Macro on Macro

Macro photography was invented for nature. There's no better way of capturing nature's amazing patterns than macro shots. Small and hidden details magnified by modern technology can almost make you smell, taste and feel the real thing. So that little button with a tiny flower icon on your camera is one of the most important inventions ever second only to worcestershire sauce, well, at least for me. Worcestershire sauce performs miracles for my palate that's why I hoard loads of them in my pantry. Anyway, back to topic. I'm not very good at macro photography but the outstanding patterns and shapes of my subject make it easy for class AB photographers like me (AB stands for Always a Beginner).

Dark green coloration on mature leaflets

Young leaflets beginning to unfurl

Caudex and base of the leaf

Leaflets reduced to spine at the base of the leaf 

Hair is common on young cycad leaves

The subject of my macro is Macrozamia johnsonii. It is a medium sized cycad native to Australia. It was named after L. A. S. Johnson, an Australian botanist who did pioneering studies on cycads from down under. Don't ask me what the  letters L.A.S. stand for. A mature specimen looks very much like a palm. The leaves are dark green. It is so dark that it doesn't look green anymore.

I grow my M. johnsonii in full sun and it's doing well. Some books say it is best grown in partial shade. I water it everyday and feed it with a slow release fertilizer. I wonder if kangaroo dung would make a better fertilizer.

Comments

[~fer]

Great photo!
I really like the pattern on the little curvy leafs

[ellada]

Great pictures, the second photo is fantastic.

[The Plant Chaser]

Thank you. Your comments mean much to an amateur photographer like me.

[One]

Do you attend any photography course? Nice captures. I only use a point and shoot camera. When I discovered the macro function, I suddenly realized I enjoy photography a lot. The world seem more beautiful. :)

[One]

Oh yes, Queen of the Night looks like Pitaya but they are different. I've added the photo of the dragon fruit on my dragon fruit flower post.

[Ginny]

I agree wholeheartedly about macro photography and nature. I am always in awe of the beauty of the tiniest details. There is beauty in the normal, wide, and long perspectives too, but when I photograph plants, butterflies, or birds, I always want that closeup.
These are beautiful shots and certainly don't look like those of a beginner!

[Kanak]

Hi Bom, your photography is amazing. I love the photo of the leaves unfurling.

[Solitude Rising]

As I was scrolling down at the pictures, I was thinking "hmmmm, this must be a cycad, a sago palm perhaps?", until you revealed the plant name later. Beautiful plant and pictures too!

[Alice Joyce]

Such a rich quality to these images...
Do report back on the kangaroo dung;-]

[The Plant Chaser]

@One: No, I've never attended a photography course. I wish I could but the courses usually require a digital SLR and I only use a point and shoot.

@Ginny: I never get to do close-ups of birds or butterflies. They usually fly away even as I'm approaching. My camera's main weakness is its zoom so I really need to get close to get a good shot.

@Kanak: Hello. Thank your for the compliment. The leaves unfurling is my favorite, too.

@Solitude: Yes, the immature leaves of Macrozamia and Cycas are quite similar. I just chose the Macrozamia because it would give me a better title.

@AliceJoyce: Thank you. I guess I better start looking for kangaroo dung. :-)

[Paul]

I agree. Wonderful photos, and amazing plants. The curls remind me of a moustache ;)

[IcyBC]

Hello Bom,

Your photos are gorgeous, and I fell in love with macro for all the details that my naked eyes can't see. You're absolutely right about that!

To answer your question about my signature, tell your daughter she can read and find out how to make one for herself from this post: http://www.wanderingthought.com/2010/01/how-to-create-your-own-hand-written.html

Thank you for taking the time to visit me and leave comment!

[The Plant Chaser]

@Paul: I didn't think of that. But now that you mention it, yes it does look like a mustache.

@Icy: I'm glad you liked them I need to get myself a macro lens though if I want better shots. Thank you for the link. My daughter is already creating her signature.

[Floridagirl]

Wow, beautiful images! I certainly don't typically notice such details on the cycads. I too am fascinated by photography, though I do not have an SLR as yet myself either. These are great shots you have taken with a point-and-shoot. I love your blog and have added it to my blogroll. : )

[The Plant Chaser]

Hi! Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I dropped by your site but could not comment witthout openID. I'd like to link to your blog too if this is okay with you.