Hi Folks ,,,

[dicklaxt]

I am new to this forum and new and green to the world of Macro but I am going to try and learn about it if my 73 years of age and health don't get in the way.

I have only been dabbling in this photography world for a couple of years.I started this photo stuff to photograph some Purple Martins (birds) which I host in my backyard each year when they return from Brazil each February.They stay about 6 months ,raise their babies then return to Brazil.I have 36 Gourd house's for them to nest in on 3 different poles.I had 196 babies last year.

Oh BTW I live in Rosenberg, SW of Houston about 25 miles

I have been doing a bit of reading on and about Macro photography and it blows my mind what you folks can do with a camera and know how.

I am on a fixed buget(Social Security and a Tightwad wife)and don't have a lot of funds to invest,my arsenal consists of all Canon stuff and includes the following.

Canon 40D

50mm 1.8
18-55mm
28-135mm
70-300mm
Ext Tube 25 II
Tripods
Remote Release
Accessory items

I have built a light box with 3 light souces using Low wattage /high output spiral fluorescents for some close up table top photography which I have never gotten a round to doing.

I have ordered some adapter couplers so I can reverse mount the 50mm on any of the other 3 lens and make a poor boy Macro Setup.I also ordered a Light Ring and can add LED's to it if needed.I have a number I power supplies to pick from that I have saved over the years.

Thats about it,I'll be lurking around and asking many questions so if I become a bore tell me to cool it.

If you all in the Houston area have any Macro get togethers/sessions etc,holler as I would like to get to know you better and pick your brain in person.

dick

[Kenj8246]

Welcome to the forum, Dick and happy learning and shooting.

You certainly have enough gear to shoot closeups and macro if you reverse mount that little 50mm. The 70-300mm w/extension tube makes a wonderful rig to catch butterflies, dragonflies, damsels, etc. from a decent working distance. I shoot them with an old Nikon Ai-S 300mm + 80mm of extension on a tripod with cable release and have a ball doing it.

Think you'll find everyone here to be very friendly and helpful.

[jfoureyes]

Great to have you on the forum Dick... it's always great to get new folks into closeup photography. You've got a great setup to start with ... the 70-300 with a 25 mm tube will do some fine work! I use an old Nikkor 75-300 with a 25 mm tube mounted on a tripod on more subjects than I do with my 105 macro lens. It's great for shy subject when you need several feet of working distance. I shoot dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, spiders, tree frogs, snakes, and flowers with that setup all year long.
I'm retired too and go out to Brazos Bend SP every week (during the week) to do some shooting for about four hours as long as the weather permits. I usually get there at sunrise and leave around noon. In fact it looks like it will be Wednesday morning before I'll be going again because of the weather (rain forecast). I've been working in a little prairie area by 40 Acre Lake the past several weeks and its easy access for all kinds of closeup subjects right now. Let me know if you want to meet up and we'll do it.

[dicklaxt]

Thanks for the invite Jim but will pass on this one as I'm awaiting the shipment of stuff I ordered .I really want to get familiar with the methods etc as well before any treks to the bush.I have COPD so have to pick my days on a moments notice.I also doing some medical testing before years end.

dick

[DigitalScape]

Welcome to the forum, Dick. As Jim and Kenny noted, you have enough equipment right now to get going on the macro shooting. Use your table top set up and bring stuff into the house to shoot (if your wife will allow bugs in the house - otherwise stick with flowers -- I learned this lesson). Shoot some images and post them - the people on the forum are very helpful.

[jfoureyes]

Originally Posted by dicklaxt

Thanks for the invite Jim but will pass on this one as I'm awaiting the shipment of stuff I ordered .I really want to get familiar with the methods etc as well before any treks to the bush.I have COPD so have to pick my days on a moments notice.I also doing some medical testing before years end.

dick

No problem Dick...But just a little more information on the area I'm shooting in. It's about 30 yards from the 40 Acre Lake parking lot and a mowed path/trail about 10 feet wide in the small grassland prairie area about 150 yards long. I've always been lucky and find something interesting to shoot there...bugs and wildflower. Just let me know and we'll go looking around for a few hours some morning.

[ttusa]

Hi Dick,
I'm also a certified macro nut! I mainly shoot at Mercer Arboretum and Brazos Bend State Park. Here's my web site if you want to take a look:

Home

[dicklaxt]

Okay that sounds great let me get my self situated first and get my feet on the ground so I don't feel like a complete green horn.
dick

[tc95]

If you and Therese set something up give me a shout....I have some gear...and would love to sharpen my skills at this...

[dicklaxt]

Thanks Therese & Tony,,,,,,glad to be here.
dick

[dlanter]

Hi again Dick, glad you found us. Some of the best macro shooters that I have seen are right here on TPF and are happy to help others. I have learned a lot from them myself and am always learning something new. As my first tip I would recommend downloading an EXIF viewer so you can right click the photos here and see the camera settings used. I'm sure there are others but Opanda is the one that I use and it's free.

Happy shooting.

[dicklaxt]

Thanks for the reminder I have that already aboard and did not even think about it

dick