Ahem. You can stop waiting now. It’s time to resume our quiet little walk in the woods, looking at the smaller things, getting down to more of a bug’s eye view. It’s not bad down here…
For those who are just now joining the hike, without having burned the visual calories associated with vicariously hiking part one, here’s the backstory in a breath. Last winter I acquired a new (to me) 105mm macro telephoto lens, and had the chance to hike a newly reopened trail in the Columbia Gorge with my wife and some friends. The trail had been closed due to fire damage for over a year.
Oh, and if you’re really new to the site, I tend to take pictures and tell stories about them – hopefully in a more interesting way than “we went here, then we went there, etc.” We’re going easy on the story this time around. I mean really, who wants constant yammering in their ear whilst out enjoying the quiet and solitude of nature?
Let’s walk, shall we?
(Click any picture for a larger view)

Er, hey, what’s this? It ain’t macro. It’s barely a photograph.
Ok, ok, I cheated. A little. In part one I even insinuated I ignored the epic vistas in the Columbia Gorge, suggesting I was always looking down. Obviously, that’s not entirely true. I fired this one off on the cellphone while heading back down the trail and used one of my various software tools to give it a painterly look.
And what’s worse, even though I think it’s kind of cool, I’m using it as clickbait. Part One didn’t drag in many viewers beyond the regular crew (thanks, guys and gals), and I figure it’s featured picture of a couple of leaves might not have triggered the excitement meter. This one might at least get an “er, hey, what’s this?”
Thumbs up to your macro work, Dave. Here’s my favorite: the photo of the tiny green plants poking up thru the ice.
Neil Scheinin
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Thanks, Neil. They almost look like spring shoots trying to break out, even though it was early December.
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Hey Dave, this is a great album. When I first glanced at the pics on my phone, I thought the B&W was one of those, um, not cassettes, not 8-tracks, ah, oh yeah, “records,” that’s what they were called. I’m enjoying these macro pictures, and the bronze fern fronds the best.
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Ha! Complete with scratch. (Thump, thump, thump…)
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Good eye Dave! Like how you give context about the site for new visitors too, that’s good…greetings from Whistler, BC!
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Whistler, eh? Pretty country up there. I’ve never been there in summer.
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It rocks and good if you’ve got a camera eye, like you 🤩
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Now that tree trunk… at first I thought it was some sort of spider’s web! I wonder what sort of shock hit the tree to cause that fracture in the ring structure.
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Chances are the tree had been on fire and they considered it a risk for falling on the trail. Between that and felling it, it cracked up. (Or maybe there was a tree comedian around…)
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Oh boy the tree comedian. 😀
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Lovely pictures of those close up leaves.
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Sometimes when the big picture isn’t cutting it the small picture does.
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Dang, those are good photos! I especially liked the ones of the leaves in the snow.
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Yes, the snow added an element that made these shots more interesting. We weren’t expecting snow on the hike – serendipity!
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The leaves + snow are my faves of the macro shots. But my favorite of all is the painterly adaptation of the bridge vista! Very cool software tool – what’s it called?
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I have several programs that can do painterly effects, but the one I used for this is called Topaz Studio. They’ve just updated their product to a version that has all their functionality for a full fee price ($79), but you can still get their old version for free. That has most of the functionality, but for some of the functions you had to buy the “pro” version, which let you fine tune changes. (You can’t upgrade those functions anymore, you have to buy Topaz Studio 2). Frankly, on the occasions I used it I usually found the presets sufficient. You can also do basic editing with it, in addition to the effects.
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Thanks, Dave!
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I never get tired of your macro shots, and the painterly edit of the last image is a nice contrast. Topaz Impression?
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You nailed it! I have it as part of Topaz Studio. They’ve just updated to Topaz Studio 2, and it seems I accidently bought enough upgrades to version 1 that they gave me V2 for free. 🙂
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Excellent post and captures. You are using that macro lens well! 🙂
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Thanks, Denise. It’s a fun lens to use – lots more to come.
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You’ll hook me in no matter what, but the paint feature is charming just the same. Hope it works out for you. If not, you can always try going shirtless. 😉
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Shirtless? The idea is to attract them, not scare ’em off. The closest I get to a six-pack is if I pour one off my home brew keg.
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Beautiful discoveries, pleasant walk.
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I have been enjoying your macro work – and in general, enjoy your photography – but immediately was struck by the “painting” both at the top and at the bottom in its full form. I know nothing about Topaz Studio, but I am sure the composition was not created by a program: it is beautiful.
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The program has presets for different effects. You just pick one you like and maybe tweak it a little. But yes, the basic composition is still photography based.
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The macros are very nicely done, again. They have a fresh feeling. But this time, the “painterly effect” image got my attention. I don’t usually like effects of that type, but something about this one works. All the different colors are subtle enough, and the whole thing hangs together. I read through the comments, knowing I came late enough so that someone would have asked, so I know it’s Topaz. Thanks for explaining!
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I think the composition is the secret on the “painting”. It happened kind of fast and I had to grab the cell phone to get it rather than dig for the “real” camera and change lenses. I have no “real” painting talent so this is as close as I can come.
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Stunning pictures
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Thanks, Susanne.
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Beautiful closeups with your macro,Dave. Really nicely shot with excellent clarity and color. Topaz is fun and I love what you did with the last image. Terrific post.
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I’ve been shooting so much macro this year I fear people are going to get bored with it as the posts keep coming. Maybe I’ll need to take Topaz for a spin again or try some composites just to mix things up.
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Macro is a particular skill. I do have to remind myself to shoot what I love not what I think people will love. Your passions shine through your work. 😉
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Ahhh… utterly beautiful macros! I struggle with ’em because… wind, hand trembles, aversion to tripods. There’s probably more, but, oh well! 😉
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I’m not a big fan of tripods either. Fortunately I have a fairly steady hand, especially if I have something to lean against. Wind is a tough one. There are gadgets, but I usually try the patience method.
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At a ripe old approaching 77 my hands aren’t as steady as they once were. But I gave up on perfect pixels quite some time ago! Patience has often been in rather short supply as well! 🤨
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