I have been teaching for many years about shooting in the highest f/stop ranges, f/22 to f/32 and getting everything in focus.  Could we shoot a subject at f/16 and get it all in focus, sometimes, depends on how close we are to the subject and how much depth there is in the subject.

If I shoot everything at the highest f/stop I have no worries about getting it all in focus, so why take the chance shooting a smaller f/stop number and risk not getting it all in focus, if that is our goal. 

So now we don't have to take into account of how close we are to a subject or how much depth a subject has, we will get it done with that high f/stop.

To avoid the clutter behind subjects that will come into play when shooting at the high f/stop numbers I will always use a printed background behind the subject to cancel out the clutter.

Most know that when shooting in the highest f/stop numbers, you will get some slight softness in the details of your image from diffraction, so you don't get the sharpest image out of the camera.  But that is not an issue as we have sharpening programs in our post processing to correct the softness, that's what sharpening programs are created for.  Here is a sharp finished image of a Dahlia flower.

Here is the image out of the camera, shot at f/32 to make sure I got the whole subject in focus.  As you can see the details are not very sharp coming out of the camera, but correctable in post processing.

Here is another example of the original at f/32 and the post processed image with cropping and sharpening added. So don't listen to photographers telling you, never shoot at high f/stop numbers because of diffraction, because we have a tool to correct it.

January 2nd, sign up for my new online Flower Photography Club. For more info about this new club, click the link below.

FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

Way back when digital cameras came out, I was seeing most people come into my workshops with their new digital cameras.

I would tell them that it isn't the job of the camera to post process your images for you.  It just captures what you feed into it and gives you something to work with as you go into your post processing program, whether that be Photoshop, Lightroom, Smart Photo Editor, Nik Software, Topaz, or any of the other post processing programs that are available.

In those early days of digital, I would understand that not everyone was aware that they had to post process the images, and I got that.

Here we are so many years into digital photography and still there are people in my workshops that are not using any post processing and saying to me their images don't look that good.

As I said, it's not cameras job to post process your images for you.

If you don't have any software yet, get on it, and buy something and start learning and practicing your post processing skills.

You will be so much happier with your images, after they are post processed.

I do the "Before and After" posts here on my blog, and you can see what comes out of the camera is not pretty, but they sure are pretty once I do my post processing.

January 2nd, sign up for my new online Flower Photography Club. For more info about this new club, click the link below.

FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

I didn't get out to shoot a lot this year but got some nice images on Madeline Island prior to the workshops we did there. Here they are.

January 2nd, sign up for my new online Flower Photography Club. For more info about this new club, click the link below.

FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

Nature bathing, often referred to as "forest bathing" or "Shinrin-yoku," is a practice that involves immersing oneself in nature to enhance well-being. It originated in Japan and emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of spending time in natural environments.

The key aspects of nature bathing include:

1. Mindfulness: Engaging all senses to experience the environment—listening to birds, feeling the breeze, smelling plants, and observing the scenery.

2. Relaxation: Reducing stress and anxiety through the calming effects of nature.

3. Physical Benefits: Promoting physical health through walking and breathing fresh air, which can improve cardiovascular health and boost the immune system.

4. Connection to Nature: Fostering a deeper relationship with the natural world, which can enhance overall mental health and foster a sense of belonging.

Nature bathing can be as simple as taking a walk in a park, hiking in the woods, or sitting quietly by a lake. It encourages individuals to unplug from technology and reconnect with the natural world around them.

Get out and Nature Bath.

January 2nd, sign up for my new online Flower Photography Club. For more info about this new club, click the link below.

FLOWER PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer