Wednesday, August 26, 2009

bad genes are good for something


i was just scrolling through the 33,477 photos i have in iPhoto on my iMac (thank goodness for that terabyte of time capsule backup), looking for a particular event (if you don't have iPhoto, an event is the way iPhoto organizes your pictures, so it's kind of a folder in windows terms). and i kept getting lost along the way, stopping to click into other events that had nothing to do with what i was looking for. and i realized there are a lot of folders that i've called "macro" something or other.


because in case you hadn't noticed, i'm a bit of a fan of my 60mm nikkor macro lens. and with the ability to focus exactly where i want to on the D300, i spend a lot of time with that lens. and me being me, i couldn't resist thinking about why that is. because otherwise in life, i'm not known for my attention to detail (a solid meyers-briggs ENTP). i'm a big picture kind of person. so what is it about the view that the macro lens affords that i find so fascinating?


and then it hit me. the macro lens sees in a very similar manner to my own eye (hmm, i guess i wasn't done with that whole eye thing after all). i'm really near-sighted. like one diopter from a dog. my glasses are -7 in my left eye and -6.5 with the right. there are places where -8 is legally blind. but of course, i can correct my vision with contacts and glasses and i do so. but without correction, my own eyes work a lot like the macro lens. there is a point of objects that are very close that's in perfect, sharp focus along a line and it fades quickly along the edges and in the background. i have little depth to my vision and without glasses can only see something that's held very close to my eyes.


so i've come to the conclusion that my eye feels at home with the macro lens. and i have to admit that getting down into the details of things, noticing and really studying something up close, through that lens, has helped me to be more mindful in general. i notice my surroundings more, including the small details that used to escape me. i guess i can thank my bad eyes and my 60mm macro. maybe i'll have to stop trying to get my parents to pay for my glasses, arguing that it was the fault of the bad genes they gave me. it seems bad genes are good for something after all.


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on another note: you should go and check out SE'LAH's beautiful "gift of jewels" project. it's a beautiful idea and it involves getting a lovely card in the mail from a wonderful blogger somewhere out there in the world. kind of like postcrossing, but more personal. it's in celebration of the ethiopian new year, but also in celebration of the community found here in the blogosphere.  here's a list of who is participating already, but you can still play too! just scoot on over to this post on the necessary room and sign up by friday!

14 comments:

MissBuckle said...

I love those closeups.

I love how everything looks different when you change the perspective. Up close for detail, and far away for some big picture views.

Works in my life.

Jessica O'Neill said...

I also love macro - and my eyes are....gasp....negative 12 in each eye. Yes, in Canada I am legally blind. Thank god for contact lenses or I would look like Ms Magoo.....

Anonymous said...

I love those photos and the focus on the small details - I'm glad you've found some good in what you perceive are your bad genes :)

Polly said...

I'm also short-sighted, nearly as badly as you, and I love macro shots even with my non-macro lense! so there it definitely something in it...

on another note - I've been searching high and low for cheap flights to DK over the past couple of days but there are none. I wish I could come but I simply can't afford it... shame

Joei said...

Hi! thank you for dropping by my blog and for leaving a comment, about my weight, i am not that tiny if you could only see me in person, ha.ha.ha

anyway, I love your photos and about the macro shot, I always wanted to do it but always I failed if it's not blurry, it became unfocused i really have a difficult time doing macro shot. :-(
I love the butterfly on the flower.

-Joei

Anonymous said...

I am quite hopeless at close-ups
so am inspired to maybe ask for a cool lens for Christmas........
as regards taking photos of people, I think I'm quite brave about it. I've got a wonderful one saved somewhere of a girl putting on make up in the subway
gosh, did she give me a mean look
except, if doing something persona in public.....

word verification:
dishlori

is this some poor girl hired to help in the house and paid nothing?

McVal said...

Awesome pictures! I think I'll have to upgrade my little Canon sureshot to one of those!

Char said...

I've never thought about that....but it is a good point about eyesight and photography loves. maybe it's even why I can't do many decent macros is because I can't see up close very well.

food for thought

paris parfait said...

These are beautiful macros! And I am a big fan of macro images. I'm nearsighted too, but not to the extent you are. And I have always paid attention to the detail, often overlooking the big picture in the interim. Off to check out Selah's blog. P.S. The eyeballs are headed your way soon. xo

kristina said...

stunning photos!! and it's an interesting thought, about the connection between macro photography and sight.

Bee said...

We share those bad eyes . . .
Fascinating theory on why the macro lens appeals to you so much. There's something astoundingly beautiful (and strange) about that little green shoot poking through the moss.

beth said...

stop by tomorrow if you can, as I just scheduled a post that includes a shot from my macro that I am sooooo in love with !


ps...we have had 13 moves in 25 years and I always make a house a home...all you have to do is throw your heart into and wha-la, it's a home :)

The Redhead Riter said...

I had a frog JUST LIKE THAT one! I bought it at the Plano Balloon Festival in Texas many, many years ago.

Unknown said...

clear details. I love your photos! I wonder what camera and type of lens you are using to take pictures? I love close-up shots just like what you just did.