The light is returning to the northern hemisphere, but we still have winter –
– which means the opportunities are less for us who love photography – or?
A great solution to the problem is close-ups or macro photography. Your own home is an endless source of motifs – and maybe a look into new worlds. So, this week’s challenge is Close-ups. Looking forward to your creative answers to this prompt!
You certainly don’t have to buy a macro lens – most cameras are good at close-ups. If you have a smartphone/android/iPhone – you will be surprised how easily you get good results.
But, last year I finally bought a macro lens – after a lecture by one of our best Swedish macro photographers. She recommended a TAMRON SP 90mm F/2.8. In this post, you are looking through that macro lens. (All photos except one – I guess you see which one…) As usual, click on the images to enlarge.
Let us see what I found when I ventured out into my flower pot, abandoned for the winter in my garden. Have a look down its frozen interior!
This is something of what I found:
And they are not only droplets – but frozen ones, lovingly held by the tiny plants.
Have fun with your close-ups and hope to see you soon –
Before you go, thank you to Patti for a marvelous Nature challenge!
Leya 
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Beautiful! My favorite is the ones with the differences in depth and the water drop.
Thank you – so glad you liked them!
Strong selection of images, each engages.
Coming from you, it means a lot! Thank you!
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Thank you for coming a bit close-up in your architecture! Be sure to link to Amy’s challenge as well!
Ann-Christine, such beautiful images of a few simple things we see each day! Thank you for our topic this week, here is my post: https://mycolorfulexpressions.com/closeup-lens-artists-photo-challenge/
It is the simple things that count most, I believe. Glad you like the topic and thank you for joining in!
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Just lovely!
This is a really popular theme Ann-Christine, no wonder when we see so much when we look closely! Thank you 🙂
Thanks! Yes, I think people enjoy the adventure of seeing things in different ways. Thank you so much for joining in – a beautiful entry!
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Glad you joined in!
Thank you, Leya for another excellent challenge! As usual, mine are shots from nature 🙂
https://lindylecoq.com/2019/02/27/lens-artist-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
So glad you enjoy the theme! I will pop over for a treat!
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Gorgeous close-ups Leya. One of my favourite type of photography, especially the floral kind. The frozen droplet is exquisite. I shall have one for you on Friday 🙂
Looking forward to it!
Here is my today’s walk, Leya. I went out with the purpose to take close-ups for your challenge with mixed results. 🙂 I love yours, especially the drop.
https://manjameximoving.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/lens-artists-pc-under-the-macroscope/
Thank you, Manja – and I hope you are pleased with the results. I think you did beautifully!
I am! It was much fun. But I can see how much work this kind of photography is with the right camera and tools.
The worst thing is all the kneeling and crawling. My bones are too old for that…but I still do it.
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This is a lovely challenge, Ann-Christine, and you’ve given us such exquisite icy creations. Here are some close ups from my garden this morning: https://tishfarrell.com/2019/02/26/today-in-the-garden-close-up/
So glad you are enjoying it, Tish! I will go visit your garden…
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Lovely shots! I love macro/close-up photography. Thanks for a great challenge! Here’s my take on it: https://angelafurtadophotography.com/2019/02/26/lens-artists-challenge-close-up/
Glad you liked them! And close-ups make you see the worlds in the world.
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I like the results you are getting with this lens Leya.
I went with a slightly different way to look at a grave marker in a local war cemetery: https://wp.me/p2owKx-16L
Cheers!
Interesting take on this, Amy! And so glad you liked the photos.
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Loved your close ups! And the lonely pot..mine, not so close though – https://myheart2heart.blog/2019/02/26/on-the-rocks/
Thank you – glad you are joining in!
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Here is my response to this fun Close Up Challenge. What a delight to see all the other posts!
https://learnmoreeveryday.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/winter-trip-some-nature-up-close/
So glad you joined in – and it surely is a delight to see that so many of us enjoy the little things in life. Because they are the big things!
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hi ann-christine, great and interesting 10 pictures i like you very much, here is my contribution for this week, https://wp.me/p2AvI7-32m.
greetings robert
Thank you so much, and thanks for joining in, Robert!
Lovely images and the rain drop is amazing.
Thank you, Rupali. I did not expect it to be frozen as well – but it was!
