I’ve been very busy for the past week. My elderly parents who live 130 miles away needed their garden sorting out. So I spent two days travelling there and back, slept in my camper for four nights and worked with my son on their garden, in the rain. I believe it looks great now, but I didn’t get to see the finished results as it was dark when we were finishing up. The sun only came out the day I was driving home. So I haven’t one single photo and I was so caught up with family there was no time to blog. We (my son Richard and I) fell into bed after midnight every night absolutely shattered! I’ve asked my sister to send me some pictures. I returned home to flowers from Valentines day that were still looking good and some fresh flowers from my partner to welcome me home. So today I had a less strenuous time doing some macro shots with my new extension tubes, and as I’ve had some practice with them this set seem to have come out pretty well. Alstromerias are stunning. I didn’t realise how stunning until I saw these shots, though!
Alstromeria macro1
alstro_macro2
alstromeria macro3
alstromeria macro4
It’s worth clicking into these shots and seeing them full size. Proof that extension tubes really can do the business.
snowdrop_macro1
Snowdrops were a little more tricky. As my lens is a zoom macro, I need a distance of about 2ft. To see up into the flower I would need to be led on my back on the floor or have the flower dangling from the ceiling. So I severed its head and used blu-tack to fix it to a background canvas just to get a close-up peek of the inside. Amazing detail!
snowdrop_macro2
I will get photos of my parents garden, but it will be May. So the early flowers will have gone and the later spring stars will be on the stage. I’ll post them when I get them. For now, happy early spring and sorry for neglecting my blog. My parents are thrilled that their garden is now tidy, the casualties of winter removed and the power washing of the walkways all done. They are now safe to go out there and are no longer in danger of slipping on the moss and sludge winter left behind.
Chriscaff's blog 
Feb 27, 2011 @ 15:09:22
amazing…they all grab me, of course but the last one…wowwwwwwww…
Feb 27, 2011 @ 16:25:51
Thanks Ruth! More to come with the extension tubes. I can’t help playing with them. Had a miscroscope as a young girl and this is even better!
Feb 28, 2011 @ 16:01:18
It’s like a sneak peek into the underground world of flower porn!
😉
Incredibly beautiful pix. Thank you for sharing with us…
Mar 01, 2011 @ 14:10:43
LOL yes, you’re right Mikalee. In fact my partner quipped that hay fever is triggered by plants trying to have sex with us! That might be taking it a bit far, but he is a writer… Thanks for your kind comments.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 16:36:42
Wow, beautiful!!!
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:27:47
Thanks Wovenstrands. I’m glad you like them.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:39:38
Thanks Wovenstrands. I visited your blog. Very good luck to you.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 16:38:27
The Alstromeria macro1 shot is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G…. not beein a great photographer myself, I never realised how you take shots like these…. seriously, well done!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 15:14:50
Thanks Krista. I’m glad you like them. Macro is great fun if you’ve never tried it. You see stuff you’d never notice ordinarily
Feb 28, 2011 @ 16:58:08
Excellent photos. I took your suggestion and clicked to view the full size photo. Great quality!
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:26:22
Thank you BC. I’m glad you like them. And thanks for visiting and commenting.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 17:17:37
Macro photography is so much fun. Love the snowdrops.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:23:53
Thanks Mycamera,myfriend. You are so right. Fascinating stuff.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 19:09:17
What lovely flowers! I had a microscope as a kid too, and I definitely understand the micro-love. Nice shots 🙂
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:17:03
Thanks Faceoff. Love your drawings! You obviously love detail as much as I.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 19:09:42
Interesting! I don’t have an extension tube, and my camera is pretty old, but I took an amazing macro of the style of a daffodil, and some of my other pics are just awesome
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:12:43
I’d love to see some of them Jessie, but they don’t seem to be on your blog. Perhaps you could post some?
Feb 28, 2011 @ 19:10:06
The last one looks a bit like Maiglöcken! WOW!!Fabulous!!
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:08:29
Thanks Whenquiet. It’s a wonderful new world since I got the extension tubes. I’m still exploring the possibilities.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 19:25:36
excellent. i have been wanting a macro lens for a long time just to take photos like this. very cool. what kind of camera/lens is this?
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:06:07
Hi Enjoi. Thanks for commenting. The answer to your question is a Nikon D90, a Tamron 70-300mm zoom macro and extension tubes.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 20:33:16
Love the photos. Been looking at macro photos a lot recently and umming and ahhing about spending the money and getting some extension tubes. You’re making it easier and easier to make the decision. Keep ’em coming!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 14:02:26
Hi Nelson. Thanks for your comments. Do it! I’ve never looked back and love my new kit. You won’t regret it. Plenty more coming, so I hope you visit again.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 21:12:38
Very nice! I want an extension tube now too!! 😦
Love the colours!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 14:00:28
Thankyou Laura. Extension tubes are so worth it. Have a look on ebay for bargains. There’s a photo of mine on an earlier blog.
