Macro, close-up and the GRiii

Published on by Laura Bloomsbury

Macro photos are images in which the magnification of the subject is life size or greater. They change our perspective of a subject to focus on the hidden details and often introduce colours and textures not picked up with other types of shots. [source]

Unlike its earlier predecessors the Ricoh GRiii is not a zoom lens but a fixed wide-angle lens, equivalent to a 28mm. But it does also have an in-camera crop mode which reduces images to 35mm and 50mm respectively. I must try this out sometime as usually I crop (if at all) post camera in Lightroom – [see marmalade hoverfly images below – click to view closer]

  • original
  • cropped original
  • macro mode

Aside from cropping, the GRiii also has a macro mode which switches to autofocus and a focal range of 6 to 12 cm from the front of the lens. It gives some very nice bokeh effects though here these were enhanced to painterly as the images were also shot in HDR mode (more of that later in the week)

and what better to try out macros on than wildflowers in the meadow – click for closer views

  • wild woodbine Lonicera periclymenum
  • red clover
  • a patch of white clover
  • rosebay willowherb
  • bramble flowers
  • greater knapweed

Something for Macro Monday

13 thoughts on “Macro, close-up and the GRiii”

  1. I love using my macro lens, but usually it’s too windy. Focusing on the details slows you down, rather than just clicking away.

    1. yesterday was breezier than I’d have liked but I did manage to find some more sheltered spots. That’s an aspect I had not really considered Jude – but yes the focus is akin to slow, more mindful photography. A good reason to for more!

      1. Looking forward to seeing more of your photos Laura, either in one of my nature photo challenges or on your blog. (Or both!).

  4. Well Laura, I’m a photography relic. No camera since days of Tri-X B&W, and I wasn’t good. So my just an ignorant observer, not a participant. But you know I like your work and I will always “look”. 😀

    1. photos are for looking so thank you for that Neil – and lets us not say ignorant but less informed as I certainly am when it comes to camera technicalities

  5. These are some incredible macro shots. Really love the details of the wings you were able to capture. Also that woodbine photo made me swoon a bit.

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