{"id":68237,"date":"2020-07-06T09:57:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-06T13:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=68237"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:45:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:45:50","slug":"quick-mask-flower-magic-canon-macro-lens-choices-and-on-shading-flowers-on-sunny-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2020\/07\/06\/quick-mask-flower-magic-canon-macro-lens-choices-and-on-shading-flowers-on-sunny-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick Mask Flower Magic. Canon Macro Lens Choices (and more). And On Shading Flowers on Sunny Days …"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

I headed out early this morning — Monday 6 JULY 2020. It was clear and sunny. I stopped on the way down to the lake to photograph some large yellow flowers; I am going to try to learn whether they are a native species — there is one, Wild Allamanda, but after some online research I suspect that it is one of the non-natives …<\/p>\n

I did OK down by the lake with several adult Sandhill Cranes including one in a very nice studio setting \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n

BIRDS AS ART<\/h3>\n

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n

SONY e-Guide Discount Program<\/h3>\n

Purchase a (new) qualifying SONY camera body (a7r iii, a7r iv, a9, a9 ii) from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $40 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 200-600mm G lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a $25 discount on the SONY e-guide. Purchase a (new) SONY 600mm f\/4 GM lens from Bedfords or using a BIRDS AS ART B&H affiliate link, and you will receive a free SONY e-guide with one or two videos. <\/p>\n

Please send your Bedford’s or B&H receipts to me via e-mail<\/a> to receive your discount and your ordering instructions. Folks purchasing from Bedfords and using the BIRDSASART code will save $50. Folks sending their B&H receipts may need to wait a few days to have their purchases confirmed. Folks using Bedfords will have their purchases confirmed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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99 sold to rave reviews.<\/p>\n

The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)<\/h3>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here<\/A> to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video. <\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here<\/A> to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.<\/h2>\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more about the SONY e-Guide. <\/p>\n

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Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here<\/a> to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f\/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please. <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail<\/a>. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and\/or lens choices and decisions. <\/p>\n\n

A Macro Lens Question<\/h3>\n

Left as a comment by Norm Skliar: <\/p>\n

Art, question, \u2013 is the Sigma 105mm f\/2.8 HSM macro lens compatible with the Canon EOSS 7D Mark II? If not, what macro lens would you recommend ?<\/p>\n

Hey Norm, Good question. The Sigma 105mm f\/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens for Canon EF<\/a> is perfectly compatible with all Canon EF bodies including the 7D Mark II. I have never used it but it generally receives very good reviews. Compare it with either the Canon EF 100mm f\/2.8 Macro USM Lens<\/a> or the newer Image Stabilized (IS) version, the Canon EF 100mm f\/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens<\/a>. Note: the Sigma version offers an Optical Stabilizer system that enables folks to create sharper images when shooting handheld.<\/p>\n

Sigma also offers a Nikon mount version, the Sigma 105mm f\/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens for Nikon F<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most of the 90, 100, and 105mm macro lenses do not come with a tripod collar so if you are planning to work on a tripod as I do most of the time, you will need to explore the tripod collar options. <\/p>\n

We are however, not quite done \ud83d\ude42 When I used Canon, I owned the 100 IS macro and the Canon EF 180mm f\/3.5L Macro USM Lens<\/a>. For flowers, especially cultivated flowers like dahlias and tulips, the 100 macro was great. But for generally smaller wildflowers, frogs, bugs, and butterflies, I loved the longer focal length of the 180 macro. That brings us to the last alternative, the Tamron Telephoto SP AF 180mm f\/3.5 Di LD IF Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS<\/a>. Here again, the off-brand Tamron 180 has a great reputation. Do understand that the Sigma and Tamron lenses will save you considerable money while producing excellent results … <\/p>\n

All in all, it is your call. Do let me know if you have any additional questions and please remember to use my affiliate links for this and other purchases. <\/p>\n

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This image was created on 2 JULY 2020 down near the end of Lakeview Drive about a mile from my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the Induro<\/a> GIT 404L\/FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sigma APO Macro 150mm f\/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens for Nikon F<\/a> with the Vello Select Nikon F Lens to Sony E-Mount Camera Auto Lens Adapter (Firmware Ver. 6)<\/a> and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body.<\/a> ISO 400. Exposure determined by experimentation with the best exposure determined by RawDigger: 1\/60 sec. at f\/5.6 in Manual mode. AWB at 8:01am on a sunny morning. I was not able to completely shade the background with my torso so I simply pulled my Sequoia up to do the job. <\/p>\n

Picked and Plamped<\/a> from an ocassionally mowed roadside median. Manual Focus using techniques from the SONY e-Guide. Click on the image to see a larger version. <\/p>\n

Photo Mechanic Screen Capture for Partridge Pea (Camaecrista fasciculata) \n