gem grevillea.

Many thanks to all my Flickr photo stream followers I have now more than 1.8 million views, thank you. Thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it is very much appreciated.

I love scrolling through Flickr looking at everyone's images, getting new ideas.

My Blog: www.alldigi.com

Géranium des bois, Wood cranesbill, Midsommarblomster

(Geranium sylvaticum)

Don't adjust your screen.

A multiple-exposure shot of a photo on the window of a hair salon transformed into photo art through hours of detailed tweaks with a range of software, filters and manual edits.

Really enjoyed pushing my processing skills a bit further and discovering some new techniques along the way.

Hopefully, it doesn't come across as being too busy or over-the-top.

Software used:

PS

Lr

GIMP

Paint.net

Nik Collection

Filters applied:

soften blur

liquify

canvas

oil paint

lens flare

vignetting

detail extractor

#bald_eagle #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Captured in the Esk Valley, this image explores the vast, weather-shaped calm of an upland landscape. A narrow river threads through the valley floor, drawing the eye between sweeping fells and into a distant horizon held beneath towering summer clouds.

The artistic concept centres on scale and contrast: sunlit grasses and reflective water bring warmth to the foreground, while shadowed slopes create depth and drama across the valley. The scene becomes a study of open space, moving light, and the quiet, enduring rhythm of the mountains.

#EskValley #LakeDistrict #Cumbria #MountainValley #WildRiver #FellLandscape #DramaticClouds #BritishLandscape #LandscapePhotography #OutdoorAdventure #WildBritain #UplandScenery #NaturalLight #FineArtLandscape #HikingPhotography

Thanks for over 4 million visits.

#american_kestral #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Southbourne, Dorset, 2020.

A Black & White image processed in Lightroom, Photoshop and Google Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Colour image initially processed in Lightroom and then taken into Photoshop. The Black & White image was created by creating 4 Silver Efex Pro layers, one for Neural, Green, Red & Blue. Blended using layer masks.

Process used was from Oz to Kansas by Vincent Versace.

Berlin

Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset, 2013.

#MacroMondays

#EDC

I wasn't sure if things that you have on you every day (like glasses) were OK for the theme, so I decided to photograph my little GRIII as that required "other" EDC that, together with my (now unfortunately slightly faltering Lumix LX100), is always in my shoulder bag. I have two compartments reservered for the cams that also offer enough space for spare batteries.

I have a lot of EDC stuff in my bag and also jacket pockets for (almost) all eventualities, so maybe I would have been a good scout. One of these "be prepared" items is a few strips of plaster. As a possibility for "EDC", I've photographed the padded part of a "Hansaplast Aqua Protect" plaster, and it looked interesting in close-up but I decided to keep that idea for a future "Dots" or "Hexagonal" theme ;)

What I don't have in my bag anymore is the small screwdriver to fix my glasses' hinges if required (I can always fix them at home) or my miniature Swiss pocket knife because there are spots where knives are prohibited (there's a huge problem with people carrying knives, especially male teenagers, but also others), and I don't want to get in trouble because of a tiny pocket knife.

But now for my subject: The GRIII's mode dial has three user preset options, U1, U2, U3, and I've assigned them as follows: U1 is for general "Architecture and Landscape", meaning that I've set a base aperture that usually works best for anything (F 5.6). U2 is my macro preset (essential!), and U3 is assigned to HDR for the more difficult light situations.

I used two light sources: the natural light photo LED from above and a single LED from the right that I had pointed at the gold-coloured cardboard reflector (handheld) for a warmer second tone (the GR's mode dial is all black with raised silvery indicators).

I'll try to catch up with you tonight! HMM :)

Captured in East Marton, this image explores the gentle rhythm of canal life as a narrowboat glides through a corridor of summer foliage. Reflections ripple softly beneath the boat, while the surrounding greenery encloses the scene in a calm, intimate atmosphere.

The artistic concept centres on movement within stillness. The boat becomes a quiet human presence within the landscape, framed by overhanging trees, mirrored light, and soft reflections on the water. The composition balances documentary observation with a painterly sense of mood, presenting the canal as a place of passage, leisure, and quiet connection between people and landscape.

#EastMarton #YorkshireDales #NarrowboatLife #CanalLife #BritishWaterways #CanalPhotography #WaterReflections #WoodlandCanal #SummerLight #LeisureBoating #TranquilWaters #FineArtPhotography #RuralEngland #CanalSideLiving #TravelPhotography

A friend of mine shared a similar shot of trees in a forest and I immediately thought of using the effect on this sculpture in Triton Square. It reminds me of 60s architecture from this angle.

