Cognitive Resonances for Lensman

[Detail Man]

Lensman,

Every Spring this silent sentry of time arises again from seeming nothingness to gaze fairly upon the winding legs of the Dear Lady of the Creek, spreading it's wings growing longer by the day, to bask for a time in her warm and humid folds for a time, sipping in the Summer like a fine wine, only to return to a nearly unrecognizable stub in Winter, waiting to once again remember and shape eternity ...

 

[Detail Man]

Sometimes I think that (for better or worse, and perhaps as a result of our depth as creatures, or perhaps a result of a lack thereof) it may be that elements in the world that often seem to tend to resonate most viscerally in our perceptions and hearts are those events of conscious intention and embodiment within Nature that tend to remind us of our own characteristic and humble form

It is humbling to recognize the tiny grandeur in little things that have witnessed, and survived to see in the range of 100 Billion sunrises more on this earth than have we, the intricacy and pervasiveness of microworlds within worlds existing before our eyes, and beneath our very feet. If this ancient and majestic tiny tree could speak, I wonder what it might say to I and thee ...

 

[lensman]

DM,

Well exposed & very detailed photographs. I notice that you have managed to limit the depth of field, was this as a result of using macro setting?

David

 

[Detail Man]

At around the 4 - 6 Inch (10 - 15 cm) sensor-subject distance of these shots, very limited DOF is the "law of the land" (whether desired, or not) ...

At an F-Number of 3.2 (on the DMC-TZ4 as well as the DMC-LX3), the DOF is only 1.0 Inches at a 6.0 Inch sensor-subject distance. I am always finding that I pay a price for trying to get to close to little things like flowers the interesting details of which typically span that distance (if not more).

Often, the better shots that I end up using (and cropping a bit to "zoom back in") are the ones that I have shot after backing-off a little bit in distance from the subject, until the desired details begin to emerge within the "field of focus". The macro focusing problems and camera-stability concerns lessen with increasing distance, as well, which also helps to improve my chances of a good result. But, that instinct to "fill up the frame" is strong, and I often have to remind myself how much the LCD display lies to my eyes (in terms of what is truly in focus, the exposure level, the color saturation, etc.).

Nearly all but the most "shaky" of shots look like "masterpieces of photography" on digital camera LCD displays. If only life were so simple as they would have you believe ...

 

[lensman]

DM,

Thanks for the information, I'll give this technique a try when I'm next out & about.

David