“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

The words of Puck, Oberon’s impish fairy, on realizing how screwed up everything had become in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare…

Have you ever done something so careless, with such disregard for the consequences, that you were embarrassed to tell anyone? I do it all the time, but on this particular occasion I have no choice - I have to tell you about it because it is such a good opportunity to teach something of real value. What follows is a cautionary tale that I have decided to use as the starting point for my two livestreams this week. It is about how one ill conceived move in data management can wreck a schedule, waste almost an entire work week, and cost several thousand dollars.

The story begins with a zoom call that I was having with a friend, one week ago. During the call I wanted to show a clip of video footage shot through my microscope and recorded onto my Nikon D7500. It was not the only clip on the card, but one of about 40 such segments - some of them very long. In my haste, I pulled the card (128GB) from the camera and inserted it into the card reader attached to my MacBook Pro - my main work machine and the device I use for all my livestreams, blog posts and other work related tasks. Early that day I had received a single warning message from Backblaze that my 2TB SSD was dangerously short on space and my backups may not be able to proceed until some data was moved off the drive.

I have been given these warnings before, and they are usually given long before anything bad happens - surely this was no different. So instead of attending to the problem I did the complete opposite and proceeded to transfer the clip to my computer’s hard drive without a second thought. Apparently I did so without much of a first thought either because I somehow selected ALL the clips, not just the one I wanted to show to my friend. And the computer obediently jumped into action. I thought nothing more of it until a couple of hours later, when I noticed that the computer had not finished the transfer, though it appeared to be still trying to do so. This was when I remembered the earlier warning and I stopped the transfer, or tried to. The machine was not working as expected and wouldn’t respond to any inputs. So, after  trying everything I could think of I decided to restart the machine, a maneuver that works to correct a great many problems on a Mac.

On this occasion, however, the computer would not reboot. It would start to, asking for my password and beginning the process promptly enough, but after a few seconds the screen would turn black and all signs of life would disappear. This was repeated multiple times, with no success. I still wasn’t too worried - this had happened before on older Macs, and I managed to restart the computer in Recovery Mode. This is not the same as starting in Safe Mode, a limited type of restart that allows for most of the normal activities of a working computer to proceed. In Recovery Mode there are only a very limited number of options available. One of these is called Disc Utility, a process that allows one to examine the various Discs, Volumes, and Partitions on the connected drives. On examining my 2TB SSD I discovered something that I have never seen before and until that moment did not think was even possible on a modern MacBook Pro. My SSD had only 78KB of space remaining. This blog post is larger than that. Put another way, if my computer’s hard drive had a total capacity of one Olympic swimming pool, filled to the brim, I had remaining enough space to fill the tank of my car. If the total capacity of my hard drive would fit on a football field, I had enough room left for a medium sized print of one of my photographs.

And why does any of this matter? Because in order to move or delete any data from a drive you must have enough space left on the disc to copy the material you wish to move or delete. As incomprehensible as it seems now, I had somehow managed to cram so much stuff into my computer that I couldn’t get rid of any of it. Neither could Apple.  I have a friend who lives in Europe, and knows more about Apple computers than anyone I know, and after 6 hours of typing incomprehensible commands into Terminal , only to get the same “No disc space available” response to every command, he too joined the ranks of experts who agreed there was nothing that could be done short of erasing the SSD and starting over. An 8 hour round trip to the Apple Store in Chicago confirmed my worst fears. I know what you are thinking… “But you have everything backed up, right?”. Well, yes… and no. Not everything, it turns out. Not the stuff I have been working on, videos, research, recent photographs, OBS settings, that kind of thing. Some of it is backed up, somewhere.  Oh what a mess.

If I have learned nothing else in the last six decades, I have learned this - making a stupid mistake is only indefensible when I don’t learn something from it. And I have learned a lot from this one. I am also lucky enough to have a platform from which I can share what I have learned - something that can turn this minor disaster into something positive and useful, for you and for me. Which brings me to this week’s Livestreams (if I ever figure out how to set up YouTube, OBS, Google, and half a dozen other pieces of the puzzle, needed to pull off a Livestream using a different computer). I am going to take Tuesday’s session to explain how I got into this mess and give you some concrete advice on how you can avoid the same nightmare. Most of it I once knew, but some of it has come from earnest research over the last week. I won’t spend a lot of time on what I did, but will instead try to cover all the common ways we can get into deep water with our computers, especially when it pertains to the special case of large volume image processing. I think there will be a lot of good information that should, at the very least, be a valuable reminder of what not to do. Your link to the stream is right here - https://youtube.com/live/7u4jT8-6rT0?feature=share

On Thursday we will regroup and talk about some of the most important “Best Practices” that can keep our computers functioning reliably and at peak performance for years to come. I would add that the whole time I have been researching these two discussions, I have had my $5,000 M1 paperweight sitting next to my left elbow, as a reminder. Many of you will remember how difficult and painful it was for me to scrape together the means to buy this machine in the first place - I sincerely hope that my efforts this week will keep you from ever having to go through this entirely avoidable distress. Join the conversation with this link - https://youtube.com/live/JtYwJaMOZGM?feature=share

Hopefully we can get back to some semblance of normalcy by Saturday, when I will be hosting episode 15 of AfterStack - devoted to understanding and using the much-feared Pen Tool in Photoshop.

I will talk a little about how I use this wonderful tool, but the majority of the time will be spent talking about how you use it and what tricks you might have to share with the group. Bud Perrott will be joining me for what should be an interesting and fun couple of hours. If you want to attend, it is completely free and all you need is this invitation -

Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: AfterStack Episode 15

Time: Jan 25, 2025 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=89740348691

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

That is all I have for you this week - I hope you can make it to one or two of these events, or if not, you can always watch the videos that will be posted shortly after the  events are over. In the meantime I hope everyone has a great week ahead!

Allan

Shooting Horses

One of the Belgians, warming up

I hope you had a lovely weekend and had a little less snow, ice, and bitter cold than we did here in Middle Earth. It is supposed to warm up into the mid-teens this week - time to dig out the shorts and tee shirts!

These monsters don’t look very agile - until they do!

I spent a wonderful Saturday in Rantool, Illinois, a little town a few hour to our south, photographing a horse auction. I don’t know how I could have been alive these 45 years without knowing  that we shared the planet with a species of horse that is only slightly smaller than a brontosaurus.

Spectacular animals

They are known as Belgian horses, even though none of the ones I met spoke a word of French. But they are quite enormous - I estimated them to be roughly 30 feet tall, but I am not good at such estimates. They were quite majestic and very beautiful when standing still. When they start to walk they look a little more like a World War I tank of some kind, and make abut as much noise. The noise comes from their metal feet, which they do not seem particularly happy about. They are about as graceful when walking on concrete as a fork lift falling down an elevator shaft, but when they were moved onto the soft earth and began to trot, they appeared to float effortlessly, in defiance of gravity, around the vast indoor oval.

The farmers who were buying and selling these magnificent animals were Amish, and a hardier group of individuals than any I have previously encountered. They appeared to be immune to the bone chilling temperature and were far more warm and welcoming than the vast barn-like building in which the auction was held. The Amish, I have been informed, are not big fans of the electron, which would have been a deal breaker for me, in the unlikely event they had invited me to join their merry band. Making up for their lack of interest in technology, these happy men and women seemed to love hard work. The young men tending to the horses never paused in their laboring, and as you will see from any of these images, the result of their effort was an arena packed to the rafters with equine excellence.

And what does any of this have to do with the activities scheduled for this week, you may ask? Nothing at all really, but I wanted you to know why there were several photographs of horses scattered throughout a blog post on a macro photography website. And now you know!

Hats off to these hardworking cowboys

We kick off this week with something unusual. On Tuesday’s Macro Talk I am going to address a seldom discussed subject that I think may be useful to the newer members of the audience.

It is titled “Timing” (and can be found here - https://youtube.com/live/xqK_QXs-Bzs?feature=share) but it is probably not what you are thinking. I will attempt to answer questions like, when “should I buy a focus rail?”, “When do I go from extension tubes to a microscope objective?”, “How will I know that it is time I thought about getting a lesson or two?”, and so on. I will talk about most of the big decisions we make during our macro experience and give you my thoughts on when the time is right to take the plunge. It should be fun as this is something I have been meaning to talk about for some time.

So graceful!

On Thursday, at 2PM, we have another MacroTalkToo coming up and I plan to use this time to get caught up on the backlog of questions that have been accumulating in my various messaging apps.

There will be plenty of time to any questions from the audience, but I think we can cover a lot of interesting material in one hour. Please plan on joining us this Thursday - the link is here - https://youtube.com/live/xS5l0SKMQrY?feature=share

Saturday is another Pzoom - a two-hour face to face conversation with my Patreon supporters. I do this every other Saturday and they are usually a lot of fun.

A great opportunity to  ask questions, show off cool pictures or new gear, and get to know one another. I love these Pzoom meetings and I always get something out of the gatherings. The invite is over on the Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography.

Immediately following the Pzoom meeting is Tangent - a 3D modeling and printing discussion forum that is led by Larry Strunk and that is open to anyone who would like to attend.

It also is a lot of fun and a great way to spend a snowy Saturday afternoon. Here is the invitation - I hope you will come by and join in the festivities!

Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Tangent

Time: Jan 18, 2025 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=83452232753

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

And talking about festive events, I plan to release the next installment of AfterStack, with Bud Perrott.

It was recorded while I was away shooting horses and I have not had a chance to watch it yet, but I am sure it will be excellent! Here is a link to the recording - https://youtu.be/eNzNWazeFcI

There are quite a few projects in the works and some waiting to begin, but you can expect to see several new videos in the coming weeks - more on them later.

I would like to wrap things up this week with a non-horse image. This is a piece of art that may be familiar to many of you, though on closer inspection you may see some subtle differences between this version and the original, a painting by Salvador Dali titled “Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man”.

A poster of this amazing painting was permanently installed over my bed as a young man. It was the first thing I saw every morning and the last at the end of every day. My dear friend and source of inspiration, Patrick Stahel, took time out of his hectic Swiss schedule to add an extra figure to this painting, which he then framed and sent to me for a Christmas gift. In the package was a wonderful letter that was far too flattering to share, and a small mountain of Swiss chocolate, too delicious to share. A photograph of the painting is presented above. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you Patrick!

And that, my friends, is it for another week! I hope to see you at an event or two. Stay warm - not much longer and Spring will be here!

Allan

New Year's Eve Eve

… and where did this year go?! It is hard to believe another 100 livestreams have been added to the catalog, along with a dozen contests, twenty four Pzooms, as many AfterStacks and Tangents, and over 100 blog and Patreon posts. Yet it all seems to have happened in the blink of an eye. 2024 also saw our first Macro Picnic - a big success - and a move from the Deep South to the Deep Freeze. I am not going to linger on 2024 in this post as I have a separate piece for that purpose later in the week. For now, let me tell you what remains for 2024 and how we will be kicking off 2025.

Tomorrow is our final Macro Talk of 2024 and in it we will be looking at how color is managed while going from your editing software to your printer - one of the more complicated and confusing  subjects in the color series. This is scheduled for the usual time of 8PM, on Tuesday 12/31/24. The link is here - https://youtube.com/live/VLat3tU7NKc?feature=share

Our first Livestream of 2025 is on Thursday at 2PM and it will be the last discussion in the series on color. In this last chapter I will be talking about a few more advanced concepts in color management for macro photographers. The stream can be found by following this link - https://youtube.com/live/Oo3hZiEU3ek?feature=share

Also this week is the first Pzoom meeting of 2025, Saturday from 10AM until noon. The invitation is posted over the Patreon page.

The big event this week is the November & December Wild Card Competition - the deadline for which is tomorrow at midnight. If you have not posted your images, please do so now - I have fixed the problem with the quota, so you should have no problem loading your images. I will be getting together later in the week to go over all the entries and start the judging process with none other than Lester Lefkowitz! I am really looking forward to this opportunity to work with Lester and I can guarantee a lively and informative results video, which I hope to get out by the end of the weekend. I have not looked at the entries yet but I am bracing myself for an epic challenge this month.

The title for the January contest is “Macro Machinery”, and the rules are as follows:

1) Two entries per person for anyone who has not previously won the competition, one entry only for former winners.

2) All entries must be shot at 2:1 or higher magnification

3) The subject must have at least two moving parts but can be either automatic or manually operated. If you only include a part of the “machine” in your photograph, it should be a part that showcases the machinery (for example, if you photograph a watch it should show the movement, not the strap”

4) Every entry needs your name and a title

Please do not submit your January entry any earlier than midnight tomorrow

And finally, I would like to ask for your feedback. As I start to plan for the coming year I would like to get your input. What would you like to see more of? Any ideas for new features? Is the current schedule working for you? Now is your chance to tell me how I can improve your macro photography channel! Please put your comments, complaints, requests and suggestions in the comments for this post and I will read every one of them.

Thank you for all your support during 2024 and I wish each and every one of you a safe, happy, and perfectly focused 2025!

More Color

With a little over a week left before the Christmas holiday is upon us, I find I have more to do than time to do it in. This is typically the season during which my inability to say “No, thank you” to demands on my time causes me more frustration than at other, less festive times of the year. Knowing this, it should have had no trouble saying “No, thank you” to the friend who called me at 8PM on Sunday and asked if I could help him out of a jam by organizing and cooking for a dinner party that had been scheduled for the next day, today, in other words. Monday is my busiest day of the week, the day I plan and write my livestream content, schedule my events, and get the week’s blog post published. I normally start at around 6AM and am done about 12 hours later. But, of course, I said I would be happy to help out - which I am, as my friend’s last minute emergency is a legitimate one, and I am a competent cook. The result is that this will be a brief post, with my apologies.

Last Saturday we enjoyed a lively discussion on the subject of Blend Modes in episode 12 of AfterStack. The conversation was led by Bud Perrott and you can find the recording on YouTube by following this link - https://youtu.be/BlULo1QMAW8

We kick things off this week with Macro Track on Tuesday at 8PM, with Chapter 3 of our 6 part discussion of Color in Macro Photography. In this episode we will look at how to use color in designing an image - in other words, we will consider how color in integrated into both composition and aesthetics. The question we will asking is how can color be understood and manipulated in order to create visually engaging images. To this end we will consider the psychology of color - how humans respond to certain colors. We will look into the practical applications of color theory - how to create balance and harmony in an image. Finally we will consider some practical applications of color theory - how to avoid color clashes, using depth of field in conjunction with color, and selecting the best backgrounds for an image. This is your link to Tuesday’s stream - https://youtube.com/live/yhPRixsIhSs?feature=share

On Thursday’s Macro Talk Too we will delve into the color workflow, or how we can make the most of color by accurate calibration and careful post-processing. We will talk about why calibration matters and the various tools we have for screen calibration. We will cover color profiles and color spaces - specifically, when and how to use them. Then we will get into post-processing and look at white balance and tone, selective enhancement with HSL and masking, and how to manage color noise while maintaining color accuracy and image fidelity at high magnifications. Your link to this stream is here - https://youtube.com/live/XR6ePF-Arok?feature=share

On Saturday, December 21st at 10AM our Pzoom Christmas Extravaganza will kick off with our first annual eggnog drinking competition followed by a presentation on “Close-up Photography of Flaming Christmas Puddings and Amateur Skin Grafting Tips for Eyebrow Burns”. Definitely not a Pzoom you will want to miss! The invitation is posted on the Patreon home page.

Immediately following Saturday’s Pzoom, at 12:30 to be precise, we will have our final Tangent 3D modeling session of 2024. I think Larry is going to be talking about the latest and greatest releases from the big 3D printer manufacturers, among other things - check the Tangent Channel over on my Discord Server for details. The invitation to this weeks Tangent is here - Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: The Tangent - with Larry and Allan

Time: Dec 21, 2024 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=84337476098

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

As I have mentioned in the last few posts, I will be away from the studio next week and have been forced to cancel both of usual livestreams, So there will be no Macro Talk on Christmas Eve and no Macro Talk Too on Boxing Day. I will not have access to the internet on either day. I will try to get a post out on Monday, and if there are any changes to the holiday schedule, that is where you will find them.

There will be an AfterStack on Saturday December 28th at 10AM - It will be my turn to lead the discussion and I will be talking abut a couple of the commonly used color tools in Photoshop. The invitation is posted here, in case I do not get a chance to post it next week. Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: AfterStack #13 - Color Tools

Time: Dec 28, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=86402510371

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

A final word about the competition - some people have been encountering difficulty posting their images for the November/December Wild Card Competition and it appears to be related to my website being over-quota from all the images submitted during the last few months. I am working to fix this today, so if you have had a problem uploading your images, please try again in a day or two, and check back before the end of the month to make sure your entries have been properly posted. I apologize for any inconvenience.

A busy week ahead! I hope to see you tomorrow!

Allan

Lester Returns and the 2024 Gift Guide

Eye of a mosquito - a reminder of warmer times

Well it is definitely that time of year again. I woke up this morning to find the ground covered in a mysterious white substance, very cold to the touch (I have been told), and not uncommon enough in this part of Middle Earth. So, one of the ways the people of Illinois survive this insult to the senses is by planning for the coming winter holiday season. In the south, our planning was usually put off until Christmas Eve, or earlier if a cold snap forced the temperatures down into the low 60s, reminding us of the coming festivities. But here we are, covered in deadly snow and still weeks to go before families once again gather at the dining table to scream at each other. With the excitement and anticipation at a fever pitch in all the local drugstores, where Christmas music started just before Easter, I feel like I would be remiss were I not to do my holiday macro gift guide livestreams early this year.

Winter

In trying to think up a way to make the guides a little more fun this year I have decided to split them into two distinctly different offerings. On Tuesday, in Macro Talk, I will be focusing on a comprehensive list of all the really practical and useful things that every macro photographer could use and should have in their kit bag or studio. It makes for a long and interesting list of really cool ideas. I will go through the list and explain why I think these are items that should be on your list for 2024. Spoiler alert - I have included links to every one of these items below - if you don’t want to know what I am going to be suggesting, don’t read the rest of this post! The link to the stream is here - https://youtube.com/live/_3iZvU8qO8k?feature=share

Thursday’s list is a completely different matter - it is a list of all the stuff we really want to get for Christmas, but know there is no real chance that we will. But it will still be fun to talk about the gift guide for the macro photographer who already has everything they could ever need. Think of it as the ultimate macro wish list for 2024. Here is a link to the Livestream, Macro Talk Too - https://youtube.com/live/IXj8a-lZWtE?feature=share

Tomorrow I will also be releasing the second half of the Lester Lefkowitz interview, in which Lester goes over the high points of the second volume of his “Guide to Close-up and Macro Photography”. Here is the link to the video, which will not be posted until 10AM on Tuesday 12/3/24. https://youtu.be/UGfMHtmxyuU

To order a copy of Lester’s books, go to Lester’s website, https://www.macrophotographer.net, and follow the instructions. The video is a long one but it is worth watching as it is packed full of fun and interesting information and Lester is in excellent form - don’t miss it!

Also released today was episode 11 of the AfterStack series in which we talked all abut the custom brush tool in Photoshop - loads of good information in this one! The video link is - https://youtu.be/gj6Mb0HMZkA?si=oMIkNFCQRTD0H3SK

This is a Pzoom weekend so on Saturday I will be hosting a discussion for my Patreon supporters - I am still working on the agenda, but it promises to be another entertaining and educational macro photography feast. Your invitation to this event is posted on the Allan Walls Photography Patreon page. I will see at 10AM this Saturday. There is no Tangent this week.

I was disappointed to miss my livestream on Thursday, but it was for a good reason - I was in Indianapolis for Thanksgiving with my eldest daughter, Lauren, and I had a lovely time with her. Unfortunately, it is starting to look like the Christmas week is also going to see a schedule disruption as I will be in rural Tennessee for that holiday. I just learned that internet is provided by some kind of satellite link, which probably means a download speed of <1.0MBPD (mega bites per day) and an upload speed considerably slower. That would be no fun for you or me, so unless I can find a way around it, I may have to take that week off completely. I will let you know if I come up with a better plan.

I am still trying to get the competition plan tied up for this month - I want to find a way to  split the prizes between experienced photographers and relative newcomers The problem is that all the handicap[ping ides that I have had would require that I know who has placed in the top ten in previous competitions, but that would take me going back through every competition video I have done in the last 3 or 4 years, and I don’t know when I will be able to do that but I think I will have no other choice. The way things stand now, there are going to be two groups - Group I - those who have ever made  it to one of the  the top three places at least once and everyone who has placed in the final 10 two or more times , and 2)  everyone else.

As promised here is a list of every prize that has been donated for this giant 2-month competition, along with the names of the donors, so far - I will contuse to accept donations right up to the last week of December - so if you have a new or gently used piece of kit that you no longer need, and think would make an attractive prize, please let me know right away. You can also go ahead and send the prize to my studio as soon as you can, so that I can get your name on the list of donors without delay. My address is:

  Allan Walls Photography

2417 West Wagner Lane

  Peoria, Illinois 61615

Here are the prizes and donors we currently have:

1) Volume I and II of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz

2) Volume I of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz

3) Volume II of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz

4) Datacolor’s Spider X Studio color calibration suite - donor - anonymous

5) 360° Flex Tilt & Pan Head - Z&V Mount Designed with Alyn Wallace, from Move Shoot Move - donor - Paul Maschak

6) Two, 5-day macro photography getaways to the Buffalo National River area of Arkansas with full accommodations - donor - Mr and Mrs. George Simpkins

7) A 3-hour private macro photography lesson package - with me - you set the agenda

8) A Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens (F-mount) - donor - Alan Recktenwald

I think there will be a couple of additional prizes - stay tuned!

*********************************

WARNING - do not read any further unless you want to see the entire holiday gift guide! Listed below are links to every item discussed in the gift guide livestreams scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Some of these links, though not all, are affiliate links, which means I may make a small fee when you complete a purchase using one of these links. Now you know!

These are not  strictly in the order presented in the livestreams - but close. They should all be in here though.

1) the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro lens - the one that started it all! https://amzn.to/41eZuo5

2) Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro Lens - the one that I fell for this year. https://amzn.to/3ZjfD9h

3) The wonderful Nikon Z-8 - if you have to ask…   https://amzn.to/3CXRYnC

4) Raynox DCR 250 - you already have the DCR 150 - isn’t it time you tried short focus with this bargain beauty? https://bhpho.to/3VjmiPV

5) Godox MF12 macro flashes - nothing more to be said - https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7   or.  https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7

6) Aputure Amaran AL-M9 mini LED - tiny and powerful - a great little light! - $72 - https://amzn.to/4gaE5Aw

7) SmallRig RM01 mini lighting kit - you need to check this one out - very handy   https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7

8) Manfrotto BeFree tripod - light and compact -  https://amzn.to/49l4xoR

9) Platypod Extreme - I want one of these! - https://bhpho.to/4fU0Zwx

10) Novoflex Magic Ball- the best of the best - https://bhpho.to/4ff72Lw

11) K&F Concept - variable ND filter - a very useful tool - https://amzn.to/4gjboSl

12) Lowepro Slingshot Edge 250AW - a great sling bag when you don’t need the whole backpack - https://amzn.to/3VmlcCN

13) Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket - the best memory card holder -  https://amzn.to/3ZAeziM

14) An awesome bubble level for your macro rig - https://amzn.to/3ZkPhUm

15) Manfrotto Still Life Table - a clever way to shoot indoors - https://amzn.to/4eZSRZW

16) WeMacro Rail - the best bargain in macro-land - Still only $300 - https://www.wemacro.com/?product=wemacro-rail

17) Mitutoyo M-Plan infinity corrected mic cryoscope objectives - the best high end optics for photography - https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/5x-mitutoyo-plan-apo-infinity-corrected-long-wd-objective/6621/?srsltid=AfmBOorjXv4tSqGxZjXGmsWWMkaczq6hh78eVCi1yHeHMMs4cRU8duw_

18) Zerene Stacker - the best Focus Stacking program on the planet - https://www.zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker

19) Godox SL60W continuous light - a powerful addition to the studio - https://amzn.to/49gEejG

20) Swift SW380T Microscope - A reliable entry level scope for photographers - https://amzn.to/4iiFAP5

21) Hoya polarizing filters - a must for birefringent crystal photography - https://amzn.to/3ZxqwG4

