Robert Thoresen
November’s contest subject was Macro Photography, although technically the definition of Macro Photography is the photographing of an object at a larger than a 1:1 ratio; in other words photographing something larger than life. Members at PCQC consider themselves amateur photographers and are lenient in holding to technical definitions. Entries were a mix of macro and close up photographs.
Most of the entries for the month were images of flowers and insects which are easy to find in southern Arizona. The top three winners took their photographs in Quail Creek and Tucson.
The first place photograph of two front yard cactus blooms was taken by Ken Haley nearly three years ago. Ken has kept the image in his computer file and has used it frequently such as an ornament on the club’s 2013 Christmas tree displayed in the Madera Clubhouse. Ken also used the image in a plastic placemat he created for his wife’s birthday party favors. Ken used a device called a tent to take the picture. A tent is a 30 inch cube of white material with one side open. The tent surrounds three sides of the object to be photographed and two flash units are placed on the outside. It makes for more even lighting. He also hung a black cloth on the back of the tent to create the black background. Canon 5D Camera with 24mm to 70mm zoom lens. f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO 100. Flash was used.
Pete Murphy repeated his second place finish again this month with a close up of a barrel cactus in his front yard. Pete used his Nikon Coolpix for the shot taken within a half inch from the purple flower. One can actually see the eyes, mouth, and nose of the bee. Pete’s camera does have a macro setting and can provide excellent results from a distance of less than one half inch. Nikon CoolPix P500. 5.6 mm focal length, 32 mm equivalent in a 35 mm camera. f/3.7, 1/400 sec., ISO 160.
Bob Johnson’s third place butterfly photograph was taken several years ago at the Tucson Botanical Gardens at 2150 North Alvernon Way during that year’s Butterfly Magic program. It is an annual event running from October to April with different species introduced at various times during the season. Bob sojourns to the program several times each year and indicates the public can also see the cocoons that have been brought in during the transition stage. The butterflies are confined to a heated greenhouse with an entrance and exit designed to prevent their escape. Bob indicates one should consult the garden’s website, for the facility does close periodically for display changes. The website is http://www.tucsonbotanical.org Sony DSC camera. 49 mm focal length, 69 mm equivalent. f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO 200.
The Photo Club of Quail Creeks always welcomes guests to its monthly meeting usually held the second Wednesday of the month in the Silver Room of the Madera Clubhouse. Formed in 2009, membership has ranged from 12 to 30 members. New members are not expected to be technically oriented. The club’s goal is to improve one’s ability of creating good photographs. For events and contests go to the club’s website http://www.pcqc.org.