Macro: Crane Fly

Days are getting colder here in North Finland. Insects also disappear. Anyway few days ago I still saw these long legs - Crane flies.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden
Photos: Crane Fly (Tipulidae)
Date: 16th and 17th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS (first 2 photos) and Kenko Extension Tubes + EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM (last three photos)

I took next day photos using Kenko extension tubes + 100mm macro lens.

On the front.

I used internal flash, but should have better external flash to get better macro photos. Sun was also already low, so it didn't help much anymore. 

Macro photography is very interesting and I really like it. I have already some ideas how to improve magnification in the future.

Regards.
Mika

Moon, do you read me?

Full moon was just few days a go on 16th of September 2016. I took this photo yesterday evening. Aerial is just on the front of the moon and gives cool effect for the photo.

Today I tried to take better photo of the moon. I took many photos using different Manual settings and this was finally the best shot after heavy editing.

Place:  Tornio, Finland
Photo: Moon
Date:   18th of September, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS
Shot: 1/40 sec. f/7.1 250mm ISO100

When I wrote heavy editing I want to show first the original shot without any editing.

Moon is very small and details are hardly visible. So what did I do?

Original photo is 5184 x 3456 pixels. Edited photo is only 576 x 576 pixels, because I had to crop it so much. Then I added Contrast. After that Highlights down even more. Finally photo is Sharpened heavily.

I'm quite happy for the edited photo.  What do you think?

Sigma and Tamron have both 150-600mm SuperZoom. That kind of lens would be so much better for moon and animal shots. Maybe some day.

Regards,
Mika

Swan with the babies

Here are two photos of the same swan. There is only one day difference in the photos, but something happened during that one day.

Place: Haparanda, Sweden
Target: Swan with the babies
Date: 11/12th of June, 2016

Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Editing: Only cropping and sharpening.

Next day the swan was not alone anymore. It was with the small babies.

I went to check the nest also next day, but it was already empty. 

Regards,

Mika