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Thursday, March 12, 2026
By Mike Moats Photography

Laurinda Faye is my featured Flower Photography Club member and is from Stroudsburg, PA.

Laurinda's equipment, Olympus OM1 Mark II

Here are five of Laurinda's beautiful flower images

 

Save yourself some time learning flower photography by joining my Flower Photography Club online. Learn from the experts. FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

 
Thursday, March 12, 2026
By Mike Moats Photography

When: Summer

Where: Vernal Pond / Michigan

How: This image was taken at the edge of a vernal pond in a wooded area. Vernal ponds are created by snowmelt and spring rains that collect in low areas of hilly terrain. They form in the spring and will usually dry up by August, unless we have a rainy summer. I have found many of these ponds in wooded areas at Stony Creek Metropark, Southeast Michigan. This Maple leaf was in a perfect position as an opening in the trees allowed the clouds from on overcast day to reflect in the water. When viewing this image, I could see the reflection change as I moved from a standing position on down to the ground level, so I had to decide what look I thought would work the best. You have to shoot these with a shallow depth of field in the f/3.5 to f/5.6 range. The shallow depth of field will soften the reflection and eliminate any distracting details. I positioned the leaf’s main vein and stem on a diagonal.

Save yourself some time learning flower photography by joining my Flower Photography Club online. Learn from the experts. FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

 

 

 
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
By Mike Moats Photography

Here is a fern image from the Meijer Botanical Gardens, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The fern is laying over a tree trunk, and I liked the contrast of the two subjects.  Used my Tamron 18-300 with the Fuji X-T30 MKll, shot at f/32.  In Smart Photo Editor I sharpened and click on a filter that added this dramatic lighted look you see. 

Here is the original out of the camera.

Save yourself some time learning flower photography by joining my Flower Photography Club online. Learn from the experts. FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

 
Saturday, March 07, 2026
By Mike Moats Photography

Put your best foot forward.

To act in a way that causes other people to have a good opinion of you. All I could do is put my best foot forward and hope I make a good impression. From the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms.

Lets make one change to this idiom.

Put your best photos forward.

When you set up your website or a portfolio of your images to showcase, only include your very best images.

It’s better to show only your very best images, and not try an increase the size of the portfolio by adding any of your average images.

You may end up with a smaller group of images, but the viewer is more likely to be impressed if they only see top notch images.

As soon as they see your average or below average images, their opinion of you as a good photographer will change.

They will see your flaws.

So hold back those average images and only add more when you have more great images.

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Join my Macro Photo Club online. Over 260 instructional videos. Over 2500 members. Lifetime membership only $99.
Info and to sign up. https://tinyurl.com/y2b4bvm8

Save yourself some time learning flower photography by joining my Flower Photography Club online. Learn from the experts. FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

 
Saturday, March 07, 2026
By Mike Moats Photography

One of my photo friends sent me an email saying she was watching a YouTube video about genealogy and in the far-right side of the screen on the bookshelf she spotted my Tiny Landscapes book on display. I was honored that out of all her books she put mine on display. I wonder if she is a macro photographer.

Save yourself some time learning flower photography by joining my Flower Photography Club online. Learn from the experts. FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer