Macro Fun

Some macro fun from around the house. I set myself the idea of shooting at least one photo a day for seven days to keep busy while in lockdown. Happy with how they turned out.

Photos © CJ Levinson 2021

Photo Challenge – Green Theme

My photography group is doing some weekly home photo challenges as we can’t go on our photowalks at the moment. This week’s theme was the colour green. I used a macro lens to take these around the house. It was a lot of fun.

If you’d like to do some of the challenges too, feel free to sign up. The group’s open to everyone, you don’t have to be a local to do the challenges.

Photos © CJ Levinson 2020

Harlequin Bug

I found a little beetle; so that Beetle was his name,
And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same.

~ Forgiven by A A Milne

A harlequin bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) on the outside of our house. I grabbed my camera and macro lens when I saw it and took a few quick shots, this one came out well. Nice and sharp.

It’s very pretty, gorgeous colours. Looking at it reminded me of the poem Forgiven by AA Milne which I used to love as a child.

Photo © CJ Levinson 2019

Sarcophagus in Macro

Tutankhamun Sarcophagus 1

Oh to live
In ancient times
For just a day,
What wonders would we find?

These photos are from a small statue I own. I have a small collection of Egyptian figures and vases and this is one of my favourite pieces.

I’ve always found the lines and etchings on the statue interesting and I thought I’d put it under a macro lens to examine up close. I really like the results; the textures look very different and dramatic.

I wanted the photos to have a bit of an old-fashioned look and they came out well in black and white.

Tutankhamun 2

Close up of the eyes

Tutankhamun 3

Lines and shadowsTutankhamun 4

Rough textures

Tutankhamun 5

Curved lines

Tutankhamun Sarcophagus 6

Heiroglyphs

Photos and haiqua © CJ Levinson 2016

A Heart That Loves Is Always Young

Love Kanji

When in doubt
Trust your heart:
It may break
But it will never lead you wrong

I’ve been in a bit of a rut with my photography lately. It might be the festive season or maybe the wet weather we’ve had but I haven’t taken many photos lately. So last night I thought I’d brush off the cobwebs and try some macro.

I enjoy macro. I don’t do a lot of it but I love the idea of taking an object and looking at it in a completely different way and it’s something I often turn to when I feel in a bit of a rut.

For these photos my subject was an affirmation plaque I’ve owned for a couple of years. It’s actually part of a set (the other is a ‘harmony’ plaque that I might do another time as well) that I bought when I first moved to Newcastle, so it has a lot of personal meaning to me as well.

I love the sentiment and and the plaque has a plastery surface that has a lot of very interesting lines and textures that are perfect for macro. I love the detail the shots were able to capture and how different the plaque looks close up, and yet how parts of it still feel familiar as well.

I’ll have to do some more macro. I really enjoyed this. Wonder what other things I can find around the place? 😉

A Heart That Loves Is Always Young

A heart that loves is always young

Love Kanji 1

Close up of the kanjiLove Kanji 2

At the crossroads

Twisted question mark
Texture 1

From the heart

Kanji

Textured kanjiLove Kanji 4

Mouth wide open

Love Kanji 5

Triangle and shadow

Texture 2

Lines in plasterLove Kanji 6

A narrow channelLove

Love is…?

Love Kanji 7

Ruins in sand
Love Kanji 8

X marks the spotTexture 3

Rough textures

Love Kanji 9

Light and dark

Love Kanji 10

Curves and linesKanji

Love kanji

Photos and haiqua © CJ Levinson 2016

Arum Lily

Arum Lilly

A single flower
Growing in an empty bed:
The first sign of spring

I took this photo a few days ago. Living in a block of flats we don’t really have much of a garden, just a small communal flowerbed, but a few days ago we noticed this growing in it, an arum lily. Apparently one of our neighbours has been growing them and tidying up the flowerbed. This is the first one to bloom so far.

Arum lilies are often used for weddings and other events because of their beautiful appearance but they’re actually very poisonous and are seen as a weed in many parts of Australia. I’ve always found that dichotomy interesting, how something that looks so pure and angelic can actually be so deadly. Maybe that’s part of its allure?

Photo and haiku © CJ Levinson 2011
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