Jessica Holden Photography » My Little Corner of the Web

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Still-Life…

I am taking a brilliant CM workshop that began last week, and we were working on trying to see one subject compositionally in different ways. I shot some with Emily, of course, but also worked on some still-lifes because, well, they stay still so I can really examine the composition from various angles.

First I worked on some dahlias. The light in Emily’s room is just glorious to work with–the only room in our otherwise pretty dark house with beautiful light!

I also used my 50mm backwards (“poor man’s macro”) to really get up close. That requires manually focusing which I am terrible at, but it’s fun to play!

The other still object I worked with was a music box from my Grandma. I just love it, and I also cherish the memories of Emily playing with it so gently and reverently when she was tiny, carefully turning the little dial to make it “dance” and then watching it gleefully whenever I agreeed to get it down off the shelf for her. (A side note–I need to remember to take her screen out of the window when shooting in that directions–it kinda ruins the background!)

And a macro of a bird:

Can’t wait to see what is next in store for us!

  • […] two in my blog series about the CM workshop I am taking this month (part one is here). This week we’ve been working on going beyond the more simplistic rule of thirds when […]ReplyCancel

  • valerie - November 14, 2011 - 1:19 pm

    i would LOVE to know how to use my 50 as a macro! i’m off to google!!ReplyCancel

  • heidi - November 14, 2011 - 1:19 pm

    Oh my goodness…you really have a talent with these types of pics…love them!!!ReplyCancel

  • valerie - November 14, 2011 - 1:19 pm

    and of course these are all so amazing. <3ReplyCancel

  • […] so i did something totally new today! i was inspired by Jessica Holden‘s macro shots using the “poor man’s macro“. if you have two lenses & […]ReplyCancel

  • […] part three in my little series about the CM Workshop (part one is here, and part two here), we worked on both seeing and using existing light, and also manipulating light […]ReplyCancel

  • Cary - January 4, 2012 - 9:27 pm

    Question, r u able to attach your 50 when using it backwards or just hold it? I’ve tried but I’m definitely needing a third hand with the manual focus! Great shots!ReplyCancel

    • admin - January 4, 2012 - 9:33 pm

      I have a reverse-ring attachment, but I find myself mostly holding it instead of using the reverse ring. I find that the 50 sits nicely inside the body so it doesn’t wiggle around or anything. I prefer to open up the aperture to between 5 and 8 to give myself a bit more wiggle room (by selecting the ap I want with the dial while the lens is screwed on correctly and then unscrewing the lens from the body WHILE pressing the ap preview button), and then I focus by moving my body physically closer and further from the subject. It’s cumbersome, but it works!ReplyCancel

  • […] class with CM’s Sarah Wilkerson on Advanced Compostion and Creativity. (Week One is blogged here, Week Two here, and Week Three […]ReplyCancel

  • Cary - January 5, 2012 - 3:58 pm

    Well that makes more sense, thanks (I still think I’ll need a third arm ;0)!)ReplyCancel

  • […] has been significantly diminished (in a good way!). But at the end of the school year, I took another fantastic Clickin’ Moms workshop, this time on Lifestyle Photography, which I haven’t […]ReplyCancel

  • […] so i did something totally new today! i was inspired by Jessica Holden‘s macro shots using the “poor man’s macro“. if you have two lenses & […]ReplyCancel