Monday, December 25th, 2017
Merry Christmas, everyone!
This week’s theme for the Flickr Macro Monday group is “Member’s Choice – Bokeh.” From this week’s instructions (from Alan Rust):
The theme for Monday December 25th is… Member’s Choice – Bokeh. This theme was suggested by rvtn.
In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light” and the holiday season is an excellent opportunity to get all glittery, soft and warm, or perhaps harsh, bright and brash. As on previous occasions, here are links that may give you ideas on how to present those sparkles, lights, and flashes that may help the Bokeh theme pop. But remember to translate the examples shown to your macro work:
www.lightstalking.com/6-tips-for-mastering-bokeh/
www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniqu…
digital-photography-school.com/create-beautiful-bokeh-bac…
Tag your photos with “Macro Mondays” and this week’s theme: “Member’s Choice – Bokeh” or alternatively you may use #MacroMondays and #Member’sChoice-Bokeh.
Glitter Gift Tradition
Christmas was always my family’s favorite holiday. My grandmother (my mother’s mother) used to decorate extensively when I was a child and we lost her when I was only seven years old. She would create these magical winter scenes on mirrored trays using cotton balls and tiny figurines. She spent hours painstakingly wrapping gifts and outlining the elements on the paper with glitter (which was a chore for her since she had rheumatoid arthritis). My own mother has kept up the beautiful gift wrap tradition. Her wrapping is a gift unto itself. She takes time to choose the paper, the coordinating ribbons, the bow, and on some special presents, she even adds glitter too. I hope that when my children are grown, I’ll have the energy and time to create such special gifts and continue the family tradition. (This is a 2″ section of paper.)
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/10 | 1/250 | ISO 100
Bokeh Balls
I have these two large pom-pom, glitter-covered decorations that go so well with my Christmas decor. These little balls are just a quarter an inch wide and create such beautiful bokeh when light reflects on them.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/8 | 1/250 | ISO 100
Glamorous Gold Glitter
This was my personal favorite of my bokeh images and the one I’m choosing to enter for Macro Monday on Flickr for the bokeh theme. This is the center of that pom-pom I referenced above. The center ball is a little less than an inch wide with dozens of tendrils extruding into space. The gold sparkle that the glitter creates when basking in the sun looks positively glamorous.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/8 | 1/250 | ISO 100
This will be my last Macro Monday post for 2017 and I am planning on continuing to participate for 2018. I love macro photography and finding beauty in the details. Thanks for joining me on my macro journey!