Scaleber Force is a spectacular tiered waterfall tucked inside Scaleber Woods. Walking down into the gorge feels like stepping into a forgotten world, where the limestone cliffs are draped in emerald moss and the sound of crashing water echoes all around. It's the perfect spot to sit back, breathe in the fresh air, and just listen.

The way the light breaks through the canopy onto the upper tiers of Scaleber Force creates a natural spotlight on the falls, while the foreground remains beautifully moody and grounded.

#ScaleberForce #YorkshireDales #NorthYorkshire #VisitYorkshire #WaterfallsOfInstagram #UKWaterfalls #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #HiddenGem #ExploreUK #YorkshireDalesNationalPark #HikingUK

#sliderssunday

More clouds from the neighbourhood. We've been spoiled with some spectacular cloud formations and colourful sunsets lately and on Friday evening the sky was not only graced with particularly golden tones and clouds but also amazing sunbeams. It was quite a "Wow, look at this, must photograph!"-moment ;)

For the best possible dynamic range, I set the LX100 to "Auto Bracket 3BKT 1/3" (the camera's standard bracketing setting) and combined the images in HDR Efex which nicely brought out the clouds' and sunbeams' textures, and also the colours. As a final touch, I applied the "Skylight" filter (Color Efex) for more warmth.

Happy Sliders Sunday, Everyone, and have a wonderful week ahead!

Sortir avec le Club des ornithologues de Châteauguay au Refuge faunique Marguerite-d'Youville

Pygargue à tête blanche juvénile - Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Merci beaucoup pour vos visites et commentaires ♥

Thanks for over 4 million visits.

#osprey #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

#anhinga #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Laida, al fondo se ve Mundaka. Vizcaya.

#macromondays

#leaf

The edge of a succulent leaf, to be precise. Or not so precise, because I think this should be an Aeonium, but there are so many varieties that I couldn't find which variety this is exactly. The leaves are thick, and feel velvety to the touch, because each leaf is covered with a dense fluff of translucent, tiny, tentacle-like hair. And, let's face it, plants in my home need to be: easy to care for. Which succulents definitely are ;)

I've used both extension tubes (10 and 16 mm) and the Raynox DCR-250 close-up lens to get as close as possible. The image was backlit by a small LED flashlight, and it's a focus stack of 15 images which I've combined in Helicon Focus (method B, radius 6, smoothing 4). Further processed in DXO PhotoLab with local adjustments on the upper right part of the leaf (exposure / highlights) which was a little too bright, because I had to place the flashlight a little off center (on the right) to avoid that it's visible in the image. Further processing in Analog Efex (Detail Extraction and Classic Camera 6 further tweaked). Final tweaks in LR where I'd slighty increased the green saturation, lowered the blacks, and boosted the structure.

HMM, Everyone, and have a safe and nice new week ahead!

Tausendfüßler

Und eigentlich der Blattrand eines kleinen Sukkulenten-Blattes. Auf jeden Fall handelt es sich um ein Dickblattgewächs, vermutlich Aeonium; die Blätter wachsen rosettenförmig, haben eine kleine, nach innen gewölbte Spitze und sind vollständig von einem samtig-dichten Flaum winziger, durchsichtiger Härchen überzogen. Ich habe hier beide Zwischenringe (10 und 16 mm) und den Raynox DCR-250 Makrovorsatz verwendet, um möglichst nah an diese faszinierenden, tentakelartigen Härchen heranzukommen.

Beleuchtet von rechts hinten mit einer kleinen Taschenlampe. Licht direkt von hinten war hier nicht machbar, weil das Blatt kleiner als der Durchmesser des Frontelements der Taschenlampe (1,5 cm) war. Da der rechte obere Teil des Blattes dadurch ein wenig zu hell geraten war, habe ich in DXO mit dem Werkzeug für lokale Anpassungen dort die Spitzlichter und die Belichtung etwas runtergeschraubt. Was noch: Analog Efex, dort nur Detailextrahierung und Klassische Kamera 6 mit eigenen Anpassungen, keine Vignette, die hier nur gestört hätte. Und in LR habe ich noch die Schwarztöne etwas runtergesetzt, die Grün-Sättigung leicht erhöht und die Struktur verstärkt.

Ich wünsche Euch eine schöne Woche, liebe Flickr-Freunde!

#northern_mockingbird #florida_birds #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture 1

“She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbor:

"Winter is dead.” A.A. Milne