22) B&W close up filter set - a great option for macro beginners - https://bhpho.to/3Zw3jUG

23) Fotodiox Reversing Adapter - you don’t have one?!?!    https://amzn.to/3OWGPpX

24) Lensbaby OpticSwap macro kit - https://amzn.to/3COWOTV

25) Prusa mark 4S ($729)   - https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mk4s-3d-printer-kit/.    or Prusa core one kit ($949)    https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusa-core-one-kit/

26) Datacolor SpyderX2 - my calibrator - https://bhpho.to/3B7TEua

27) Lensalign Focus Calibration System - https://amzn.to/3VmrylD

28) Pelican 1510 - indestructible - https://amzn.to/3CW2WKg

28) Dehumidifiers - mine are still going after 10 years from Wisesorb - https://amzn.to/3B9KOMm

29) Smartphone microscope mount from Tridaptor ($47) - https://amzn.to/3OIFoLj

30) Insect Display case - https://amzn.to/4fVk6pN

31) Micropipette - awesome buy - https://amzn.to/4f6QULC

32) Fog Machine - handheld from Ulanzi - https://amzn.to/419xxhw

33) Water Drop Kit - Miops splash - https://amzn.to/3ZxKIY9

34) Books - separate video topic - macro texts, field guides, insect books, general photography

35) Memberships - entomologic society, local or online photography club, etc.

36) Courses and workshops - Bugshot, Paul Williams, Stewart Wood, Macro workshop in Costa Rica (Macro Wild Photo).

37) Trips galore - links in livestream

Camera Bag Essentials

1) a really good flashlight - Surefire EDC-2 - Dual Fuel - $200 - https://amzn.to/3VlgEwJ

2) the best multitool -  Leatherman ARC $229 - https://amzn.to/4gjj4nz

3) Water holder - Lowepro $37 - https://amzn.to/3OAbVmL

4) Power bank - Anker 27,650mAhr - $129 - https://amzn.to/4ggjo6l

5) Batteries - the best 18650s you can buy - Molicel P28B - https://www.18650batterystore.com/products/molicel-p28b-18650-2800mah-40a-battery

6) UV light - fox fury Rook NDT UV - https://bhpho.to/3OBLNbh

7) Koala microfiber cloths - https://amzn.to/3OAwTSz

8) Sophia Rose poncho - the best - https://amzn.to/4eYaqJV

9) Lens pen - from LensPen - https://amzn.to/3Vk4rbu

10) - Kiwiphoto 18650 box - https://amzn.to/41l5D2h

11) Fenix HM 65R headlamp - https://amzn.to/3BlXMql

There may be more, but we shall have to wait for tomorrow’s stream to see - this has been a long 14 hours of work and I am going cross-eyed. Hope to see you tomorrow evening!

Allan

Complaint Department - please take a number...

Good afternoon everyone. I read somewhere that it is never a good idea to start a discussion with an apology. That may well be true, but I feel compelled to do so, anyway. I am sorry if this post sounds a little defensive. Rest assured that it only sounds that way because I really am feeling a little defensive.

A strange crystal formation

I’m not having a great day. I got a call last night telling me that some of my supporters were talking about withdrawing their support. This is obviously the last thing I wanted to hear, and not knowing exactly what the issues were, I cancelled my dinner plans and headed back home to find out. As far as I can discern, the problem is with my choices of programming - what I talk about in my livestreams, Pzoom meetings, videos, articles, and other content. On digging a little further it soon became clear that some viewers thought that I had lost my direction and that some of my content did not interest them. I have done a lot of soul searching in the ensuing hours, and this short post will tell you my reaction and what I am going to do about it.

Yes - the new microscope has got me making crystal art again!

For clarity, I want to spell out something I don’t say often enough - there are a bunch of reasons I love my work, but the most important, by far, is the people that I do it for. You are what gets me up in the morning, and keeps me up late into the night. I have the best audience on YouTube - smart, motivated, kind, and determined people who take my work seriously. I am profoundly grateful, and humbled, by having a core group of long-time supporters that see the value in what I do and contribute through Patreon and in other ways, to keep me doing it. I love what I do, and I love the people that I do it for.

Tartaric acid

I have a strange job. It doesn’t come with a job description, or co-workers to show you the ropes. It doesn’t offer benefits, vacation time, or a regular paycheck. The job requires a strong work ethic, some creativity, and a lot of stamina. When you start doing this work, you don’t know exactly what to do, or, for that matter, how to do it. But if you stick with it long enough, it all starts to fall into place. Eventually, you even get to write your own job description - mine is “… to educate, entertain, and inspire photographers of all levels who share a common interest in close-up and macro photography.”. This is what I do, and most of the time, I think I do a decent job. The first part, educating interested adults, is not too difficult, because I am myself passionate about macro photography and am constantly learning and improving my own technique, while looking for exciting new ways to push our boundaries and tap rich new veins of creativity.  Having been an educator of motivated adults for my entire professional life, this is something that comes without too much effort, but is just as personally rewarding as it ever was.

First attempt at phase contrast

Entertaining adults is another matter, and I make no claim to expertise in this realm. While making content that is timely, accurate, clear and concise can be challenging, it is much harder, and a great deal more risky, to produce content that is also entertaining. For starters, even in the context of a livestream, it is virtually impossible to know if your audience is “getting” it. I have a strange sense of humor - too much Gary Larson during my formative years probably has something to do with it - and a lot of the things I find hilarious may not have the same impact on you. But unless someone comes out and says, “Hey Allan. That’s not funny.”, I just can’t tell if it’s working. So I do what we all do and rely on my own internal reaction to decide if something entertains me and, if it does, I just go with it, and hope it will work for you too. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t, but I’m not sure I will ever really know how to do it consistently.

I have no idea why I find this stuff so mind-blowing

I think I know where I stand with these first two elements of my job description - I know how to teach and don’t know how to entertain - and this is good because the knowledge guides me and keeps me out of trouble, most of the time. It is the third element, I think, that may be the root of the problem. I like to think that the content presented on my channel, the videos I make, the livestream discussions we have, the photographers that I interview, and even the gear that we review, all have the potential to inspire someone in the audience to try something new, branch out, or get out of their comfort zone. And if that is indeed true, then it is an awesome responsibility and should be treated as such. I look at it like this - the people who want to learn macro photography come to my channel to be taught. With a bit of luck, they will leave here with a better understanding or a new skill. The folks who come to be entertained will either be entertained and maybe come back again, or they will not - but the process is passive - they either receive entertainment or they don’t.

Birefringence is so very cool

But when someone comes to the channel unsure what they are looking for but with an open mind, then there is chance that they may see or hear something that inspires them - and when that happens there isn opportunity for them to leave with a new passion. And that is the most important thing that I can do for any of you.

I guess you had to be there - never shot crystals? You are missing out on some serious fun!

A few months ago I was planning to do a series of videos on the largely untouched topic of medium format macro photography (it never materialized). This month I have talked about light microscopes and how they are utilized in macro photography, with some content on where to find them and how to buy them. Then, just last week I mentioned my plans to devote one hour a month, for one year, to scanning electron microscopy as a tool for macro photography. What do all three of these items have in common? Well all three are hardly ever talked about in relation to macro photography, for one. They are also all fascinating and may help us understand the extreme limits of macro imaging like never before. I selected each of these topics because they are off the beaten path, because they will enrich our experience and expand our knowledge, because the content that results will be entertaining and fresh, and because they just might inspire someone to do something fantastic! Back in the real world, these were the three subjects cited as evidence of my loss of direction. I had the impression that some people felt betrayed, and I guess I can understand that. They came here to learn about macro photography and now I’m wasting their time with off-topic esoterica. They might be right, but I don’t think so. For all the reasons outlined above, I think this material is important for macro photographers, in much the same way that understanding the geography of a region can help us understand the region’s history. I wouldn’t talk about it if I didn’t believe in my hear that it would educate, entertain, and inspire my audience.

