A New Macro for some Flower Power
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 03:37PM 
The latest camera that I've been toting around is my little Fuji X-E2. I'm really having a lot of fun with it. It was the only camera that I took to St. Maarten with me this year. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't do the job because my Canon's are such a huge part of what I love about shooting. They are getting heavy though and with all the restrictions on luggage now, I just thought the time was right to try something small. Having said that, I wanted a camera that gave me the ability to switch lenses.
So, right before leaving, I bought the 60mm Macro lens by Fuji. I was going to do flowers and portraits of my grandsons but as things go, I took two flower shots with the 60mm (you can see those in the previous blog post) and no portraits of the kids. Shame on me. Let me just say, it was the craziest vacation ever. So the lovely little lens never got used.
Yesterday I was walking by my bay window in my house when I saw such gorgeous light streaming in and hitting these orchids perfectly...my brain went into gear and I ran to get my Fuji friend. Popped on the 60mm Macro and I started shooting. The lens does have a bit of a learning curve. When I shoot in macro I like to manually focus as it allows me to get a bit closer, which I did, but for the life of me, I could not figure out why the camera does not tell me it's in focus. My eyes are not what they once were and to have to depend on them was a challenge. These are the shots I got, which for the first time using the lens, I happy with them. I will continue to research looking for the in focus beeper that I love and need. I was forced to think and work outside of the box on this little shoot but I'm just going to keep on keeping on...
It is flower season finally, and that makes me happy...Here's to more toys, more challenges, more learning and more fun...enjoy...spring is on it's way.
Reader Comments (14)
Glad to know Spring is on the way!!!!!!!? Nice orchids. Do you grow them inside?
These are just beautiful!
I love the whites.
Hi Peg, thanks for visiting...no I didn't grow them myself. Trader Joe's did them for me. I do enjoy them though and they last for a very long time...hope your weekend is really nice.
Welcome Lisa...so nice of you to stop by and leave your lovely comment...I love the white also...just a nice clean, bright look. Enjoy your Friday.
Wow!! Cheryl these are stunning. The whites look like cloud white, so soft and creamy! I Love the layout and the quote! Outstanding!! I hope to see more of these with your macro lens. Hmmm...I'll see now if I can find that beep for manual focus. 😉💜💐
Beverly, I can't tell you how many times in the day you make me chuckle...I'm sure if there is a beep, you'll find it. LOL...Thank you for this critique....when the boys come this weekend, I'll try the lens for portraits and see how that works also...it's so much fun that we like the same things...
I have to agree with the white...really nice and the color in the center is pretty also...thanks for stopping by.
My favorite is the lower left as it fills the frame so nicely. I am not sure on your Fuji as I told you how I it works on my XT1 and maybe they are different with what they can do. I know when I was talking to you by e-mail while you were on your trip I thought you had the Fuji XT1. I love this lense a lot. Each lens we have takes us a while to learn even my Canon lens had a learning as does when you get any new camera. or lens. You really need to practice which it sounds like you are with the upcoming Grand kids. Also I know we talked about focus peaking this is where it should really help you if you can't find the focus beep. So if Beverly has the same camera then she can probably tell you or as you said by searching around asking the question on Google. Google is my friend....:) Hope you figure it out. Learning curves are good it keeps us young.
Spectacular photos, Cheryl! So soft looking. You captured them well.
Gorgeous macros Cheryl!
I truly gasped in poetic delight the second I saw these gorgeous macros!
I'd taken a few shots of orchids on our recent greenhouse trip, but didn't come close to the detail and beauty you have here.
The white is pristine and serene . . . exquisite and elegant!
I can't wait to see what you do with your new lens.
I adore macro, but feel the need for a tripod in my case!
The closest I can get is with my 50 mm lens; SOME day I'll venture closer!
LOVE the way you experiment and never give up!
Life is about the process! ENJOY!
Happy SPRING, Girl!
It's here! xox
Beeutiful work!
Wow, the colors and lighting are just gorgeous. Very beautiful details here...I think you and your Fuji are off to a great start :-)
Those are gorgeous!! I've been thinking about getting a fuji for easier traveling too.
Gorgeous! I love how the light shows through the petals. Macro photography is one of my favorite ways to photograph something, I can't get enough of the details. I find it hard to manually focus at times too. I take a lot of pictures and chose a variety of f-stops, giving me a lot of images to choose from. :)