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Using a computer screen or TV as a backdrop is a fun way to spice up your indoor photography and videography work. In the related video I experiment with using a 19″ IPS LCD screen as the background in a few situations like miniature diorama photography with Legos, as a backdrop for a book, and adding interest to photos of  Karuta playing cards . I also filmed a few quick video sequences using a “Lazy Susan” to spin around a product for b-roll clips.  Links are potentially affiliated in this article, I earn from qualifying purchases!  Even a small 19" screen can work alright. My related YouTube video about this project. For equipment I was using a Canon EOS M5 with a Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN lens. That focal length gave me enough of a narrow field-of-view that I could work with such a small computer monitor. If you try this out and use a larger screen you should have more flexibility in focal lengths. Here are a few examples of what can be achieved… If you want your own se...

Having fun with photography doesn’t have to be expensive. In this article I show you how I use old camera equipment to do at home macro photography. Besides a camera and lens, you can use normal household “daylight” color temperature light bulbs if you don’t have gear available to light your scene. Just remember that more light is better with macro photography. Let’s get started!  Gear I'll be using for this experiment. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. In this video I use the Canon EOS 30D with a magnifying glass and multiple lenses reversed so that we can achieve close up detail photos. Back in February I started searching for an extremely low cost DSLR I could try out. I’m always up for learning about equipment I haven’t used. With how much traffic my YouTube channel currently receives, there isn’t much of a budget for video projects. My initial idea after searching was a Canon EOS 20D , but KEH had...

The Pentax WG-2 has a special macro configuration that allows some unique images. In addition to the lens being capable of a 1cm macro mode, the camera comes with 6 while LED lights that surround the front element of the lens. This allows these extreme close ups to have sufficient light.  Here is a picture of the camera’s lens and macro lights: The white circles surrounding the lens glass are the LED lights. This function can be turned on or off at will. Getting a photo of your own eye isn’t the easiest thing to do. Especially with large cameras that are more capable of doing that from a technical standpoint. DSLRs are heavy and macro lenses on DSLRs are not always the best at auto-focus. With the WG-2, it’s pretty simple. Get the lens as close to your eye as possible and take a picture. There is some trial and error involved, but keepers are easily possible. Results are very impressive considering the equipment being used. Here are a few examples: The best photo of the set...

The Pentax K-5 camera body was returned from being serviced at C.R.I.S. on the 14th. This time it only took them about a week instead of 2 months, which was much more manageable. So far the camera seems 100% functional. I’ll be trying to test it as much as possible for a few weeks to make sure though.  Here are a few more macro photos, this time with the K-5 instead of the K-7. I also used my standard setup where the flash was mounted directly above the lens instead of to the side.  Making sure the camera is solid for a trip in late October is a good excuse to get out there and take photos anyways.

I needed to get some fresh air, so I took some macro photos around the house today. My favorite thing about macro photography is that you can find interesting things everywhere because the small world isn’t seen with our naked eyes. I might be trying to make this a consistent effort moving forward. This time I used a slightly different setup. The Sigma flash was used in wireless mode in tandem with the built-in flash to trigger the Sigma. I positioned the flash to the left and as close to the fully extended lens as possible to maximize light on the subject. The Ant buffet. They were snacking on some cat food. What that exactly is I don’t know, but it’s interesting. The lens and teleconverter setup can produce very pleasing results. This fly allowed me to have a little photo session. It even appeared to mimic my movements as I bobbed up and down trying to get it in focus.

I made a video on a whim last night as I wanted to get some practice doing video with my 100mm macro lens. I tried making a product detail video with the K-5 as the subject. On a somewhat related note, the K-5 will be going back to the repair facility once I receive the shipping label. Hopefully the second time is the charm with that camera. The video was taken with the K-7 at the highest setting and edited in Kdenlive for Linux. I have a few ideas to get better clip quality that I will have to try in the future. I’d like to eventually try a similar video with the K-7 or *ist D as a subject to see how that works. Get a used Pentax K-5 through my links: B&H ,  KEH ,  eBay , and  Amazon An an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! Videos related to the camera:  My full K-5 review… ( YouTube video ) DA* 55mm at a Japanese garden . FA* 24mm at a beautiful park . TAv mode for freezing action . Av mode with flash . Program modes on the K-5 . D-BG4...

So according to pentaxforums.com, today is “World Pentax Day” where everyone who has a Pentax camera is asked to participate in uploading photos to the forum gallery. I decided to take some macro photos today with my standard setup. (K-5 is being serviced), so… – K-7 with battery grip. – Custom bracket and adjustable flash cord. – Pentax 100mm f2.8 WR Macro with Kenko 1.5x teleconverter. – Sigma flash with diffuser Here are the best photos of the lot: My technique this time was a little different that previous macro sessions. I used USER mode with the Av setting. My ISO was fixed at either 100 or 400 and while trying various aperture sizes to get the correct amount of in focus area. The lens barrel was completely extended with manual focus set. To take a photo I just moved the whole camera back and forth until I saw the sliver of focus where I wanted it. That way I don’t have to focus on my body movement and lens focus ring at the same time. Flash was set in high speed sync mode and ov...

Today I went out to a local park for the nice weather and to get some practice. This time I used two lenses that don’t get as much usage as some of my others. The 100mm f2.8 Macro and 10-17mm Fisheye lenses. Here are a few photos: A small photo can’t do justice to just how sharp that photo is at 100% detail. It was taken with the 100mm f2.8 macro lens. The K-5 and 100mm lens can achieve high vibrancy: A nice flat field: Bokeh is great with this lens: If you are looking for a lens to create epic feeling images, the 10-17mm Fisheye should be a contender: The 10-17 would be useful for unique one-man videos: The 10-17 has the ability to focus very close: I’m a sucker for photos like this: Not your normal architecture lens:

Continuing on with my studio practice, I decided to try my hand again at macro photography. The camera rig! Equipment: Pentax K-5 Digital SLR Camera Body Pentax D-FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro WR lens Kenko Pz-Af 1.5x Teleplus SHQ tele-converter Custom Brackets flash bracket with a Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash, the Sigma acted as the trigger for the other flash units. 2x Yongnuo YN460-II flash on Flashpoint light stands Slik Pro 700DX AMT-Alloy Tripod Legs with a Smith Victor BH2 Metal Alloy Ball Head Here is a quick video of the setup in action (sorry for the *pop* *pop* sound, it seems that the 25fps videos have an issue when directly uploaded to YouTube): https://youtu.be/exzUoxZEpUo My artistic goal for the session was to create top-down images of texture and detail. Things we see everyday, but when viewed up-close they are very different than how we usually perceive them. Intricate networks of connection and amazing textures abound… Here was my first subject, stale matcha (finely-milled Jap...