Macro Flowers | a 7 Image Story   Macro photography allows very close focusing and magnification.  Macro photography is new, brand new to me.  To initially achieve a few macro images, I used extension tubes to magnify my subjects.  My Nikon gear was fairly simple; a Nikon 1 V3  attached to a MOVO 21mm extension tube and an AF-S Nikon 50mm f1.4G lens.  It’s much cheaper than buying a macro lens.  Then, if I like capturing macro images, maybe I’ll purchase a  Nikon Micro lens.

These images came from a relatively short walk.  At this time of year, spring flowers are starting to bloom.  Luckily, they don’t care about the virus or stay-at-home orders.  And, walking outdoors is good for both body and soul.  Hey, tomatoes were flowers at one time.  Why include them in the post?  I just liked this image of locally grown tomatoes.  Obviously, this time of year, they’re hydroponic hothouse tomatoes.

Tulip   Inside the Tulip Petals, you can see the top to the Pistil called the Stigma in the center.  It receives pollen which fertilizes the flower.  Around the Pistil, you can see the heads of the Stamen called the Anther.  They produce and release pollen.  Bees are attracted to the Anther.

Daffodil  Daffodils are one of the most popular flowers on my spring walkabouts.  Some folks say they symbolize friendship.  Daffodil flowers consist of least 50 species and over 13,000 hybrids.  They thrive in moderate spring climates.  All Daffodils have a corona center trumpet and a ring of petals.  The natural Daffodil color is golden yellow with a contrasting color trumpet.

Drumstick Allium  This Drumstick Allium, a type of ornamental onion with egg-shaped blooms, is in the process of blooming.  It blooms in early summer with oval shaped burgundy colored blooms on wiry stems.  The grayish-green foliage provides nice contrast for an image.  The word Allium means onion in Latin. 

Dandelion   Dandelions grow in many parts of the world.  The most common variety has a yellow flower.  Many folks consider the dandelion as a stubborn weed that never leaves your lawn.  Dandelions are one of the early spring nectar sources for a wide variety of pollinators.

Apple Blossom   Over 7,500 varieties of apples are grown worldwide.  Springtime apple blossoms are one of the most beautiful attributes of an apple tree.  This image captures the blossom’s intricate features.

Daffodil Closer Macro photography is all about getting closer and bigger.  This image is close enough and magnified enough to clearly see pollen on both the stigma and anther.  The stigma receives pollen which fertilizes the flower.    The Anther produces and releases the flower’s pollen.

Pine Tree Bud  The buds of pine trees create nice contrast for macro photos.  Notice the integrated detail.  A macro photo shows details difficult to see with the naked eye.