Sunday, 4 November 2012

Sunday Stills

This week's challenge for Sunday Stills was "Let's Take a Closer Look."  Macro time!  My initial reaction was to borrow one of the LSH's big fancy cameras, but then I decided to see just what I could do with my Nikon Coolpix P300.

I had a very tolerant subject.
He was a little shy at first, but then the eyes came out for a look around
 he decided it was safe, and off he went
like a greyhound from a trap.
Sort of.
I think this leaf was a map, he seemed to be reading it for a while.
I tried one with the camera's built-in flash.  I probably blinded the poor chap, but apart from the blown out highlights on the shell, it seemed to sharpen things up a bit.  I think if I could have angled the flash differently it would have worked better, but, even so, it really did pick up the colours.
I tried a few "face-on" shots, but was caught with depth of field on the antennae.
I'm pretty sure that this is the variety of snail that gets eaten as Escargot, but hopefully that fate will not befall my model.
He was released back into our garden, after one final shot beside the iPhone for scale.

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31 comments:

  1. Eva4 November 2012 at 09:56

    Great series, and it's always wise to choose a patient and slow model. Loved seeing the eye stalks, I haven't really seen those before. And your camera did a great job too.

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  2. Martine4 November 2012 at 10:28

    Thanks, Eva, I was pleased with these. The last macro shots I tried weren't anywhere near as good.

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  3. Unknown4 November 2012 at 13:13

    Those are awesome! I love the detail in the snail. Very cool!!

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    1. Martine4 November 2012 at 13:40

      he's a beauty alright. I was wondering what I would do for the Macro challenge when I spotted him running (!) across the road beside our house. He kinda volunteered himself.

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  4. Anonymous4 November 2012 at 13:38

    WOW!!! These shots are fabulous. I think you took the prize for today. :)

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    1. Martine4 November 2012 at 13:42

      Thanks dibear, I'm very pleased with the little camera :D, I just wish I could have got his antennae in focus in one of the head on shots.

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  5. Anonymous4 November 2012 at 14:13

    Love your close-ups of such a slimy character ;)

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  6. Pix at Under the Oaks4 November 2012 at 15:04

    Wonderful series! That is up close and personal.. :) Your 8th shot is awesome. They are all awesome!! I hope it doesn't get eaten too!

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    1. Martine4 November 2012 at 15:49

      The Face-on one is my favourite too! Although I like the way the colours came up in the one where I used the flash :)

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  7. Imogen4 November 2012 at 15:51

    I thought you meant "macro challenge" as in eating snails!

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    1. Martine4 November 2012 at 16:15

      Haha, I tried that years ago Imogen, they're just a vehicle for garlic butter and I find bread works just as well!

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  8. Far Side of Fifty4 November 2012 at 16:31

    Very cool photos! I enjoyed the closer look! :)

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  9. Crystal4 November 2012 at 19:29

    Those are very cool!! That is about as close as I have inspected a snail in a lot of years.

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  10. Ed4 November 2012 at 20:05

    FANTASTIC MACROS!!! And Welcome to Sunday Stills. A little hint on the washed out pic, cut up a piece of hose and stretch it over the flash and secure with a rubber band if possible, it diffuses the flash..:-))

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    1. Martine4 November 2012 at 20:20

      Thanks Ed, I will try that! Now to find another snail...

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  11. Strawberry Lane4 November 2012 at 20:55

    Terrific sequence of photos! The last photo sure shows the size comparison.

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  12. NoDak Herefords4 November 2012 at 21:34

    That was a fun story. I've never seen a "wild" snail up close so I found each shot intriguing. Thanks for educating me.

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    1. Martine5 November 2012 at 19:06

      I really enjoyed getting close to him, too. There was more texture on his body than I expected.

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  13. Shirley5 November 2012 at 01:14

    Really well done, perfect macros. My little Nikon is an S2600, I'm still figuring out how to use it.

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    1. Martine5 November 2012 at 19:45

      The P300 gives a little more flexibility than most compacts. I had it in fully manual mode for these shots, with the highest aperture setting I could use and a slow shutter speed. I don't have a tripod, but I sat it on the stone table that the snail was modelling on and that seemed to keep it steady enough.

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  14. The Dancing Donkey5 November 2012 at 06:31

    What a wonderful series. I've never looked at a snail that close before, he's really quite beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Martine5 November 2012 at 19:46

      Thank you! Maybe not beautiful.... interesting, perhaps?

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  15. aurora5 November 2012 at 14:47

    These are fantastic shots! What a great subject & series of macros!!

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    1. Martine5 November 2012 at 19:47

      thanks Aurora, it was funny the way he volunteered himself as a subject!

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  16. Grey Horse Matters5 November 2012 at 15:41

    Beautiful photos. You're very talented. I've never seen a snail this close up before. Their shells are really gorgeous. Originally, being from an island with lots of beaches, I guess you can tell I like shells. There's no way I could ever eat one though. My sister-in-law made me sick one time at a restaurant by having them. Prying them out of the shell and all I thought it was nasty.

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    1. Martine5 November 2012 at 19:49

      Not sure about "talented"... he was a very good model and his shell is really amazing when you get close.
      They were ok to eat when I ate them in the past, but they are really just a vehicle for garlic butter. Better than oysters, IMO, but then I am not a seafood person at all.

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  17. Anonymous6 November 2012 at 10:48

    Its awesome macro shots and we all enjoyed the series on the challenge

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