I’m thinking about making a book of crystal images

So what am I going to do… I am going to do exactly what I have been doing for the last six years. I am going to make the best content that I possibly can, on subjects that I think will be educational, entertaining, and inspirational to my community of macro photography enthusiasts. I will continue to invite you, at every opportunity, to tell me what you want to learn about, and when you do, I will adjust my programming accordingly. I know that I cannot please everyone, all the time… but I can try. One last thought before I move on - they say the squeaky wheel is the one that gets the oil, but whoever came up with that one doesn’t build as many gadgets as I do - when one wheel starts squeaking, it is a good idea to oil them all. Which is why…

… Tuesday’s Livestream is a Q&A where we talk about what you want to see on the channel, what I cover in the Livestreams, the subjects for videos, and anything else you want to bring up. I want it be super-productive so I will be coming with a few questions of my own, things that will help me get to the heart of what you want to see. I will not be bringing any prepared material but I will have some amazing pictures and video to show, if we get the chance. I am having some serious epiphanies working with the new microscope. So, if you can make it tomorrow, please come and come prepared to help me chart the course forward for Tuesday’s Macro Talk. The link is - https://youtube.com/live/47k0qfJ5r-g?feature=share

Thursday will be a similar arrangement because I need to hear from my Euro-pals as well. Macro Talk Too will be the same format, but I’ll have different photographs to share and different questions to ask.And, by the way, both of these streams are also macro Q&As, so bring any questions about gear, technique, your rig, or anything else. It’s your hour, so please plan on being there. Your link is here - https://youtube.com/live/kdeJwwrgDC8?feature=share

So, if there is no Pzoom meeting there must be and AfterStack, right? Correct - 10AM Saturday, 11/16/24 on Zoom is AfterStack 10. Several people have asked for more  basic  AfterStack episodes, and after some good feedback from the Clone Stamp discussion in Episode 9, Bud and I will take turns leading the discussion on alternating weeks. So #10 will be Bud’s and he is going to present some information about Smart Objects. As always, it helps us to have your pictures in advance, so please send me or Bud any photographs you want help with, and be sure to tell us what you are having problems with and how we can help. I will be taking Episode 11, so let me know what tool or process you want to discuss. When you send in a picture please add the episode number you want it discussed during.

You will need this invite to access AfterStack - Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Allan Walls’ AfterStack 10

Time: Nov 16, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=85799123411

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

The other scream

For my Patreon Supporters

There is no Patreon meeting this week, but I will post the recording link on the Patreon page in a little while (definitely today though) - this was a particularly interesting meeting and if you missed it you should check it out. Let me remind everyone on Patreon that the Pzoom recordings are only available for one month after the show, BUT, if it contains something that you might want to have in the future, you can download it to your computer and keep it for as long as you like.

Thank you to my Patreon Supporters - This channel only exists because of your support!

This stuff will test your imagination

Note on the photographs - all of the images in this post are crystals made for this purpose and photographed on my Nikon D7500, mounted directly to the camera port of my Nikon Diaphot. The cross polarization was accomplished using a homemade set of filter adapters. This is a really exciting experience, working with such a lovely piece of equipment, and I thought you might like to see what it can do!

Polarization in Macro Photography

Eupholus weevil dancing

I am occasionally asked how I come up with topics to discuss during my twice weekly livestreams. The topics come from several different sources. Most often, I am answering a question that was brought up by one of my students or asked by a livestream participant. If, when thinking about the question, I can expand on the topic to include interesting background and details, it will often become my subject for the week. But I also keep an ever-growing list of promising subjects that occur to me during my own exploration of macro photography and associated disciplines. The beauty of macro photography is that there are more fascinating topics to explore than I could cram into a lifetime of livestreams.

A moth

I try not to repeat myself and avoid talking about the same topic twice in the same year, and even when I do return to a previous conversation I try to emphasize information that has not been covered. I need to bear in mind that new viewers are going the streams every week and for many of them this may be the first time they have encountered the topic. Balancing the needs of the newcomer to macro with the seasoned experts that  are also in the audience every week is the hardest part of programming these events.

attacking bee

This week, for example, I am breaking from my usual practice of finding a common theme for both livestreams and instead will be addressing two distinctly different topics that came up in conversation over the preceding week. This has the advantage of keeping things interesting and relevant to more viewers, while keeping the process interesting for me at the same time.

On Tuesday I am going to  talk about the use of polarized light in macro photography. I don’t think I have ever discussed this subject as I plan to in this livestream. The question that prompted this was a practical one - “when should be using  polarizing filters in macro photography?” - and to answer that I need to explain a little about polarized light. So I will open with a discussion about light in general and the concept of polarity in the context of visible light. When we understand the nature of light and see how it can be polarized, everything else I talk about should make a lot more sense. For example I will explain the difference between using a polarized light source and polarizing the light that enters our camera through a polarizing filter. When do we want to use the former, when the latter, and I will introduce the concept of using both.

A closeup compound eye

For a subject to be useful for your photography it needs to have some practical application, so I will describe the various types of polarizing filters and give step by step recommendations on how they are used. By the end of the hour you should have everything you need to make wise decision about when and how to use polarization as well as information on the best brands of polarizing filters to look for. B&H carries a wide selection of the very best circular polarizing filters - you can find them here - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=circular%20polarizing%20filters&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps&BI=23366&KBID=28903&SID=DFF&DFF=d50

A B&W circular polarizing filter from b&h

If you would like to join the discussion, the link for the livestream is here - https://youtube.com/live/U2bcVTXrWzc?feature=share

On Thursday we are going to look at something completely different that I think should be of interest to many of you. What is the best tripod head for use in macro photography? I don’t think I have ever talked about this in any depth but it is quite interesting. For one thing, there are a lot more options than most people might be aware of, and they are not all equally ideal for close up work. I will describe all the different ways in which a camera can be mounted to a tripod (monopod, ground pod, camera stand, etc.) and discuss the relative merits and drawbacks of each. Based on my own experience I will make specific recommendations for each time of head and explain why I use each of them.

The amazing magic ball from novoflex

If you are thinking about adding or replacing a tripod head in your bag, here are a few of the products that I recommend and will be talking about during the livestream.

my favorite benro three way geared head

When it comes to ball heads you will have a hard time finding anything more versatile and well constructed than the Really Right Stuff BH55, available from B&H - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1301057-REG/really_right_stuff_bh_55_pro_bh_55_ballhead_with_full_size.html/BI/23366/KBID/28903/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x781162/SID/DFF

Another contender at the top of the stack is the incredible Novoflex Magic Ball - a different take on the ball head but one that many of the best macro photographers swear by - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153279-REG/Novoflex_MB_Magic_Ball_with_Socket.html/BI/23366/KBID/28903/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x1596924/SID/DFF

A gimbal head form sirui

For the more budget conscious photographer, Sirui makes a really lovely low profile ball head, the AM40 that is a little smaller than the RRS, but a lot less expensive - https://amzn.to/4hfVBVG

A quality fluid head from neewer

In the geared head category you will not find a better affordable three-way head than the Benro GD3WH that I use. I have ben using this for at least 6 years and I love it - https://amzn.to/3AaA93v

the perfect head for macro on a monopod

Another option if you jus have to have the best geared head on the planet is the original Arca Swiss cube, available from B&H - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1373798-REG/arca_swiss_8501303_1_cube_c1_gp_geared.html/BI/23366/KBID/28903/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x861127/SID/DFF

I think a very fine alternative at a lower price point is the new Leofoto geared head, also from B&H - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1796458-REG/leofoto_gw_01_3_way_geared_head.html/BI/23366/KBID/28903/DFF/d10-v21-t1-x1340748/SID/DFF

not strictly a tripod head, I like to use this leveling device for still life work

For anyone wanting a video friendly fluid head, a very attractive option is the new Neewer, shown above. It is sturdy and easy to use, while also being very affordable - https://amzn.to/3YcPZmo

The SmallRig DH10 is another excellent choice - https://amzn.to/4f3DvEm

I recommend a two axis head for use with a monopod and one of the best for the price is the Sunwayfoto DT-03S - https://amzn.to/3BTe0HA

B&H has a wide selection of other monopod heads - https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=monopod%20head&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps&BI=23366&KBID=28903&SID=DFF&DFF=d50

The tripod head livestream link is right here - https://youtube.com/live/HYt2wfVEPc8?feature=share

If you are one of my Patreon Supporters, don’t forget we have a Pzoom this Saturday morning at 10AM and this week will be a mixed bag, with some introductions, updates on where to purchase bugs this winter, a book at my studio, and some discussion of idler platform stacking. Should be a fun morning! Your invitation is over on Patreon. If you are not one of my supporters but want to look into joining, please check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography

For anyone interested in the dark arts of 3D modeling and printing, Larry and I will be hosting Tangent at 12:30 on Saturday. For details, check out the Tangent page over on Discord. To join the fun, use this invitation

Topic: Tangent

Time: Oct 26, 2024 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=8842267247

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

a dragonfly at rest

That’s all I have for you right now! Hope to see you tomorrow!

