Macro Scraps

I realized the other day that it's been a month since I finished my "100 Days of Macro" project and I haven't done a thing since then. I was sticking to a strict one-photo-per-day rule, so I figured I'd go through the scraps and post a few that missed the cut. Unsurprisingly, it's mostly flowers.

And when it comes to flowers, it's tough to beat the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens as showcased by the following three images.







The next shot is from Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. With all the gigantic trees surrounding us, this project had me accustomed to looking for the minute details in nature.



The next four photos are from hiking in the Red Rock area west of Las Vegas. Even in the desert, there is some wonderful color to be found.









Finally, here are a couple of scraps from around the neighborhood. With this next image, I was trying to capture the flower in a more abstract way (which inspired a different shot on a later day). The final image is another angle on a dandelion that did make it into the 100.

Mission Accomplished

100 Days of Macro - Day 100

What begins with Bawoo ends with Bawoo. If nothing else, this photo shows that my first one wasn't really a macro.

I think this was tougher than my original 10-month project. For one thing, it's tougher sticking to a specific style (macros). Second, I managed to take and post all 100 on the same day.

Feels good to be done.

Burnt Tips

100 Days of Macro - Day 99

Especially at this point in the project, it's nice when you don't have to try too hard. The discoloration in this neighbor's bush caught my attention. The contrast was interesting from afar and it turns out to be pretty interesting up close.

One to go!

Cactaceae Argentina

100 Days of Macro - Day 98

I was at the new Mothership Coffee Roasters in the Green Valley area and decided to make the extra hop and skip over to Ethel M to squeeze in one more macro from their cactus garden.

Two to go!

Galbi Jjim (갈비찜)

100 Days of Macro - Day 97

Jieun made some killer Galbi Jjim tonight and it was most definitely macro-worthy. She asked the guy at Greenland Supermarket for good quality and he did not disappoint. Big chunky beef short ribs that weren't cheap but totally worth it. And Bawoo appreciates having bones to chew on for days.

After The Rain

100 Days of Macro - Day 96

Well, my car was clean for about a week. I wanted to get some water droplet shots after today's downpour. These flowers behind my parking spot at work were the easiest subjects available.

Sunday Latte

100 Days of Macro - Day 95

One more coffee-related post before this project ends. Photographing latte art is not so easy, as it turns out. I discovered that angling the flash so that the micro bubbles are somewhat backlit works the best.

Gucci Belt

100 Days of Macro - Day 94

I purchased this 100% authentic Gucci belt at Namdaemun Market in Korea for 20,000 KRW. OK so that's only about 20 USD. In any case, it's an awesome belt.

Bellagio Conservatory

100 Days of Macro - Day 93

I'm on the home stretch of this project and running dangerously low on ideas. Good thing there's the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. I could source a couple of week's worth from their displays. Like last time I visited, I walked away with a few nice shots, but I like this one the most.

Beet Greens

100 Days of Macro - Day 92

I've always loved beetroot, but I've never tried preparing it from scratch. It's cheap and you can do something with the greens as well, but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble. I'll just buy the ones from Costco.

Prince O3 Hybrid

100 Days of Macro - Day 91

Like my guitar from a couple of days ago, here's another object I haven't touched in a few years. I'd love to get out onto a tennis court again, but my knees might say otherwise.

Tecoma Sunrise

100 Days of Macro - Day 90

I like the name of this plant. Thanks to Mountain's Edge Regional Park for its helpful signage. The wind wasn't helpful, however, so I grabbed a couple of fallen flowers and took this photo at home. That allowed me to play around with some freehand fill flash to illuminate the interior and get something a bit more abstract.

Don't Fret

100 Days of Macro - Day 89

I haven't touched this guitar in many years. In fact, the last time was probably to photograph it for my original project. Old strings. Dusty. But it cleaned up well enough for today's macro.

Tako Karaage

100 Days of Macro - Day 88

I haven't resorted to as much food photography during this project as I thought I would. We ended up eating at 808 Sushi with my cousin. The food, much like this image, was OK.

Cadence Cactus

100 Days of Macro - Day 87

After dragon boat paddling this morning, I took a little detour through the new Cadence community and saw some cactus along the side of the road. When I don't mess it up, this lens can really produce some tack sharp images.

Impeded Centipede

100 Days of Macro - Day 86

It's been a few years since I've seen any bugs in the house, so this centipede was a big surprise. Not the greatest photo, but it's late and I don't have much else to show for today.

Cole Haan ZeroGrand

100 Days of Macro - Day 85

These Cole Haan ZeroGrand shoes are awesome. Super light, comfortable, and look great. And of course, I hipstered them up by switching out the laces.

Ball Maintenance

100 Days of Macro - Day 84

I wrote this macro idea down way back when I was initially brainstorming for this project. It has nothing to do with the whole New England Patriots thing, but I figure today's as good a day as any. Plus, we're in the thick of the most interesting NBA playoffs in many years (for me personally anyway). Obviously, a properly inflated ball would have a much bigger impact on a basketball game than football.

Neighborhood Cholla

100 Days of Macro - Day 83

With this project soon winding down, I feel like I'm getting a bit lazy with it. So this neighborhood discovery came at a great time. It's still amazing when I finally notice something that's seemingly been there the entire time. Then again, this neighbor's cholla probably just started flowering recently.

Darth Chopstick

100 Days of Macro - Day 82

I've had this Star Wars Day macro in the back pocket for a while. And literally, I sometimes have these chopsticks in my front pocket. You just never know when you need to go all Sith on some sushi.

Purple Prickly Pear

100 Days of Macro - Day 81

I finally visited the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve this morning thanks to a photography meetup. I definitely need a longer lens for bird and wildlife photography in general, but it was an educational morning. Before leaving, I captured this cactus that I noticed by the entrance. Or at least, I tried.

