Lynn, I just realized that I didn't answer your photography question....!
I use a Cannon PowerShot Pro that I bought in 2005. It is what I would call an upper end point and shoot camera. Its lens is a zoom lens which I use to its fullest in combination with a "super macro" setting, which allows for a very close focus, even at max zoom. I have learned to work with a major short coming with the system, and that is its viewfinder. It has "through the lens" viewing, but is digital and not optical, so I cannot see fine enough detail to manually focus. This forces me to use the auto focus, which can be a pain.... I close the lens down as far as I can....which is only f8, (I’d die for f16!) to maximize depth of field....but then I must use flash to get the exposure short enough to get sharp images... as I hand hold everything and often shoot moving targets! Now, I only have the built in pop-up flash so....when I have the lens zoomed all the way out, it casts a shadow on the subject from the flash, limiting how close I can get to a subject. I have worked around this as well by using a hand held diffuser/reflector ( ….that thin,approx. 1/8" thick smooth bubble wrap!) to create enough indirect light to get a decent picture. These close-up pictures, taken this way have a nice feel to them as the diffused light casts no shadows ! The last two pictures I posted here were taken this way.
It has taken me a couple years to figure this all out, but I never claimed to be a speedy learner! It may sound complicated, but it is all just second nature to me now. This little camera just “fits me like a glove”! I would love to get a nice SLR outfit with proper macro lenses and lighting equipment etc…but then I can just imagine I’d lose some of my mobility and spontaneity until I learned that system. I just use my camera now to document what’s going on in the yard and to give me that closer look. I can’t tell you how much I have discovered and learned by taking in focus close-ups and then looking at them at 100%! It has been my “microscope” …. - Arlan
