Meta Gatschenberger - Blowing Rock North Carolina Nature Photographers

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About Meta Gätschenberger – Blowing Rock NC Nature Photographer

Meta Gätschenberger is an Award Winning Nature Photographer and Macro Photographer, in Blowing Rock, NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Meta focuses on Nature Photography and Macro Photography using Sony Alpha Cameras, Lenses and Flashes to Shoot Large 24 Megapixel Images.

Meta’s Nature Photography Photos are For Sale Online at Photos by Meta.

Meta’s North Carolina Nature Photography Contest Awards


Support Meta’s Macro Photography Tips!

About Meta Gätschenberger – Award Winning Nature Photographer and Macro Photographer
Meta Gatschenberger - Award Winning Macro Photographer - Blowing Rock NC
Nature Photographer Meta Gätschenberger

About Meta Gätschenberger – Award Winning Nature Photographer

Meta Gätschenberger has been active in Macro Photography since 2006, using her old 8 Megapixel Canon Rebel DSLR Camera, which still functions today.

In the Winter of 2011, Meta moved up to the Western North Carolina High Country in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Meta found herself “Living in the Woods” – The Pisgah National Forest to be exact. Surrounded by so much natural beauty and living right off The Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, Meta just had to get out and Photograph Nature!

After the snow melted in the Spring of 2012, Meta upgraded her old 8 Megapixel Canon Rebel DSLR Camera to a brand new Sony Alpha 65 (24 Megapixels, Mirrorless, 10fps, 1/4000th Shutter Speed). At that time, the new Mirrorless Sony Alpha 65 was way ahead of its time. This Professional Grade SLT Camera was attached to Meta’s Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens, which also functions as an excellent f/2.8 50mm Prime Lens for general everyday use.

Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Sony Alpha A77 II Camera
Sony Alpha A77 II Camera
In 2017, Meta began entering and winning a few Western North Carolina Nature Photography Contest Awards. She decided to go Semi-Professional and upgrade her 5 year old Sony Alpha 65 to the faster model of Sony Alpha 77 II (24 Megapixels, Faster Processor, Mirrorless, 12fps, 1/8,000th Shutter Speed, Improved Auto Focusing), to have a consistent camera interface.

Meta’s new Sony Alpha 77 II is attached to her Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens. This is an Excellent Setup for Detailed Macro Photography, because the Sony Alpha 77 II has very low noise levels at high ISO, which is perfect for Macro Photography and Close-up Photography. The faster processor in the Sony Alpha 77 II can process HDR Photos in about 1 second compared to about 20 seconds. The Sony Alpha 77 II can also reduce the Internal Popup Flash to 1/16 Power Level, increasing the Flash Speed to 1/15,000th of a second, which is required for Photographing Hummingbirds.

Meta’s Sony Alpha 65 and Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro / Prime Lens have shoot many weddings, including her brother’s, her son’s and even her own! Meta doesn’t do Professional Wedding Photography, so please don’t ask her to shoot your wedding.

Minolta and Sony Camera Expert and Author, Gary Friedman, rates the Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens, as “One of The Best Lenses on the Planet”! Meta agrees!

Meta Gatschenberger - Award Winning Macro Photographer - Blowing Rock NC
Meta Gätschenberger, RN Care Coordinator
When Meta is not working 10+ hour shifts as a Registered Nurse and Inpatient Care Coordinator at the Watauga Medical Center, Meta can usually be found out with her Web Designer husband Scott, on the remote mountain hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain and around Blowing Rock NC, Boone NC, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway shooting Western North Carolina Nature Photography and Macro Photography.
Meta’s Nature Photography Photos are For Sale Online at Photos By Meta.

Meta’s North Carolina Nature Photography Contest Awards

Meta’s How To Photograph Hummingbirds
Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Camera Setup
Meta’s Hummingbird Camera Setup In The Shade

Meta’s Best Hummingbird Photographs – How To Shoot Hummingbirds

In Meta’s How To Shoot Hummingbirds, Meta explains in detail her Hummingbird Photography Techniques, Hummingbird Shutter Speeds, and Hummingbird Camera Settings that she uses to take bright and colorful Hummingbird Photographs!

If you’ve ever tried to Photograph Hummingbirds and Freeze their Wings, you know what a challenge it can be. Hummingbirds move very quickly and rarely stay in one spot long enough to focus on. Don’t try this with your iPhone Camera!

Meta explains in detail her Low Power Multi-Flash Method that she uses to Freeze The Hummingbird’s Wings in her Hummingbird Photographs (Photos: Below).
Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos
Hummingbird Photo – High Speed Shutter
Direct Sunlight– 1/4,000th, ISO 1600, f/4.0
 Hummingbird Photo –High Speed Shutter
Direct Sunlight– 1/4,000th, ISO 1600, f/4.0
 Hummingbird Photo – Low Power Multi-Flash
Three High Speed Flashes – 1/100th, ISO 100, f/18
Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos Meta's Macro Photography Tips - Hummingbird Photos
Hummingbird Photo – Low Power Multi-Flash
Three High Speed Flashes – 1/100th, ISO 100, f/18
 Hummingbird Photo – Low Power Multi-Flash
Three High Speed Flashes – 1/100th, ISO 100, f/18
 Hummingbird Photo – Low Power Multi-Flash
Three High Speed Flashes – 1/100th, ISO 100, f/18

Meta’s Rare and Endangered Nature Photography
Sony 70-200mm Telephoto Lens
Sony 70–200mm Telephoto Lens

Meta’s Rare and Endangered Gray’s Lily – Prints For Sale at Photos by Meta

Ever so often in Macro Photography, you get lucky and stumble upon a Rare and Endangered Species – Not one, but two plants in full bloom, with multiple platforms! Meta shot these Two Gray’s Lilies with her Sony 70–200mm Telephoto Lens!

Meta found these Gray’s Lilies on the Blue Ridge Parkway at an undisclosed location, which was reported to the U.S. National Park Service, so that they can remain protected. These rare flowers only bloom for a couple of weeks in mid June.

Meta’s Gray’s Lilies Photos are For Sale Online at Photos by Meta.
Meta Gatschenberger - Grays Lily Meta Gatschenberger - Grays Lily Meta Gatschenberger - Grays Lily

Meta Gätschenberger – Award Winning Blowing Rock North Carolina Nature Photographers

Meta Gätschenberger – Award Winning Blowing Rock NC Photographer

Meta hopes that you loved her Nature Photography Photos and her Hummingbird Photography Photos from Meta’s Magical and Miniature World of Macro Photography and Close-up Photography.

Meta’s Nature Photography Photos are For Sale Online at Photos By Meta.

Meta’s North Carolina Nature Photography Contest Awards


Support Meta’s Macro Photography Tips!

“Oh Lord, won’t you Fund Me, a Sony Zeiss Lens?
My friends all use Nikons, I must make amends!”

~ Meta

Photos By Meta

The top Macro Photographs featured on Meta Gätschenberger are available at Photos By Meta. Framed Prints available in Blowing Rock, NC at Rustic.
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©2018 Meta Gätschenberger. All Rights Reserved. Award Winning Western North Carolina Nature Photographers.