Calling all photographers and creatives who really like a challenge this week! Last July 2018, I challenged Sunday Stillers to a macro-photography challenge. I thought it was time to offer another macro or close-up photography challenge this week.

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.

Dorothea Lange

I felt like going with a movie theme with the headings in the post today. After all, according to Wikipedia, a “film still (sometimes called a publicity still or a production still) is a photograph taken on or off the set of a movie or television program during production.” I guess I got inspired by the words “close-up.”

“All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”

Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, 1950

In case you are confused, today’s Sunday Stills theme is macro or close-up photography.

To understand the difference between the two types, read last year’s post.

Are You Ready for Your Close-Up?

It’s all in the details. Flowers within a sunflower.

sunflower details

A macro view of a white plumeria.

Macro Plumeria

A macro view of droplets on my pink plumeria. So close it almost looks fake! But it is not.

Plumeria water droplets

Close-up of my photo-filtered hydrangea. I don’t think these colors exist naturally in hydrangeas, but it makes a stunning image.

colorful hydrangea

These are both submitted for Snow’s Friendly Friday “Fake.”

My favorite? Macro-photography makes this bee look larger than life. How do you like the pollen on the bee’s head and legs?

Bee on sunflower macro

Flower images are also submitted for Cees Flower of the Day, and for Irene’s Macro Monday.

Believe it or not, I captured these images with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge phone! I have voice-activation set up to shoot, so no fumbling with fingers!

Go Ahead, Make My Day

Last week’s mellow yellow theme sure resonated with a lot of bloggers! Not only did we have 30 links to the theme, but 6 were new to Sunday Stills! We welcomed Quincy Harley, Heart to Heart, Take a Walk, Jez Braithewaite, Lifelessons, and Sandra Matteotti.

Maybe it was the last “hurrah,” that we had this number of links and responses to Sunday Stills, as I know many bloggers are soon taking short breaks to get their holidays and vacations in. No breaks for me but I’m only posting Sunday Stills challenges as I finalize school prep and get back to weekends at the delta before our campground closes for the season.

Casting Call

I got my cast removed on July 26 and have been using the walking boot to get around when needed. Although my ankle and foot swell each day, I can walk carefully without the boot. My ankle is stiff from being in the same position for two months, but my determination and physical therapy is slowly getting things back to normal. Sorry, no close-ups available!

To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

Elliott Erwitt

I used floral macros and close-ups as examples in my post to help inspire your creativity this week. Remember, the sky’s the limit with your choices of macro images.

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© 2019 Copyright-All rights reserved-secondwindleisure.com

Published by Terri Webster Schrandt

Now retired, I am former university adjunct faculty, self-published author, and retired recreation and parks practitioner living in Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle that includes fitness, photography, and fun.

115 thoughts on “Sunday Stills: Are You Ready for Your #Close-Up?”

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    1. Thanks so much, Liesbet! I enjoyed art in high school and college and photography has opened new doors for me in that regard. I wanted to comment back to you post that I realized yesterday that I am very close to finishing my book’s first draft!😁

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  25. Hope your foot gets better soon. I love macros, especially on flowers – the tinier you go, the more abstract and surreal it gets. I can’t believe your Samsung has voice activation on its camera, how cool!! Is it built in or a separate app? Thanks for linking to the Fake theme this week! 🤗 xoxo

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  34. Fabulous photos Terri, I just love the bee and the frangipani! I didn’t realise there was a difference between macro and close-up so went back and read your post last year – very interesting! I’ve shared some of my recent rose shots and some older favourites too. For most of them I used a macro lens but I agree it’s amazing what you can achieve with a phone these days. 🙂 https://debs-world.com/2019/08/11/getting-up-close-and-personal/

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  43. Love these!!! That sunflower, I hadn’t realised there were those tiny flowers within the magnificent sunflower! And the bee and water droplets, so lovely. Taken with your phone too, they’re amazing aren’t they? I’ll see what I can do 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  59. Exceptional photos, Terri! I just got goosebumps on the possibility of voice-activation on my phone. I am usually disappointed with pictures I take on my phone. I will investigate. You captured the delicate wings on the bee. Wow! Sounds like progress on your ankle and foot. Hang in there:)

    Liked by 1 person

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  60. Your macro photography is truly professional quality Terri. One more reason to visit Medellin. This area is a flower growing capital and ever year in August they have a multiday celebration of evything floral. It culmanates with a parade with growers dressed in traditional garb carrying their finest arrangements through the streets. Lots of opportunities for macroes here every day of the year. Great to see your coomittment to this challenge paying off and your gaining some real traction here.

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. I’m blushing, Lisa, thank you! My hubby was born in Colombia and he has family in Chile. We’ve toyed with the idea of moving abroad and heard great things about Medellin. I’m so happy with the photo challenge and it challenges me, too! Thanks always for stopping by on your world tour, Lisa!

      Liked by 1 person

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