Don’t waste your time, or time will waste you. – Muse, lyrics to Knights of Cydonia.
This Weekly Photo Challenge asks us for our Muse – what subjects keeps inspiring us in photography?
For me, I don’t think it’s a particular subject, but more a technique. I love macro and close-up photography, and I love singling out a particular subject and focussing on it’s own individual beauty.
For the gallery, I’ve chosen such images, most have been posted before, but I took new photos today (the last 5 images). Below the gallery, I’ve left some information about the shooting process.
My Olympus OMD EM5 camera with the 17mm or 60mm macro lens is my absolute requirement. The 60mm is the obvious choice, but the 17mm is also very good for close-up shots.
I also like to use a white space – I have three of these. First is my white glass tabletop outside – it provides a fantastically reflective surface and is great because there’s a lot of available light outside. However, with tall subjects, the background can be distracting. Secondly, I have a tall white cabinet in my living room, up against the wall and the wall is white with a very slight mauve tint. This is the most common space that I use. Lastly, I have a large coffee table which matches the cabinet. The cabinet and coffee table have shiny surfaces as well, but the surface is a faux crocodile skin pattern, which looks a bit like jumble floor tiles in macro. In the captions of each photo, I’ve mentioned which surface I used.
Finally, I use Lightroom to edit the photos to make sure the subject stands out – you can find some information about how I do this here at ImageReboot.
These images seem like they belong in Lucile’s Photo101 Rehab Clinic, so I’m sending them there.
Have a lovely weekend!
x desleyjane
I’m always delighted by your photos, by , and by your technical revelations. This time, add in your fascination with small things. Thank you.
(As a total aside, where’s the best sushi place in the heart of Brisbane?? My grandkids are sushi tragics – or at least they were last time I saw them. I have a slight fear of being told “Sushi is so yesterday”!)
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OMG I love sushi!!!! I haven’t been to this one yet, but my fabulous foodie friend says this is the place: http://www.sakerestaurant.com.au/eagle-street-pier/?gclid=CjwKEAjw8LOsBRDdub-swPW8riISJAAnmS01tGyi0-gykLmkem1XrhaSaFVfd_G4wjOZEMytumPPuBoCm-jw_wcB
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Thank you so much by the way 🙂
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What a guide to Brisbane you are. Thanks so much for giving me info for another phase of my plans. Entertainment? Tick. Accommodation. Tick. Food – one meal. Tick
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Dirty Dancing next weekend right? We are the weekend after! And my pleasure!
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I also like the little GINGA chains – they’re very good.
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Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
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Thank you and my pleasure.
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Oh, you are very good at this! 🙂
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Thank you so much!! It’s my favourite thing 🙂
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Beautiful! I really love the measuring tape. I don’t think I’ve seen that image before.
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Thanks so much Amy. Yes that one’s from today.
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Really nice!
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Thank you!
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Gorgeous as usual, Desley Jane! Amazing how simple objects can look so luxe with the right light and photographic genius (as in YOU)!
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Aw thanks so much Terri!
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There is something about the plant on that windowsill, DJ. It makes me drool a little bit (forgive me if that was too much information, just being honest here). 🙂
Such lovely work, as usual. I so love your macro photography. It is simply stunning.
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Thank you Britta. That plant is my computer background. I love it too. Drooling is ok! I’ll definitely take it as a compliment lol.
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haha, okay. Sounds like a plan! 🙂
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Nicely done!
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Thank you!
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The jewlery is great for the macros. I also prefer white when doing them. Beautiful gallery!
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Thanks so much.
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Beautiful photographs, Desley. I love the flower – and the rescued bee! 🙂
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Thanks so much Norah. I did a whole post on the bee last year. I loved photographing hm.
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I’ll have to try to find it and check him out! 🙂
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Unfortunately I can’t see a search button. Could you provide a link, please. 🙂
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Here you go:
https://musingsofafrequentflyingscientist.com/2014/12/22/bee-with-me-rehab16/
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Thank you. I enjoyed the post. 🙂
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Absolutely stunning. I need jewellery photography tips from you please for my web as yours are supreme x
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Oh thank you! Yes of course.
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These are all fantastic shots and I like that you say that the technique is your muse rather than a particular subject. Thanks also for sharing your tips – very generous!
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Thanks so much Deb. More than happy to share my “process” lol.
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Great images – I always love the way you group them together in galleries. I haven’t yet managed to persuade Sela to display galleries as well as my old theme Edin did – it’s much less creative and if I hit upon anything half-decent I have to stick with that.
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Thanks Susan. Yes I do like this mosaic gallery format. I just assumed all themes had the same gallery types…
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I think they may have the same gallery format, but whereas Edin would exhibit a bit of flair when it came to sizes, proportions and layout, Sela seems more basic.
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Aha, that’s good to know.
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This is absolutely stunning. Your photos look totally professional now, you’re improving your skills in leaps and bounds!
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Thanks Mara. This is my favourite type of photography I think. Portraits as well, but I don’t get a lot of chances for those. Thanks so much.
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I can’t decide which ones I like best! Great collection.
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Awesome, thanks Tildy, that’s a good problem to have 😀
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Stunning collection, Desley !!
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Thanks Andy!
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And I agree with Mara 🙂
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Thanks again 🙂
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I love the fact that you mentioned that macro is your muse! That’s a creative way of choosing your muse…indeed, your photos often reflect your love of macro and you do it so well!
Your gallery is great…I enjoyed seeing the past photos as well as the new ones…The measuring tape is lovely and the ring photos too! In fact, all are great!
Have a nice start to your Sunday!
Cheers!
*Lia
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Thanks Lia. I really do love macro. Sunday is starting slow but it should be good. Happy Saturday night and Sunday to you too!
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This gallery portrays your superior skills to express your love for macro photography. Every single photo is a piece of art. Clapping very loud!
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Thank you my dearest co-drama-queen. I appreciate your applause 😉 I really do love macro…
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My pleasure, my Queen! Xxx
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Wow! These photos are stunning. I love them all but especially the bee. You are definitely the macro queen.
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Thanks so much Michelle. The bee was the first of this type I think… Back in the beginning of photo rehab.
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Thanks so much for the beautiful pic and your precious tips! Your pic are so classy, anything you take always look simply stunning.
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My absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for your support x.
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I am totally in love with this close up of the purple crayon! We are organizing a little playroom in our tiny house by the beach, and I am thinking of having it enlarged on the wall. With all due credits of course!
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LOL thanks. Actually I’ve thought about setting up a little online store. Would love to see a pic once you’ve put it up in the playroom.
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you should ! And I ll send a pict ! XXX
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Excellent 😄
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ps i meant to ask who is ‘that boy’ he is very RAWR lol x
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LOL that’s one of my boys in Sydney.
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woohoo I wish I had a boy like that lol x
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I’ll be sure to tell him. X
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hah
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I love that coffee table “tiles” look. I’m not really doing any macro photography at all, but I ‘m thinking about making a small set-up somewhere in my living room for product shots and such things.
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Thanks, I’d love to get into product photography properly…
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These are excellent, outstanding, I love the way that you have used the white background!
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Cheers Andy – I am in love with a white background 😀
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Wow, I love this selection of photos, it makes you really focus on the smaller details of the objects.
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Thanks Adele. They were fun to do too!
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ohhh, i really love your artworks, extremely impressive!
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Thanks so much, I really appreciate your comment!
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Thanks I will try this
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