Toronto Photography Meetup Group

What: Official TPMG Monthly Clinic: Macro May
Where: Alexander Muir Park - Yonge St. South of Lawrence
When: Thursday May 17 6:30PM
Bring: Anything to do with macro including point and shoots with the little flower icon on them and enthusiasm for macro. Plus money for post macro munching.
Additional Info: None yet.

What is the TPMG Monthly Clinic? See the Official TPMG Monthly Clinic Discussion Page for more information.

Official TPMG Contributor jordanfaust is leading this one.

I enjoy Bryan Peterson's straightforward approach, so I recommend his book on the subject of close-up photography:
http://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Clos ... 575&sr=8-1

Another good book - its older, but all of the material is still relevant for macro photography is John Shaw's Closeups in Nature.
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Joh ... kwsec=Home

Unfortunately it would seem it is no longer available new, that's a shame. Especially since I had not long ago bought this other macro photography book, and while the material was decent, the editing was terrible I kept finding spelling mistakes, etc - just really turned me off the book. I am finding quite often the newer books are crap, seems everyone and their dog is writing a photography how-to book.

J.

On a side note Bryan Peterson's book on "Understanding Exposure" is also an excellent book, and one of the first books I bought when I started photography.

Fantastic! I'm picking up my new macro this week! This clinic will be a great opportunity.

Will focus stacking be covered? I'm a bit intrigued by that aspect of macro photography despite not having a lens.

Hi Bart,

Unfortunately it will not be covered, because I actually have never done it before. That is one area of macro photography I have no experience in. Sorry.

J.

I only know how to get images into camera as well.

I've used Zerene Stacker on microscope images, seems to work well. They have a 30 day trial.

We can still talk about focus stacking, our collective experiences, limited though they may be may still be informative. I've done a bit of it but not in years. I will brush up on the topic enough to talk intelligently about my previous experience.

I will be in based on the Date and location.....
cheers

The physical taking do the photos for a focus stack I think would be relatively easy. The hard part is the processing afterwards. Those with good processing skills (photoshop) would probably find this not too difficult. Someone like me with limited processing skills, not so much.

Suggestion - post processing skills clinics down the road please.

J.

Unfortunately Photoshop is a relatively poor tool for focus stacking.

Agreed.
Even for those of us who are fairly adept with photoshop.
It just isn't the right beast for it.

Those interested can check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=intzev1gsbI
Keep in mind that this method provides limited results and is geared for controlled and specific conditions.

My personal experience with it, has been poor to say the least.

There are great tutorials online covering focus stacking...search using terms like FOCUS STACKING TUTORIAL. As for software I remember using Helicon Focus.

Great idea! Hope to attend based on the date.

Amazon has a free kindle book on macro photos using a P&S. Near to Nature [Kindle Edition]

I could do May 26 - 27.

I have not attended any TPMG events yet, but would be really interested in attending this macro session.

M.R., you are welcome to come out. I'll be posting a date tonight.

This event will be on Thursday May 17th, more details to come.

Unfortunately I have another commitment that evening.

Why Thursday workday

Hello All,

The location for this event will be at Alexander Muir Park (sorry I cannot edit in the details as ion's setup the thread). The park is located on Yonge Street (East side), just a little south of Lawrence, so very TTC friendly. There is also street parkinig (on Yonge and on the side streets) for those who want to drive. The Park has lots of flowers and other things to photograph, as well as lots of open space (and some benches) so we can sit on the grass and discuss things before shooting. Hope to see everyone there (weather is calling for a beautiful day!)

If you have any questions regarding the location please ask away. As we will be outdoors please dress appropriately.


Cheers,

Jordan

Oh I should add we'll meet up in front of the stone wall. When you enter you can't miss it - it's right by the open area.

J.

Reminder to all this is taking place tomorrow so get your gear and questions ready!

J.

Thanks, Ions. The location's a bit out of the way for me, but I will try to make it!

Good times...I didn't know it was that much fun to shoot in a park that I live close too.

Sorry for being late. Thanks for hosting.

Thanks to all who came out. Let's go someplace else for food after though - wow talk about a wait!!!

Had a good time, thanks. Got to use my new macro lens and learned something new as well. Looking forward to the next clinic.