🙂
My favorite things to photograph close-up are flowers.
I hope you enjoy some of the flowers I grow in my orchid collection.
Your frozen droplet photos are mesmerizing. They look like they’re acrobats on a high wire.
Enjoy my pics …
Isadora 😎
https://isadoraartandphotography.com/2019/02/25/lens-artists-photo-challenge-close-up/
I truly enjoyed your pictures! Amazing! And these orchids are in your own collection? I grow some orchids myself, but have never come across anything like that bright green!
There are several orchid shows I attend. They usually have very unusual species. I wasn’t going to purchase this one, and another I passed over, because I was concerned about them dying. I did get this one but it only had a bloom when I purchased it and none after. : ( But, Id o have the photograph as a remembrance. AND … who knows, maybe, one day. 😎
Maybe one day…glad you posted.
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Hello again Ann-Christine, here’s a contribution with close up portraits of Pearl and a very long poem: https://whippetwisdom.com/2019/02/25/finns-rubaiyat/
Thank you so much, Xenia!
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Perfect!
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Here is my contribution to this challenge: https://chava61.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/lens-artists-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
Thank you for joining in!
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Beautifully frozen drops!! Thank you for sharing – I love your photos, you’ve inspired me to keep trying close up shots!
I am glad to be of inspiration! Thank you! I just popped over to see your winter land – so much snow! Is it still there?
Thank you for popping over to check out my post. Yes, the snow is still here, and we’re expected to get 5-8 more inches by the end of the week. February has been a record breaking month. I’m hoping that March is a lamb of a month!
Well – I think you will have a lovely spring!
All the moisture should help the spring flowers pop up (at least I’m hoping so!).
It will indeed!
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Winter!
I love your photos especially the tiny frozen dew drop. Popular theme this week Leya, but I’ve taken a slightly different view of close up https://retiredfromgypsylife.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/up-close-to-cyclonic-swells/
I loved those surprising drops too, thank you. And I was really taken by your entry, Pauline! Glad you did not venture out Too close! Fantastic!
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WOW!
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Thank you for joining in…but What Is It? So curious!
Great theme, great photos! Here’s mine: https://aliveandtrekking.com/2019/02/24/flax/
Thank you for joining in! I will pop over soon!
My pleasure!
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Oh I loved this challenge. Am sending mine in a hurry before I’ve had a chance to look through all the others but I loved your photos and am excited to see what people have posted.
https://wordpress.com/post/chosenperspectives.com/18311
Thanks – I’m excited too!
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2019/02/24/close-up/
I like all your close-up, but the last one is my favorite.
Ah then there are at least two of us for the last one! Thank you for joining in!
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I’m still trying to figure out who the real Lens Artist is but from your photos I’m pretty sure its you. Here is mine: https://photographyocd.com/2017/06/13/the-little-things/
Of course it is me ;-D
I so adore your photos you’ve posted for this week. I am really liking your topic too.
Here is my entry.
https://ceenphotography.com/2019/02/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
Oh, I am glad – and I hoped you would like the topic as it usually fits your photos! Thank you for joining in!
I tried to pick photos that were just a little different than my normal. 😀
Success!
Beautiful close-ups Ann-Christine, I especially love the frozen droplets! My contribution for this week is here: https://tranature.com/2019/02/24/silent-sunday-awakening/
Thank you so much, Xenia!
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Very nice photos. My post for the challenge, with droplets as well:
https://photear.home.blog/2019/02/24/spiderweb-droplets/
Thanks – and your droplets were aplenty!
But none frozen. Not enough cold weather here.
Good – then the droplets will be of another kind. Variety!
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Gorgeous post, Ann-Christine. I love your exploration of the early signs of spring. The frozen water droplet image is fantastic! Here’s my ”take” on the challenge–the magic of close-ups! https://pilotfishblog.com/2019/02/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
Thank you so much, Patti! I had fun with this challenge – and new worlds are magical. you don’t have to travel far to find them – but we still do, don’t we? I guess we need both near and far in our lives.
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That first photo is so lovable, with the light picking out the tiniest details. I also liked the frozen drops; impossible to get in my part of the world.