Allan

Exotic Optics

Macro photography is unique in a number of ways but one feature that makes it particularly exciting for me is the almost infinite variety of special optics that can be adapted for use at magnification. Macro lenses are, of course, purpose built for close-up imaging and, as you would expect, they run the gamut from  terrible to superb, with most falling somewhere in the middle. But what is even more interesting to me are the specialized lenses, usually designed for some specific purpose other than macro photography, that can be adapted for use as macro lenses. Some examples include optics designed for use as scanner lenses, close-up diopters, bellows lenses, enlarger lenses and a host of specialized industrial lenses. In each of these categories there are lenses that perform particularly well when adapted for macro. But there are a handful of lenses that really deserve to be placed in a special category all on their own because they set the standards by which other lenses or lens combinations are measured. These are the lenses I want to talk about this week and I call them Exotic Optics.

Phot by Mike Kanfer - used by permission

Exotic Optics is a somewhat arbitrary designation and you will see it used to describe lenses like Laowa’s probes, Nikon PC (Perspective Control) tilt/shift lenses, and Canon’s MPE-65 variable magnification lens, among others. But for the sake of this discussion I am going to define Exotic Optics to exclude these consumer-type lenses. The lenses I want to talk about are in a subgroup of optics that are relatively rare, typically very expensive, not designed or marketed for use on standard camera equipment, and were developed with a very specific use-case in mind. The one thing that all these lenses have in common is that they are highly sought after by macro photographers because of their extraordinary performance. These lenses are usually of a fixed focal length and typically, though not always, have a fixed magnification ratio. Many are designed to be used wide open, and perform best with a wide aperture. None of them come with a standard camera mount and some require complicated special adapter setups to use with a consumer camera.

Most of the lenses I will be talking about are “industrial lenses”, designed for use in a variety of industrial applications, from making prints in the motion picture industry, to scanning silicon wafers for quality control in computer chip fabrication. They are used in machine vision applications where the highest possible clarity and resolution are required. Because they are not made for consumer applications they frequently lack specialized coatings on the glass elements, and often have no external controls or markings. They are possibly the only lenses that are more intimidating for mere mortals to use than microscope objectives.

I must make a confession here… While I have made it my business to learn all I can about these rare and expensive lenses, I do not own any of them. The lenses I am going to talk about are on my wish list list and are even listed in the order that they appear on that list. Some of these lenses are not absurdly costly, but the less expensive exotics also seem to be the hardest ones to find on the used market. With almost no exception, these lenses must be sourced on the used market, or occasionally through an industrial surplus outlet. Virtually never would we find these lenses in a consumer retail outlet, and many of them have been out of production for decades. The selection of lenses I am going to talk about are all lenses that I have studied in detail and many of them have been carefully evaluated and written about on specialized websites like Closeuphotography.com (Robert O’tool), Photomacrography.net (Rik Littlefield), and Coin Imaging (various), and I know many individuals who own one or more of these Exotic Optics. For example, the cover of Tuesday’s livestream shows a PN150 2.8 Printing Nikkor belonging to movie industry-insider, Mike Kanfer.

Leica APO Macro-Summarit-S

The lenses that I am going to focus on are listed below:

1) Printing Nikkor PN150 f/2.8

2) Printing Nikkor PN105 f/2.8

3) Printing Nikkor PN95 f/2.8

4) Mejiro Genossen FLO530 f/4.0 110mm

5) Etendue Mejiro OTH100 90mm f/5.6

6) Schneider Kreuznach Macro Varon CAS 85 f/4.5

7) Rodenstock APO-Rodagon-D 75mm f/4.5

8) Leica Z-Macro 100mm f/4

9) Zeiss -S-Planar 60mm f/4

10) Kowa LM50HC 50mm f/2.0

11) Computar F-mount 100mm f/2.8

Rayfact by Nikon

You will notice that I have not included any of the excellent microscope objectives that could easily qualify for a spot on this list. That is mostly because we have talked about these lenses often and most of them are used for significantly higher magnification applications than these lenses. The optics I will discuss on Tuesday cover a range of magnifications from 1:4 up to 4X, though most are at or near 1:1. We will talk about the relative merits of each lens, why you might want one, and how much you can expect to pay, should you even be able to find one! The link to the livestream is here…https://youtube.com/live/4cwnV5LPQKw?feature=share

On Thursday we will continue our discussion of lenses by looking at the other end of the macro spectrum - affordable macro lenses. This will include both new and older macro lenses that can be bought new or on the used market at reasonable prices. Some of these lenses will surprise you, especially given the prices. We will stick to actual macro lenses, mostly from well known companies. Here is the link to the livestream…https://youtube.com/live/r8LuzT4lpRQ?feature=share

On Saturday we have Episode 8 of AfterStack with Bud Perrott - It starts at 10AM and you are invited! Here is the invitation:

Topic: Allan Walls' AfterStack with Bud Perrott

Time: Oct 19, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=83280587471

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

There was a problem downloading the recorded Episode 7, which is why the video has not yet been posted - I am working on a resolution and hope to have it up soon

On Thursday I talked about good, affordable macro lenses from many different companies - there was a lot of information to cover but here are links to every one of the lenses I talked about:

Key Characteristics to Look for

1. Focal Length: A range between 60mm and 100mm is ideal for versatility in macro photography. The longer the focal length, the more distance you have from the subject.

2. Magnification Ratio: All these lenses offer at least 1:1 magnification, crucial for true macro work.

3. Autofocus vs. Manual: Many affordable lenses are manual, but autofocus can be a bonus if speed is important.

4. Image Stabilization: Not all lenses have it, but it's a valuable feature for handheld macro photography.

5. Build Quality: These lenses are known for their sturdy construction, especially those from third-party manufacturers like Tokina and Tamron.

Here are the lenses - note that the links are affiliate links, meaning I may make a small fee from Amazon if you buy one of these using the links below:

1. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro (New/Used)  $700

     https://amzn.to/3UcYRau

• Why: This lens is renowned for its sharpness, color rendition, and image stabilization (VC), which helps in handheld shooting. It's competitively priced new, and even more affordable used. Its autofocus is also snappy and reliable.

1b.  Tamron 60mm f/2 Di II LD Macro (New/Used) APSC $390

          https://amzn.to/48d4tXU

• Why: Another strong showing from Tamron, this lens offers a fast f/2 aperture, making it ideal for low light. It’s designed for APS-C sensors but offers excellent sharpness and affordability.

1c.  Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro (Older Version) (Used) $300

       https://amzn.to/3zSE0Cl

• Why: The predecessor to the current 90mm Tamron macro lenses, this older version is still a fantastic performer and can often be found at very low prices on the used market. While it lacks the newer VC stabilization, its optics are still impressive.

2. Tokina AT-X 100mm f/2.8 PRO D Macro (New/Used)    older version $298

    https://amzn.to/3NyFlRG

• Why: Tokina lenses have a cult following among macro photographers for their solid build and impressive optical quality. This one delivers sharp images with pleasing bokeh at a fraction of the cost of more premium brands. A great budget-friendly choice.

2b  Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 FF (the new lens) $408

       https://amzn.to/3Nujif5

3. Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2:1 APO Macro (new version) $500

          https://amzn.to/3AaK1u0

• Why: This fully manual lens offers an impressive 2:1 magnification at a relatively low cost. While it doesn’t have autofocus or stabilization, its macro capabilities are stellar, especially for the price.

3b  Laowa 65mm f/2.8 APO 2X $400

       https://amzn.to/4dUKeiO

3c. Laowa 100mm f/2.8 APO 2X $500

       https://amzn.to/4eP9JDy

4. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG DN Macro Art (new) $800

    https://amzn.to/3Nv1pg8

•    Why: Sigma lenses are known for their sharpness, and this one comes with optical stabilization (OS), which is a nice bonus. While no longer a new model, it's an excellent used option and often found at a great price.
  

