That is scary. Can you tell me what brand yours are? Is that allowed on the forum?

Thanks! See the post several spots up from this one. Explains the bubblage.

That's very helpful as this can become very confusing indeed!

Ok, so thanks to everyone for taking time to look at my pic and lend some great advice! Exactly what I was hoping for. I did join up with the macro forum m, so thanks for that link and suggestion. So much information given by so many. Thank you all!

As far as making the bubbles, here is a link to several different bubble mixes:
http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/bubble-recipes.html

Mine is probably a combination of a couple of them. I got frustrated with my mix on Saturday, dumped half of it and started over. That mix gave me this bubble.... so it's a mish mash of bubble recipes, lol. The temperature needs to be below 20, the colder them the better, I've done them at -2, but many do them colder.

No wind! Absolutely no wind or your bubble goes bye bye. The greatest tip I had was to shoot them in the morning hours at sunrise or at sunset and to shoot into the light because it will accentuate the crystallization patterns. Fortunate for me, I have a wonderful little pine tree to place my bubbles on.

Oh, and use a straw to blow the bubble into your surface....

That should just about do it.... getting close to getting my macro lens... I like the 105 of the Nikon and the Sigma, but I like the weather seal of the Tamron, which is a 90. My quandary....

Just glad my husband is supportive of this ridiculously expensive habit!

Thanks for the recommendation!

Thank you!

What a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing these.

Thanks for the information! I love the way that items on the same focal plane are all in focus. I appreciate you taking the time!

Wow, thank you! Ya, the noise is mostly gone because of my Lightroom edit. I was very fortunate to have the sun coming up and just peeking along with zero wind. Great learning experience.

Hi all! I've been practicing my macro photography as I'm a photography newbie learning and learning. I find so much useful information here so thanks to everyone! My question today is this: Is there a considerable difference between using a macro lens and using extension tubes?

My bubble picture here was taken with a D750 and kit lens 24-120 f4 using two extension tubes. I find that the actual area of focus is tiny.... like maybe the size of a dime before it begins to drop off and get fuzzy. My aperture was f6.3 which I felt should have given me more dof and because I wasn't using a tripod, I had to keep my shutter speed at 1/100th (was at 92mm), ISO 1600. I certainly didn't want my ISO going any higher..... and it seems that the tubes introduce some noise.

Along the same lines here..... there are a few lenses I could choose from for Macro as far as I see it. The Nikon 105, Sigma 100, Tamron 90 or Tokina 100. I want one that has the rubber seal on the mount for sure.

Hogs! Help me please! Have a great day!

Sounds perfect

I hear you - this is what initially deterred me from getting a BlackRapid strap; however, on my latest trip to the local camera shop, I voiced my concerns. The gal grabbed a BlackRapid tripod mount that is compatible with Arca-Swiss type mounts and we tested it on my tripod. Worked perfectly - so my BlackRapid strap utilizes the tripod mount instead of the little bolt that comes with the strap. The mount stays on my camera at all times - I just unclip the carabiner that is attached to the strap from the mount, pop the camera on my tripod or monopod. Easy peasy and extremely quick. Very convenient.

BTW, I have the BlackRapid Curve on a D750 with the 24-120 f4 lens.

Those are beautiful. What is your gear?

To learn and learn. I've been watching this forum for a few months and have been learning my camera in that time. I'm new to the photography scene and it's a lot to take in..... overwhelming in fact.

Composition, exposure, focus..... oi... which aperture for DOF. I guess at least I've learned to recognize all the things I don't understand 😮