Gardening with a Camera

Adventures with a Macro Lens

    At first I was going to write about the differences between using a 50mm lens with macro filters and a macro lens.  I had visions of switching the lenses and taking the same shot for comparison and then I actually used my macro lens for the first time.  I can't bring myself to take it off of the camera now!  Once I attached the Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM to my 5D EOS it blew my pants off!  If anyone would like to see some shots taken with a 50mm lens with macro filters, please check out my last blog post here: A zone 4 Spring .  Although I was quite happy using the macro filters with the 50mm lens, nothing could have prepared me for the HUGE difference I immediately experienced with the 100mm macro.

    I love gardening.  I love photography.  I love it when the two worlds collide!  Enough blabbing!  Here are my first macro photos!  

  It's been raining here, so I ran out in between the drops to discover how lovely rain could look through the lens!  Lilium tigrinum splendens

 I was pleasantly surprised by how close I could get.  Hosta

Hello ant!  Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

I ♥ this flower!  Narcissis Poeticus

Found this growing wild.  Aquilegia "Columbine"

This simple Iris is the earliest blooming one we have.

Here's another shot of it.  I unfortunately do not know what variety it is.  If any Iris lovers can identify this one, please leave a comment!

The silver foliage of Artemisia absinthium.  This plant is indeed the original source of absinthe.

The early flowers of Snowball viburnum 

 Garlic!

Even rust looks good under the maco lens!

More fun with rust! 

 TTV is a breeze with this lens!

This is Jerky The Turkey.  He was one of the pardoned turkeys when we used to raise meat birds.  He's 7 years old and I don't want to hear anyone call him ugly!

 

Jerky feathers.

Lastly, the queen of the farm.....or at least she thinks she's the queen!

    So there you have it folks!  I hope I did the lens justice on its maiden voyage while showcasing different textures.  I'm sure I've only scratched the surface.  I love this lens and hopefully do not sound like an advertisement for Canon!  It's just really a great lens!