4b  Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens  $540

       https://amzn.to/4eM3iB5

5. Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM (Used) $480

    https://amzn.to/489QbHA

• Why: A compact, lightweight, and sharp lens, it’s great for crop-sensor users and offers excellent performance for its price. It’s very portable and offers accurate autofocus.
  

5b Canon RF100 f/2.8 L   $1000

      https://amzn.to/3A0Lrr8

7. Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G ED -“renewed” for $550

• Why: Nikon’s optics are always solid, and this iconic 105mm macro lens is no exception. It's sharp, compact, and delivers great results for macro and portraiture. A great used buy.

7b.  Nikon Z MC105 f/2.8 new - $1050

       https://amzn.to/409AVIx

7c.  Nikon Z MC50 f/2.8 - new - $650.

       https://amzn.to/48avj2J

7d. Micro-Nikkor 85 f/3.5. for APSC   $500

       https://amzn.to/3Yt4OTc

8. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro (New/Used) $479.  MFT

     https://amzn.to/4h9f4ak

• Why: For Micro Four Thirds users, this lens offers superb sharpness and 1:1 magnification. It’s compact and weather-sealed, making it a reliable option for outdoor macro photography.

9. Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro (New/Used)  $1,100.

       https://amzn.to/4faLm35

• Why: This lens is affordable for Sony's full-frame E-mount system and offers great 1:1 magnification. It’s compact, sharp, and versatile, though a bit shorter in focal length than the others.

9b. Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 - also $1,100

       https://amzn.to/3YsY6wr f

Honorable Mentions

TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 2X for FF.  $339

https://amzn.to/4dQPd3W

Astr-Hori 25mm 2-5X   $250

https://amzn.to/3A1RBXX

Astr-Hori 120mm f/2.8 manual  $370

https://amzn.to/4dWdA0i

7Artisans 60mm f/2.8 manual APSC  $150

https://amzn.to/3Y9hwF9

AsttHori85mm f/2.8 tilt FF $330

https://amzn.to/4fr11LR

Viltrox, Samyang, Fuji, Brighton Star, Meike also make low cost manual macro lenses but I have not used any of them and cannot recommend them until I have

Photographing Art

Greetings all!

What an interesting week this promises to be! I finally have my studio operational again, even though the  permanent lighting superstructure is still in the design process. I have been going round the bend not having a stable platform on which to do even the most basic low magnification imaging. But that is no longer the case and I have a perfectly serviceable rig in place. I will be busy this week, getting the new setup calibrated and a temporary lighting scaffold in place, but hopefully will be back taking pictures by the middle of the week.

This week we will be looking at an area of photography that is a change of pace for the channel, though there is considerable overlap between macro photography and this week’s topic. We will be talking about how to take good photographs of works of art. On Tuesday we will look at all the tips and tricks for making compelling images of two-dimensional art - paintings, drawings,  etchings and several other examples of flat, or mostly flat, artworks. I’ll be talking about the best cameras, lenses, and accessories for the task, as well as how to light your subjects for the best results. The livestream can be found using this link - https://youtube.com/live/PrP1zV0xhoc?feature=share

Later in the week we will look at the very different but equally fascinating challenge of photographing three-dimensional artworks, including sculptures of all kinds. This is also quite a bit more complicated and challenging than it may look at first glance as it very often involves not only accurate rendering of shape and form, but also meticulous attention to surface textures and finishes. The livestream can be found here - https://youtube.com/live/sVNm4t3DzvM?feature=share (and please note that I did not stick a real name tag on this amazing marble likeness of Charles Darwin from the Natural History Museum in London!).

Also coming up this week is the release of the macro competition results video, with special guest judge, Angi Wallace - I am really looking forward to working with Angi again, especially given the interesting topic for the September contest. If you are reading this on Monday the 30th of September, you still have a few hours left to get your entry submitted. The theme is “Submerged” and we hope to have the results ready to release by Wednesday, though given the transatlantic logistics of coordinating my schedule with Angi’s, it may take a little bit longer.

Finally, on Saturday, we have a special edition of AfterStack - Episode #7 - which will be devoted to an in-depth exploration of the latest version of the TK photoshop plug-in from Tony Kuyper. You will need an invitation to get in - here it is!

Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Allan Walls’ AfterStack #7

Time: Oct 5, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=81898654047

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

That is it for today - hope to see you tomorrow!

Another Big Week

Another big week!

Wasp hamuli

Before this week is over we will have launched the AWP Essentials Project, I will have completed my second interview with the amazing Lester Lefkowitz, and we will have done a total of FOUR live events! Yikes!

But before I talk about the Essentials  Project let me tell you what we are going to be doing for the Livestreams this week (I’m not going to tell you what I have planned for Lester - you will have to wait and see that for yourself in a couple of weeks!).

We will kick things off tomorrow with the Macro Talk Livestream where  am going to dig quite a bit deeper into the subject that has ben on a lot of minds over the last week or two - High-speed focus stacking in the field. The reason for this discussion stems from the issues that a few of you have had while trying to replicate the tremendous results that friend of the show, Claus Giloi has been getting. A few of us have been running into issues using cameras equipped with a “progressive” shutter (which is basically every camera except the global shutter equipped Sony A9-III). Why is this? What is it about the global shutter that makes this technique possible, and why are the rest of us struggling? Drop by on Tuesday and I will tell you. Here is your link… https://youtube.com/live/gluFjbJSFbo?feature=share

We can’t have this conversation without ending up  face-to-face with a bigger question - really it is THE big question. Is my macro photograph any good? So, what makes a good photograph? Says who? And why does it matter? I have a lot to say about this and I am pretty sure there are going to be a few feathers getting ruffled before I am done. But it will be fun! Here is your link to the stream… https://youtube.com/live/95J8c6obeMI?feature=share

Did you miss the AfterStack Livestream on Saturday? No problem, AfterStack #6 is now available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/PQ6BImlS-JI

This week is a Pzoom week - so Saturday morning at 10AM all of my Patreon Supporters are invited to come by for a 2-hour face-to-face back and forth about anything and everything macro-related (in other words, I have not decided on what I want to talk about yet!). Your Pzoom invitation is over on Patreon! See today’s post!

No sooner does the Pzoom wrap up and it is off to Minnesota, or South Dakota, or maybe Manitoba (I’m not positive) to catch up with Larry for the Tangent! Our very own 3D modeling and printing discussion forum for macro photographers (the only one on the planet, I am pretty sure). Everyone is invited and here is your invitation… Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: The Tangent

Time: Sep 28, 2024 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=84478036176

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

********

So, with all that out of the way, I want to tell you about t the new project I am launching this week - I think it is a big deal, but I will need our help to pull it off. Here is a summary of the project. Please look it over and, when you have, if it sounds like something you would like to get behind , please consider going over to the Walls App (www.walls-app.com) and leaving a message for Susan. If there is a particular topic that you would like to focus on, be sure to mention that as well. We will get back to everyone who responds and let you know all the details!

Galloping weevil

AWP MacroEssentials Project

Purpose

The AWP MacroEssentials Project is a viewer-centric initiative developed in response to requests from numerous viewers of the Allan Walls Photography YouTube channel for a practical, accessible, curated content guide that will help newcomers to the channel find and enjoy the content that most accurately meets their individual needs. In a nutshell, the end product will consist of a limited series of short videos that introduce the viewer to a specific category of content in a linear and progressive format that can form the basis for more advanced study or exploration. The format will be that of a video playlist consisting of, in the initial set, a dozen short videos in which Allan will introduce the viewer to a specially curated playlist of video content, including both complete videos and sections of larger videos or livestream presentations, addressing a specific topic of interest to macro photographers. In each introductory video Allan will personally and briefly summarize the key points made in the playlist videos.