Feb 28, 2011 @ 23:07:50
Will you be posting any macro work with reds ? The greens and yellows are close to sublime. The light was wonderful. Good work.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:58:54
Thanks NC. Yes, I’ll be taking macro shots in all colours. I love colour and don’t descriminate between them. If something is beautiful, interesting or intricate I’ll photograph it. Please come back and see!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 01:40:06
Stunning!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:57:07
Thanks SWK
Mar 01, 2011 @ 01:48:15
Wooow Excelent …? nice posting and pls visit back to our sites
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:54:55
Thanks for your kind comments and your visit all the way from Indonesia. I did visit your blog but unfortunately it’s in a language I don’t understand and seems to be commercial.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 01:50:55
Beautiful. I want that lens and extension tubes. So cool.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:46:31
Thanks Tessa. Extension tubes are amazing. I spent ages deciding whether to get them or not, then came across a bargain on ebay. Well worth the nail biting bidding!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 02:54:20
Absolutely beautiful pictures you’ve got here; I especially love the last two. Nice blog 🙂
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:44:32
Thank you Maizatul. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Please come again!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 03:10:28
Stunning photos. Very well done. I think my favorite is snowdrop macro 1. The colours are amazing!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:42:58
Thanks Leah. Snowdrops are rarely looked at so closely. I think that’s because they flower so early in the year and so close to the ground you’d get wet getting down there to see them. They are gorgeous, though.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 03:36:01
love macros! ^__^
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:39:59
Thanks Ima.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 05:18:40
Beautiful pics. Especially the third one!! My fave.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:53:03
Thanks makeupmaniac!
Mar 01, 2011 @ 05:43:50
The shots are amazing and I can totally sympathize with the gardening aches and pains – especially for other people. My mom always had me do the gardening and usually in a whirlwind few days of hacking down weeds, raking leaves that piled up under bushes and general tidying. So I can relate – kudos to you!
I am curious where this garden is – it’s still winter here and will be for another few months. We don’t get to plant until after May long weekend – unless we want our plants to die of frost.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 13:33:34
Hi Dione. Thanks for your kind comments. I love gardening, and doing my parents garden is a pleasure, but very hard work for my aging bones! The snowdrops are in my own garden in the East Midlands of England, but the alstromerias are cut flowers bought by my partner as a welcome home present. We, too get frost until May. Snowdrops are hardy of course and in flower now, as will be my daffodils very soon. Primulas are also strutting their stuff. Where are you? I lvisited your blog but couldn’t see a location.
Mar 01, 2011 @ 17:21:58
I love these shots they are amazing. 🙂
Mar 01, 2011 @ 17:58:28
Thanks Kayla. 🙂
Mar 02, 2011 @ 06:31:20
Nice pictures.
What lens you are using?
I’m planning to buy a macro lens
Mar 02, 2011 @ 13:49:56
Hi Tweeco A Nikon D90, Tamron 70-300mm zoom macro lens and extension tubes.
Mar 02, 2011 @ 09:11:17
I particularly like the first snowdrop picture. And I’d love to see the garden you fixed.
Mar 02, 2011 @ 13:51:06
Hi Patricia. Thanks for your comments. I’d like to see the garden I fixed, too! I will be going back in May, or my sister may send me some shots, but I haven’t seen it in daylight yet!
Mar 02, 2011 @ 17:00:09
Congratulations on being freshly pressed!
Mar 03, 2011 @ 12:32:17
Beautiful photos! I didn’t appreciate the details of plants until recently, when I started painting. When you really get in there, as you did here, a whole new level of beauty appears. These images are stunning, particularly alstromeria macro3. Great work — and it’s cool that you also have a Zazzle store. Best wishes on your photography and your store!
Mar 04, 2011 @ 18:09:36
Thanks, Zookyshirts for visitng, your good wishes and nice comments. I love your screen printing.
Mar 04, 2011 @ 03:30:02
Been really busy, but having some time to just absorb your blog in .. wow.. its always nice to be in the company of other nature freaks like me 🙂
and congrats on being freshly pressed. Fantastic.
Mar 04, 2011 @ 18:15:15
How lovely to find more nature enthusiasts. Nature does it best every time, if you ask me. Thanks for your congrats! It was a lovely surprise.
Mar 11, 2011 @ 21:10:38
My blog is having a Close Up Photography assignment this month and I would love it if you would submit this. Thanks!
Mar 12, 2011 @ 00:02:51
I will, gladly, Scott. However it will be in a few days time as I am going away shortly. Thanks for inviting me,
Mar 23, 2011 @ 10:30:02
Hi Chriscaff. Nice photos. My favorite is number 3. 🙂
Mar 30, 2011 @ 15:06:45
Hi there. He is a she, I’m afraid. Thanks for the compliments on the photos! You casn see more of my work, including macro shots, at
www.caffimages.co.ukApr 07, 2011 @ 07:37:31
Thanks Wovenstrands. I visited your blog. Very good luck to you.