The $9 Macro Rig

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>$4 extension tubes on my $5 GAF L-17 with the Chinon 1.7 55mm. Not quite macro as I was shooting at 50 ISO late in the day. Things get dim out there. Everything was hand-held, but next time I'm going to bring a bag of lentils for stability. On with the photos:<br>

The Black Morel, AKA Morchella angusticeps:<br>

<img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Morel/img014a640x.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p><img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Morel/img013a640x.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>Hate to use the "B" word, but...<br>

<img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Morel/img020a640x.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[chuck_foreman1]

Nice sharp work! Glad to see someone use those extension tubes. My Minolta kit has them.. I never seem to use them!

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>One more. I was amused by the stems of oak leaves forming a protective barrier.<br>

<img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Morel/img015a640x.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Just in case anyone is curious... Sweat in butter and shallots, reduce heavy cream, whisk in a tempered egg yolk, season with salt and white pepper. Serve over angel hair. It was very tasty.</p>

[gnashings]

<p>Obviously unhindered by the low quality, non-low dispersion air inside those cheap tubes ;) Jokes aside, lovely shots and now I'm hungry.</p>

[mfophotos]

<p>Matt -- You are obviously a man with morels.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Very nice.<br /><br />I can't remember seeing anything quite like the "B-word" picture before. Very inter-esting.<br /> <br /><br />I do have to take issue with your use of <em>Lens culinaris</em> for stabilization. I would personally recommend the 100% American solution of <em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em>. There's no call to go to those "furrin" nitrogen fixers. ;)</p>

[john_layton]

<p>Matt - without divulging the exact location of those morels (which would be...im-morel!)....where are you? Here in Vermont we've had very little luck finding morels over the past few years - I used to have a couple of favorite likely places, but these have simply not produced anything lately. </p>

<p>....and kudos for your patience to take such wonderful photos...I'm afraid that the butter would be melting in my skillet before I could think about photographing such delicacies!</p>

[gabor_szabo3]

<p>Matthew, that's some fine work with the GAF and it's macro rig. I'm envious of your fungi bounty. <br>

A bit soggy here in NJ this afternoon..... slim pickin's where I am, though. <br>

Have you tried a reversing ring, too?</p>

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>Gabor-Have not tried a reversing ring. I was having so much trouble dealing with focus issues and slow shutter speeds I got nothing using my longest tube. I might have to refine my technique a bit before I can shoot REALLY small. </p>

[rick_drawbridge]

<p>Yummy text and photographs! Nice to see the extension rings at work; I regularly use them with my 135mm lenses for close-up work, but rarely hand-held. <em>Tripodioid Erectus</em> is my game, but I'm a bit souperstitious regarding lentils. Nice pics, interesting OOF effects, many thanks. </p>

<p>Just incidentally, anyone know if these handsome fungi are edible? About the size of a large saucer.</p><div></div>

[gabor_szabo3]

<p>Rick,</p>

<p>It's best to consult a local mycologist before picking any mushrooms for the table.<br />This is a good site for shrooms in your area : <a href="http://hiddenforest.co.nz/fungi/">http://hiddenforest.co.nz/fungi/</a><br>

Always make a spore print whenever you're in doubt !</p>

[tom_price1]

<p>Yeah, you obviously have a strong morel center. And you have steady hands because I have that camera too and when that shutter goes off, it goes off with a ker-whang.</p>

[steve_10170]

<p>...is that fungus I see in your lens?</p>

[gnashings]

<p>Steve,<br>

I laughed so hard when I read that - couldn't believe we all missed that one :D</p>

[dan_fromm2]

<p>Matthew, Rick, learn to use flash closeup. If flash intimidates you, A. A. Blaker's book Field Photography is a good introduction to flash in general and closeup, also to closeup work. It is roughly contemporary with the cameras you're using ... Blaker is, IMO, a much better teacher than John Shaw.</p>