People

Allan has recorded more than 800 hours of video content, most as standard YouTube videos, but also including 250 hours of Livestream recordings. Given his steady and unrelenting production schedule, it is perhaps unsurprising that he does not have the time to review all of this material by himself. It is also reasonable to surmise that he is not the best person to objectively review this content in search of the best material. But you are! To come up with the best possible selection of content that will be serve the purpose outlined above, Allan has assembled a team of volunteers who are familiar with his back catalog and motivated to be part of a project designed to serve the larger community of up and coming macro photography enthusiasts. To this end, Allan has asked two very special people, both long term supporters of the channel, to oversee the project. He is proud to introduce Susan Seaford and Amy Ferman as Co-Directors of this important project. Susan and Amy are assembling a team of volunteers, whose names will be released when the selection is complete.

Process

When the Volunteer list has been finalized, the Directors will assign to each volunteer a carefully selected area of focus. In the context of this project, an area of focus will consist of those core materials considered essential to mastery of a specific discipline within macro photography. One such area of focus might be “Focus Stacking”, and the Volunteer(s) assigned to this topic would seek out the best content from the AWP back catalog that addresses this area. The Volunteer(s) working on this area of focus would identify and rank the content blocks that they consider to be most important for a viewer trying to develop skills in that area. The Volunteer(s) may select entire videos or selections from within a larger piece of content, and may even include written content published on the AWP website or the AWP Patreon Page. The Volunteer(s), with input and guidance from the Directors, would also rank the content/content segments in a recommended viewing order. Each area of focus may contain as many content blocks as the Volunteer(s) and Director feel is appropriate, while avoiding unhelpful repetition or redundancy. The Volunteer(s) will be under no time constraints, their results being complete when they so state.

Product

The final product of this project will consist of a YouTube Playlist titled - AWP Macro Essentials (or something similar) and it will be an “on-ramp” for anyone looking to jumpstart their learning experience in macro photography. The playlist will be made up of around a dozen short videos, each addressing a key topic in macro photography. For example, the first video might be titled “AWP Macro Essentials #1 - Basic Macro Equipment” and it will be the first video in a new playlist titled “Basic Macro Equipment”. In each video Allan will briefly introduce the overall topic then talk (again, briefly) about the key points that will be covered in each of the linked videos in the playlist. The links to the videos (as well as links to other content we think is important, like articles, checklists, diagrams, or tables from Allan’s website) will be embedded in the video and listed in the program description. This way, the viewers can jump from content block to content block to find exactly what they need. In some cases the links will direct the viewer to an entire video, while others will direct them to a section of a video or livestream or some other kind of content. At least for now, these links will only be to Allan’s own content, though in the future we may add links to other materials by other teachers. This is also going to be an ongoing project with new videos being added to playlists as other, older ones are removed. Allan will continue to draw on the experience of you, the audience, to determine when a video, or section of a video, should be removed or added to a playlist. Allan will not curate these playlists without input from you - that would defeat the point of the project!

Next Step

If you would like to participate in this important project please visit the Walls App by going to www.walls-app.com and messaging Susan Seaford. Tell Susan you would like to be part of this project and be sure to tell her if there is a particular area you would like to concentrate upon. Ideally, we would have 2-3 Volunteers for each of the selected topics. The actual topics will be finalized when we see how many Volunteers step up. The Directors will make the assignments and finalize the list of topics, distributing a final directory as the project begins. Please direct any questions or suggestions to Susan or Amy, through the Walls App. Allan will give periodic updates throughout the course of the Project.

THANK YOU!!!

Innovation & Invention in Macro Photography

Saturday saw the advent of a new kind of Pzoom, and in the process we set a new standard by which future episodes will be measured. If you were at the meeting this past Saturday, you will know what I am talking about. If you were not able to make it, watch the recording and you will. If you have not yet taken the plunge and joined our tight-knit group of Patreon supporters, this might be the time to do so - this remarkable episode, described below, will only be available for two more weeks! By joining Patreon you will make it possible for me to continue my work - your monthly contribution through Patreon is my sole recurring source of income. Your membership is also the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything I do on the channel. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography for all the details.

I am immensely grateful to Claus and to Bud for all the work that they put into the discussions featured in this episode. I wanted to give you a little of my own perspective on both of these presentations and how they came to be on the agenda this weekend.

Claus Giloi is relatively new to macro photography and our paths first crossed when he joined my Patreon group and inquired about getting some one-on-one instruction. Whenever I take on a new student, the first thing I always do is spend an hour looking at the photographer's recent work and talking to them about their goals, interests, and the challenges that prompted them to ask for help. I came away from our first session wondering what I could possibly do to help this artist achieve his goals. I'm still wondering!

Photograph courtesy of Claus Giloi - used by permission

When I saw the work that Claus was doing with a field rig conceived and designed to test the hypothesis that many of the difficulties of handheld stacking could be overcome using ultra-high speed captures and high-intensity continuous light, I knew he was onto something important. I also knew that you would want to see how it was done. What I didn't know was whether Claus would be willing to give us a glimpse behind the curtain. I got my answer on Saturday!

Image courtesy of claus Giloi - used by permission

In retrospect, we could have easily filled the entire Pzoom discussing this technique, and exploring all the possibilities it raises. But that would have to wait for another opportunity as it was time to shift focus from the field to the studio and our second presenter of the morning.

I have known Bud Perrott since the earliest days of this channel. I have worked with him in his studio and he has worked with me in mine. Bud is a very talented and experienced photographer and is widely recognized as one of our most innovative and creative users of image editing tools like Lightroom and Photoshop. But when we first met he was just beginning his exploration of extreme macro photography.

Bud is one of those photographers who has never met a piece of equipment or an imaging technique that he couldn't come up with a way to improve (with the possible exception of a certain 95mm Printing Nikkor - more on that later). Now, this is not an entirely unfamiliar characteristic of macro photographers, but Bud has taken it to a whole new level.

Image by Bud Perrott - used by permission

The images Bud is capturing with his custom-built vertical platform, unique rim lighting technique, and exotic Printing Nikkor speak for themselves, but the numerous and complex modifications to his vertical shooting platform do require a little explanation. And that is how we spent the second hour of Saturday's Pzoom meeting.

Both of our presenters did an extraordinary job of summarizing the key elements of their equipment setups and workflows, and both did so with an infectious enthusiasm that only added to the sense that we were experiencing something significant in the growth and development of our macro photography community.

As always, the recording from the Pzoom meeting is available over on Patreon for all my Patreon supporters. If you couldn't make it on Saturday, watch the recording and tell me what you think - is this something you want to see more of? Is there something that you would like to contribute? Maybe there is some idea you have been playing around with , but you aren't sure how to flesh it out? Well, this is what I want to talk about this week - innovation, invention, and education in macro photography.

Starting Tuesday with Macro Talk, when we take a close look at the process of innovation - here is your link - https://youtube.com/live/bGmW4saSWJo?feature=share

Sometimes innovation isn't enough, and you need to invent something entirely new to bring your cool idea from imagination to reality. On Thursday I will give you some practical steps that you can take to make that happen.

Want to join the livestream - well here is your link - https://youtube.com/live/2vOzW5PVW4A?feature=share

If you make it all the way to Saturday and still haven't had enough macro to call it quits for the week, why don't you join Bud Perrott and myself for an hour and a half of positively practical, potentially pleasant, post-processing prattle, starting at 10AM...

Here is your invitation to the discussion - Allan Walls is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: AfterStack with Perrott & Walls

Time: Sep 21, 2024 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6916802815?pwd=TS9tZi9ZL1NXeVUvOUF4eTg5YjdlZz09&omn=86902366269

Meeting ID: 691 680 2815

Passcode: 678122

In Tuesday’s livestream I mistakenly announced that our 3D modeling program, Tangent, was coming up this weekend - it is not - it is next Saturday at 12:30 PM, right after the Pzoom meeting. I will post the invitation with next week’s post

And to wrap things up for now, here are two photographs from last week's picnic that you have probably already seen, but because I like both of them, you get to see them both again! As requested, I have included the names of the participants. Both pictures were shot by George Simpkins and are used with the photographer's permission. Who knew that IR portraits could be so flattering!?

image courtesy of George Simpkins and used with permission

(L to R) Bob Fine, Mark Seaford, Susan Seaford, Jeff Melone (Zeno), Alan Recktenwald, Allan Walls, Laura Guyon, Bill Bromer, Amy Ferman, Tom Biegalski, George Simpkins

Image courtesy of George Simpkins, used by permssion