Flower Show Magic – part 1

If you have the chance to go to a flower show, you'll discover a whole universe of opportunities for your photography. Not only flowers and plants, but also insects, objects, set ups, tools and, depending from the location, other bonus features.

In addition to my love for gardens, that's also why I like to visit Orticolario, the flower show which takes place at the beautiful Villa Erba, on the Como Lake. Anemone was the chosen flower theme for 2016.

And with this kind of subjects, I have the possibility to try my hand at one of my long-time passions, though not used that much recently, macro-photography. I am fascinated by the exploration of things in close-up, and sometimes even the most insignificant thing may become extraordinary when we look at it in the smallest detail.

Here's a first group of shots, all in natural light.

               85mm f/4.5 1/100sec ISO100 +0.33 and macro tube

               85mm f/4.0 1/250sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/6.3 1/125sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/3.5 1/1000sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/4.0 1/320 sec ISO1000 +0.33

               85mm f/3.5 1/640sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/5.0 1/160 sec ISO400

               85mm f/5.0 1/160 sec ISO400

               85mm f/4.5 1/100sec ISO100 +0.33 and macro tube

               85mm f/3.5 1/800sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/2.8 1/400sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/5.6 1/200sec ISO200 and macro tube

               85mm f/3.5 1/2000sec ISO200 and macro tube

Light and Colors

Spring is definitely here and finally Nature is waking up after the winter sleep. Temperature is mild and taking a walk in the park is very pleasant, with colors and flowers everywhere. 

Natural beauties surround me and my camera is the perfect "tool" to reveal even the littlest things that often remain unseen or unnoticed by many. And it's too important to stop and look at what is around us, to appreciate what the Lord has given us and to thank Him for being able to witness such wonderful creation.

Light and colors play together to make Nature even more beautiful and I can't resist to try and grasp at least a little glimpse of that beauty...

             180mm f/5.6 1/5000sec ISO 500 +0.67

             180mm f/3.5 1/1250sec ISO 640 -0.67

             180mm f/5.0 1/640sec ISO 200 +0.67

             180mm f/5.6 1/800sec ISO 500 +0.67

                                    180mm f/3.5 1/5000sec ISO 320

             180mm f/5.0 1/2000sec ISO 640

             180mm f/3.5 1/3200sec ISO 100

             180mm f/3.5 1/100sec ISO 100

                                    180mm f/5.6 1/500sec ISO 640 -0.67

             180mm f/5.0 1/4000sec ISO 640 -0.67

The Colorful Bee-eater

Where has it gone the promise to post a new photo every week? Wow, my posts have been really scarce recently...

I am finally editing some shots taken last summer. Not my absolute first, by my first passable shots of the Merops apiaster, the European Bee-eater.
I was finally able to find and photograph this wonderful bird thanks to the help of my friend Marco, after a couple of unsuccessful attempts to find this colony breeding by the river. The birds build their nests digging them into the ground or the sides of earth cliffs, often close to water. As the name tells, they hunt mostly insects, with often a dominant number of bees and wasps, but it's common seeing them catching beetles, dragonflies and butterflies. Sometimes they toss the insect into the air to eat it from the proper part, for an easy swallowing.

What hits the most are the beautiful colors of this bird, which can be seen from a distance without possibility of mistake.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560mm f/6.3 1/2500sec ISO 800

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @400mm f/9.0 1/3200sec ISO 800

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @400mm f/8.0 1/2500sec ISO 800 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT + 2X III @1120mm f/11.0 1/800sec ISO 800

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560mm f/8.0 1/2500sec ISO 800 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @400mm f/8.0 1/2000sec ISO 800 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560mm f/6.3 1/2000sec ISO 800 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @400mm f/11.0 1/1000sec ISO 800 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560mm f/6.3 1/3200sec ISO 800 +1

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560mm f/7.1 1/3200sec ISO 800 +0.67