Here’s my entry: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/the-rarest-flower/
So happy to share some frozen drops with you! Just one of the things that is good with blogging – sharing. And I get views from you that I don’t have in my part of the world!
Great close-ups, Leya. It’s not a thing I do often, but sun, blossom and very noisy bees had made me get as close as I could without a ladder! https://travelwithintent.com/2019/02/24/delphi-blossom-bees-buzz/
Ladder? Exciting to see what you have come up with!
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Well, I woke up this morning inspired! On with the macro extension ring, and here’s my post: https://suejudd.com/2019/02/24/lens-artists-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
Yay – so glad you felt inspired, Sue! Fun with things we don’t photograph every day!
Absolutely!
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Such beautiful close-ups – what a surprise you must have had to see that down your lens.
Thank you – and yes, it was. So colourful and alive despite looking dead and gone at a first look. I added no colours or enhanced anything in the photos –
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Reblogga detta på .
Your close-up photos are so pleasant, Anne-Christine! So good that spring is coming your way and see the fresh young green plants. The ice droplet looks refreshing. Here are my close-ups.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2019/02/23/lens-artists-photo-challenge-34-close-up/
Thank you, Miriam! I am glad to share the early spring from here. Thank you for joining in!
You’re welcome, Anne-Christine! It’s our first sunny day after two months of rain. I hope to do some gardening today.
Too early for gardening here…but soon! Have a great day!
Thank you, Anne-Christine!
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I just posted my contribution, after hitting the publish button while distracted.
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2019/02/23/borage-close-ups/
Now to proofread it.
Wow. I love all your photos, especially the last one with the dew!!!
I am happy you liked them all! And that garden pot, when taking a closer look, it was filled with those tiny, frozen droplets. Who would have known unless I hadn’t been shooting for close-ups!
I really like the one that looks like a flower yet to bloom, and the last shot.
There’s something really appealing and relaxing about both of those shots that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Here’s mine for this week:
https://stupidityhole.wordpress.com/2019/02/24/flowing-from-frayed-rope/
Hi – and glad I made you relax! Thank you for joining in!
Thank you for having me 🙂
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Perfect, Ann-Christine! Like tiny jewels 🙂 🙂
Glad you like them, Jo – jewels they are! Hidden ones, and today they are gone again – thawing.
Great close-up captures through your flower pot. The last shot is gorgeous, Ann-Christine!
Thanks, Amy! Glad to share them – and that last one! I had great fun – hope everyone will have fun with theirs too!
So inspiring to go out and look at the tiny worlds out there – I have a messy pot that looks rather like yours – I will have to go out and see what I can find inside it!
Good idea – mine turned out to be a treasure pot – I am sure yours will be as well😉
Glorious images Ann Christine. Especially loved the water droplets
Thank you, Tina – frozen droplets are a bit special, but glad you liked them!
Great close-up shots, Ann-Christine! That last one is amazing!
Glad you liked them! And that last one was a lovely surprise when I uploaded the photos.
Beautiful images 🙂
Thank you very much – the world in a pot;-D
These are such beautiful shots. I love the way macro photography provides such surprises when we see the shots on a larger screen. Often it’s the tiny details missed in the view-finder that really make the shot.
Thanks for the ping-back; as you know I feel so passionately about the damage we humans do to our world.
Glad you like the shots, Su. And we share the passion for our planet💚
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Lovely close-ups, A C….now you have challenged me, I almost never do close up, and only once or twice have I taken a macro!
Looking forward to it 😉
Oh dear…
I love the frozen droplets!
I am glad you like them – imagine my surprise when I looked through the camera lens and first saw them!
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Here is mine for the week:
https://norasphotos4u.wordpress.com/2019/02/23/lens-artists-challenge-34-close-up/
Thank you so much for a lovely entry!
We are ready for some light and longer days …
And sounds like your lens was a good investment – (and you are right – the cameras on our smartphones are pretty solid and can good close ups)
—
Your close ups are nice and that ending photo reminded me metal art that is shaped like a C and holds a glass droplet – it is really artsy.
I agree on the light needed… and glad you liked the shots too!
😊☀️
I love the close ups in your flower pot – you made something ordinary look beautiful!!
A lovely comment, Nora, thank you! That was just what I hoped to do – make something unnoticeable noticed!