Vythiri, Wayanad, Kerala !!

Part of the summer holidays (April), a short visit to Vythiri, Wayanad Kerala.... Temperature started around 30 degrees but with a rain it was around 27 - 28 and pleasant..

As usual, few clicks around Vythiri village, Banasur dam.....

A stream divides the property and a beautiful suspension bridge to go from one side to the other ! Iconic spot for Vythiri village.

Jack fruits all over !

An artificial waterfall ! 

During the nature's walk, spotted Dragon flower ! 

Deep up in the hills, on the roof of a villager's home ! Silent and enjoying the morning sun !

Some millet or wild plant !

This is the end of nature's walk from the property ! a breadth taking view of the winding roads and tea / plantations !

Above all, close to the top of the hill, a peaceful, villager's home ! Priceless !

From top of the hill, view at down the valley's ! Trademark churches of Wayanad & Kerala !

Tried some Micro shots during one of the wild walks !

Bud ready to blossom !

Amazing to see many Passion Flowers ! Such a complicated but beautiful structure ! My amateur extender tube and standard lens can go only this far !

Passion fruits noodle like petals !

Passion fruit in the making !

Never seen these guys so close ! the great white insects or fliers which can be found on the back of almost all green leaves ! This was under a pepper leaf !

Peppers ! Green turns red and later black once dried 

Not miniature grapes ! Peppers hanging from the creepers !

Hibiscus bud ! Ready for blossom !

Closer look at the jack fruit ! so complex 

A wild flower in the jungle ! less than an inch in size !

The narrator called this "Cup and Saucer" flower.... so many of them.. can drink coffee off of this !

 So called Aamanakku in Tamil !.... 

Early morning leaves welcoming sun !

Macro Photography 1

There are number of ways you can go closer to your subjects and enlarge your subject...... There are special macro lenses - which can give you 1:1 ratio of the subject, meaning same as real life size.
There are extender tubes available - which can more or less produce the same results as well and come much cheaper.. may be about 1/10th of the lens. The catch here is that you need to make sure the extended tubes are automatic meaning your Aperture, focus etc should be communicated through the tubes......... the tubes sit on your camera and on top of that your lens (standard 18 to 55mm or any other prime lens)....
There are much cheaper filters are available but because you add glasses on top of your lens, the quality is compromised.

Extended tubes allow you to go very close to your subject... and hence comes with very shallow depth of field.... shooting with a tripod is highly recommended.

The below images are taken using the extenders..... To me, the results are closer to the macro lens results ...... you need to confirm !!!!!

These were my models for this shoot !