Filo BBQ

100 Days of Macro - Day 80

My cousin decided at the last minute to have a gathering for his son's birthday. Oh and there just happened to be a certain pay-per-view later in the evening. I really don't care for boxing, but happy birthday to JD!

Lei Day

100 Days of Macro - Day 79

Thanks to Nelson Q for posting something on Facebook and reminding me that today is Lei Day. I shot this seashell lei on top of some scented crystals I picked up from a Pure Aloha Festival many years ago. It's about as Hawaiian as I could make it.

Cara Cara Navel

100 Days of Macro - Day 78

One thing I definitely wanted to do during our road trip was stop at a local produce shop. On the way to Sequoia National Park, we stumbled upon a shop called Sequoia Produce and picked up a bag of Cara Cara oranges among other things. Yeah you can buy them at Costco, but there's something about purchasing from a true farmers market.

Santa Barbara

100 Days of Macro - Day 77

Not sure what time we'll be home tonight, so I figured I'd get today's post out of the way now. I spotted these succulents while walking Bawoo outside our hotel in Santa Barbara. Not a flower, but admittedly flower-like.

Pismo Beach

100 Days of Macro - Day 76

Yes, another flower shot. Granted, this one was at Pismo Beach. But still yet another flower shot. So the challenge is finding a different and abstract way to photograph it. I'm enjoying the results of the last couple of days.

White Space

100 Days of Macro - Day 75

I spent the last day of my 36th lap around the sun in my favorite national park, otherwise known as Yosemite. With so much majesty to shoot around me, this macro shot was a bit of an afterthought. I like how the flower is only half there, making it look like a cross section. I also like all of the empty white space.

Tree Moss

100 Days of Macro - Day 74

Jieun had never been to Sequoia before, so I took her to see the General Sherman tree. There we were among the largest trees in the world. And yet, I had to find something miniscule to photograph. I'm not complaining. It was a great day.

Birth Anniversary Road Trip

100 Days of Macro - Day 73

Commence Birth Anniversary Road Trip. Or BART if you will. It's been a while since I've named a road trip. I didn't get much chance to shoot today, so I dipped into my list of last minute items. Right before the sun set, I took the next exit and shot the Bagua bell hanging from my rear-view mirror. If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's more car bell.

Arbor Day

100 Days of Macro - Day 72

There's a day for everything. Today happens to be Arbor Day—celebrated on the last Friday in April. "I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree." Honestly, I only know that line from Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees" because of Superman II.

Different Perspective

100 Days of Macro - Day 71

It's still surprising to discover how things look when you photograph them up close. This neighbor's plant is fairly uninteresting and almost ugly with its strange flowers. Up close is a different story.

Paved Weeds

100 Days of Macro - Day 70

Happy Earth Day! I do my part by allowing and embracing these weeds that are growing between the brick pavers in my driveway. No matter the conditions, life finds a way!

Incense Smoke

100 Days of Macro - Day 69

And now for something completely different. I decided to play with the Nag Champa again. I suppose this might have been more apt yesterday for 4/20. Of course, I would have used a green flash gel instead of this purple. It was much more challenging to get the smoke in focus this close up, but I feel like I got a decent shot.

Blue Palo Verde

100 Days of Macro - Day 68

I've always liked the Blue Palo Verde—awesome desert tree with its characteristic green trunk and branches. The yellow flowers up close aren't all that interesting though. Luckily, I happened upon another ladybug, shot a few rapid frames, and managed to grab an image with pretty good focus.

Boulder Basin

100 Days of Macro - Day 67

I got up early this morning and did a photo hike meetup at Lake Mead. The initial area didn't work out, so we ended up at the old Lake Mead Marina (now just a boat launch spot). We were just wandering and decided to climb the stairs to the top of the driveway to what I now know is "Pyramid Island" (obviously not an island).

Long story short, I'm not all that satisfied with the shots I got, but the one below was probably the most interesting. In person, this tiny furry green plant looked like a caterpillar. And to be honest, I never even noticed that insect on there.

Wasp Hive

100 Days of Macro - Day 66

I found this wasp hive just outside my front door earlier this week. I saved it for a lazy photo day such as today. (I should really take more advantage of weekend days though).

Bottlebrush Filaments

100 Days of Macro - Day 65

As I was waiting to meet someone to pick up my order of raw local honey, I saw these bottlebrush trees ripe for macro. I never knew that the "bristles" start up as balled up pods that eventually spread and straighten.

SpaceWolf Limited

100 Days of Macro - Day 64

Winter has arrived! Or more accurately, this awesome laser engraved wooden poster from SpaceWolf Limited arrived today. It's a map of Westeros and the Free Cities. Now to mount it somewhere somehow.

Uncle Sam

100 Days of Macro - Day 63

For those who owe money on tax day, congratulations. Better to keep your money as long as possible than let Uncle Sam have it interest free. That's my philosophy anyway.

Backyard Jungle

100 Days of Macro - Day 62

After years of neglecting my yard, I finally paid to have someone clean it up. It went from being a tiny jungle to a decent garden again. I managed to grab this shot before the dust bowl reached Mountain's Edge.

Lago by Chef Julian Serrano

100 Days of Macro - Day 61

We just got back from a phenomenal Yelp event at Chef Julian Serrano's new joint. I don't go to many events these days, so it's always nice when I can pick my spots and hit a home run. Receive a home run?

The food was superb. The service was excellent. The patio overlooking the Bellagio fountains was beautiful. Chef Julian Serrano was gracious in welcoming us. But this is about macro. And when someone pointed out that the orange peels in our Rye Manhattans were branded with the restaurant name, I knew I had my shot.