Spiderwebs

On a morning with lots of dew, spiderwebs are beautiful to behold. I may not like spiders very much, but I sure like their webs. On the heathland I visit, most webs are made by tiny spiders. Wheel webs are my favorites.
(Lens: Lensbaby Twist 60 with macro converters)

They are hanging in the tall reeds, sometimes completely horizontal.
(Lens: Lensbaby Burnside 35)

This morning, 30 June 2019, I went to the same field where I found these last year. There was a bit of fog and the sun was rising (fast). I was hoping to find many of these but there were relatively few spider webs. I never payed much attention to this, but I think it is still early for these spiders. The best time is September. I hope I am not wrong!
(Lens: Pentacon 50 mm 1.8 MC)

This picture is probably already visible on this blog. These webs may look big, but they are quite small. As you may notice it was formed in the grass.
(Lens: Lensbaby Edge 80)

I always work with natural light and I don't like to carry around lots of stuff. So I shoot out of hand and I don't use the white umbrella I once bought to shield the light. Although I think I could make beautiful pictures if I did... For me it just is too much hassle.
(Lens: Lensbaby Twist 60 optic with macro converters (similar to extension tubes) and a white umbrella)

Last year I discovered how to use the Lensbaby Velvet 56. I already had it for a year. I think for every lens you need to find for which subject it is suited and what kind of light works best. I really got hooked last year. I love the soft look.
(Lens: Lensbaby Velvet 56)

Another big hanging web. They are so versatile and all the tiny drops reflect the light so beautifully
(Lens: Lensbaby Twist 60 optic with macro converters).

I always work with a shallow depth of field, which means that I have the aperture open or almost open. Since I always shoot against the light, the shape of the aperture is often visible and I prefer it to be round. I thought I would be able to see which lens I used by looking at the image. But most lenses I use have similar traits. Probably because I like them ;)

Had to check but this was made with the Pentacon 50 mm 1.8 MC. It is a vintage lens and quite magical. If you are used to manual lenses this is one of the best. Not expensive and lots of fun!
(Lens: Pentacon 50 mm 1.8 MC)

This is another one made with this vintage lens. The web is glowing.
(Lens: Pentacon 50 mm 1.8 MC)

This is an oldy and a different kind of web. The spiders use moss, or mushrooms as a tent pole and weave there webs from there. If you are lucky you find a perfectly formed specimen! Usually they are more messy and not symmetric.
(Lens: Lensbaby Twist 60 with macro converters)

And last but not least this web on a leaf. I take macro pictures for 10 years now and in the beginning I kept seeing things that I never noticed before. Even the details on a dandelion are beautiful when you never properly looked at it. But now when I find something new it is like a little present. These webs made on a leaf, and so perfectly, I had never seen before. And I haven't seen them since. I also don't know which spider made them.
(Lens: Lensbaby Twist 60 optic with macro converter)

There are more pictures I want to share and I'm planning to write more often, but we'll see. I do post regularly on my instagram account.

Bulbous rush

This year was the first that I really noticed this small plant: bulbous rush (Juncus bulbosus / knolrus). Because I love to play with drops I went close to the borders of the ever decreasing fens. Everything sparkled with dewdrops and the rushes are great subjects for tiny landscapes. The flowers are more brown than red, but I increased the hue on orange and red et voila!

Most of these pictures were made with the Lensbaby Velvet 56. When the light was still very soft I used F2.0 to create a soft glow and also the bokeh rings. The rings are out of focus drops close to the lens (before focus). I love to play with that.

It was dry and hot for a few weeks, as if it would never rain again. But once it started it rained almost every day and between the bulbous rush this very fine grass appeared. The yellow stuff is moss (Sphagnum). It holds the water and forms thick soft layers. Nice if you are on your knees!

I made many pictures of these plants, not only because I like them but also because sitting there in the morning, with the sun slowly climbing behind the trees, everything sparkling, was such a joy!

The Velvet 56 is perfect for macro. If you don't want the glow you just close the aperture a bit more.

I like all the little details in these pictures.

Leaves from the reeds had fallen on the ground and were also covered with dewdrops. It looks like a bridge to me.

You may notice that this picture looks a bit different. It was made with a different lens: the Pentacon 50 mm, 1.8. It is a vintage lens that I instantly loved. Although I have to say that I checked if this was made with the Pentacon, because it also has many features of the Velvet if you see them next to each other.


Wide open it gives a bit of a swirl and it is very soft, although this also depends on the light of course!

The sun came up around 6:30 and I was usually in the field around 7:00. Where I go the sun rises behind the trees and even though there is a lot of light, at first it is filtered and soft. Once it reaches the top of the trees everything is blazing in sunlight. The last picture was made under these conditions and you can immediately see the effect. Although with a very soft lens this can even be pleasing. This lens stole my heart!