As we progress in our photography, we start to look at some of our past images, and realize we have gotten a lot better, and some of the older images don't meet up to our skills of today.  We may be better at finding more unique subjects, better at composing subjects, and better at post processing.  So from time to time I review some of my old images and start deleting. Here's one I shot a long time ago, but it's a keeper.

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MACRO PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer (tinylandscapes.com)

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WORKSHOPS - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

It's dandelion season and if you haven't killed the ones in your yard, you could pick them right there, or head to your local park, they will have some.

If you don't mind getting down on the ground you could shoot them on the stem, or if you want to make it easier, pick one and use a Plamp to hold it up in the air while you sit on a stool or like me on the edge of my porch. Much easier on the body.

You could place a background behind the seedhead, or I'm using the grass off in the distance for this shot. 

You can pick off some of the seeds and create different looks. 

Lots of different ways to shoot these.  Everything in focus with a high f/stop number or use a small f/stop number for softer look.

Be creative on ways to compose them, and maybe do some creative post processing.

Join my online Macro Photo Club and learn through over 280 instructional videos.  2,800 members from 29 countries.

https://www.tinylandscapes.com/macro-photo-club

Also Check out my workshops and zoom programs.

WORKSHOPS - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

There are a lot of reason why I like macro nature photography. We have tons of subjects to shoot close to home, subjects change through out the season, we control the light, you can get by with just one lens if you’re on a limited budget. Another advantage we have as macro photographers is that we can be more artistic. We can create abstracts with the subjects we shoot and also have the ability to create interesting artwork using the shallow depth of field. Sure landscape photographers can do some motion blurs and swirl the camera for a few interesting effects, but they can’t come close to the artistic options we have a macro photographers.

We can create interesting abstract like this one which is dew on top of a mushroom.

Or how about some cool abstracts in ice.

We can take simple subjects like this Dandelion and create artistic images with shallow depth of field.

How about some Monet

Create art with rain drops in a pine tree

We have unlimited opportunity to create great artwork with macro, so go be creative.

Join my Macro Photo Club online. Over 280 instructional videos. Over 2800 members. 
Info and to sign up. MACRO PHOTO CLUB - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer (tinylandscapes.com)

I liked to read about the stories of hikers that walk up to six months doing a thru hike of the Appalachian trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. Over 2,000 miles, that's pretty impressive.  

The one valuable tip I learned was about a clothing spray that would repel ticks. The hikers used this to help keep the ticks away. 

Even the volunteers that maintain the trails swear but this product for ticks.

It's a clothing spray called Permethrin.  

Each year before the spring happens, I spray my pants, socks and shoes and I have not had any issues with the ticks.

The clothing will last up to five washing and then you would have to reapply.  I just sprayed mine the other day getting ready to head into the woods.

If you have cats the spray is toxic when it's wet, but my cat had no issue once it dried on the clothing.

I buy mine on Amazon in a two pack.

Join my online Macro Photo Club and learn through over 280 instructional videos.  2,800 members from 29 countries.

https://www.tinylandscapes.com/macro-photo-club

Also Check out my workshops and zoom programs.

WORKSHOPS - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer

I don't like articles that have been written about me in photo sites, or magazines, as they always seemed to get all the info I gave the interviewer wrong, but this one I was very happy with.

https://photofocus.com/inspiration/the-world-up-close-a-conversation-with-mike-moats/?fbclid=IwAR2lzjoxjctDU-PbQHi5gW4kh8eDMgriV9uEg0Hc1t6NJtyd8eQEWaSTYn8

Join my online Macro Photo Club and learn through over 280 instructional videos.  2,800 members from 29 countries.

https://www.tinylandscapes.com/macro-photo-club

Also Check out my workshops and zoom programs.

WORKSHOPS - Mike Moats - Award Winning Macro Photographer