About the photos

All photos shown here were made by Canon 10D and 20D digital cameras. We used a Canon 17-40 mm zoom lens for the two exterior photos; the top one at 40 mm, f/5.6 and the bottom at 17 mm, f/8. For the remainder, except for photo 7, we used a Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens, most shots around f/6.7 at ISO 200, which was at the limits of handholding for the ambient light of the Conservatory. Photo 7 used the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom at 200 mm and f/6.7. None of these lenses have image stabilization, which would have helped on only a few shots; there is a persistent breeze that keeps almost everything slightly in motion. I would have preferred a longer macro lens for the water lilies, particularly if I had been using a full-frame sensor camera. The 70-200 has a closest-focusing distance that is a bit large for this type of subject. Extension tubes are very difficult to manage on the big zoom, and they reduce effective aperture. A 180mm macro might be the ticket, if you happen to have this in your arsenal.- Bill.