Small Changes, Big Results
It's been a busy week, mostly spent finishing off my new greeting cards. I've only got three left to upload the mock-ups for before they're all live. I've also been adding a few Christmas designs, and hopefully I'll have evenA more over the next few weeks.
The response to the cards has been brilliant. The comments have been so encouraging, and a lot of people have said they're something a little different, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
One of my favourites this week is a hoverfly card I created from a photo I captured recently. I don't know what it is about it, but I think it's the yellow and black colours that really make it stand out.
Away from the cards, I've been pushing my macro setup as far as I possibly can, and I think I've finally reached the limits of what my current equipment can do.
This week I designed a homemade light-directing tube to feed the flash straight into my diffuser, and the results have been amazing. Sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest difference.
Because of that, I've decided it's time for the next step. I've ordered a new Godox manual speedlight with a 2.4GHz wireless system, which means I can use it both on and off camera. I've chosen to stick with a fully manual setup because I enjoy having complete control over my lighting. There is a version with TTL and High Speed Sync, but for the way I shoot, manual is exactly what I want.
I'll also be sticking with my vintage camera. It makes me work harder, and I genuinely enjoy that challenge.
The diffuser I've been using has taught me so much about shaping light and directing it exactly where I want it. I do have a new diffuser in mind for the Godox, but I'm struggling to find one that matches what I'm looking for. If I can't find it, I may end up designing and 3D printing one myself.
I honestly can't believe how far I've come with macro photography in such a short space of time.
Before I started, I understood aperture, shutter speed and ISO, but macro photography has made me look at the whole photographic process in a completely different way. Every tiny movement, every change in light, every adjustment makes a difference.
When I first started, I thought I'd use a tripod, but I quickly realised it wasn't the right choice for the way I like to photograph insects. They're brilliant for static subjects, but for insects that never seem to stop moving, I much prefer using a monopod. It allows me to use a gentle rocking technique to move the razor-thin plane of focus exactly where I want it.
I've always wanted my macro photography to be something special.
A lot of macro photographers use focus stacking, where multiple images are combined to create a subject that's sharp from front to back. The results can be incredible, and I really admire that style, but it isn't the direction I want to take.
For me, the magic is creating the image in camera. I love seeing razor-sharp insect eyes with the focus melting away into soft, creamy backgrounds. That's the look I want my photographs to have, and it's the style I'll continue to develop.
I'm hoping the new speedlight and diffuser will give me even more control over the light, producing softer highlights, better shadow detail and, hopefully, taking my images from good to awesome.
Anyway, that's it for this week.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and for supporting me on this journey. It genuinely means a lot.
If you'd like to follow along on social media and see where the journey takes me next, I'd love to have you on board.