A few more macros

[Lord Vetinari]

I've been taking a lot of pics recently- please do tell me to stop if it gets too much.
Appreciate feedback on these

First a marauding bug gets it's come-uppance

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4173c.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4176c.jpg

A couple of flies

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4178c.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4187c.jpg

A couple of flowers- these were taken using the exact same settings as the macros above.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4249c.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4257c.jpg

and lastly couple of damsel fly shots I took to check if the flash system was giving different colour effects to sunlight.

first flash system

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4240c.jpg

Now Natural light

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.valentine/CRW_4241c.jpg

[MuskyDude]

Wow. :clap Insane details, awesome series! :thumb


AJ

[Lord Vetinari]

Wow. :clap Insane details, awesome series! :thumb


AJThanks Muskydude. Think I've taken too many pictures of flies- they are beginning to look like motorbikes to me. :dunno
Was quite pleased how the lawn daisy came out though even if it did turn out to have some other wildlife.
Brian V.

[tmlphoto]

Amazing shots, keep 'em coming. I never knew flies could be so interesting.

[Lord Vetinari]

Amazing shots, keep 'em coming. I never knew flies could be so interesting.Thanks Thomas,
Yes flies do seem to come in an amazing array of paint jobs/ textures.
Brian V.

[SeeMoon]

Amazing shots, keep 'em coming. I never knew flies could be so interesting.


:agree I like the fly shots the best!

[Kenundrum]

wow- those flies look almost surreal- as if they were rendered by a computer- but obviously they weren't. nice details captured

[DoctorIt]

i've said it once, i'll say it again - awesome! I really think what does it for me is that you are very good at capture the bugs on a nice bright leaf and keep the background very dark. this makes it so dramatic and clean. wow!

[pathfinder]

i've said it once, i'll say it again - awesome! I really think what does it for me is that you are very good at capture the bugs on a nice bright leaf and keep the background very dark. this makes it so dramatic and clean. wow! The bugs are side-lit by a diffuse light source and the lighting IS very dramatic. That also accounts for the darker backgrounds. Are you using hand held off camera flash with a diffuser for your lighting LV? Very nice series.

[Lord Vetinari]

The bugs are side-lit by a diffuse light source and the lighting IS very dramatic. That also accounts for the darker backgrounds. Are you using hand held off camera flash with a diffuser for your lighting LV? Very nice series.
Quite correct the flash is mounted low and to the left- see here for a pic of the rig.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=13654064

Just use a home-made diffuser on the end plus the wide angle diffuser is pulled out and in place on the flashgun.
I did use a handheld flash in one of the pics in a previous series, but found it bit tricky hand holding both the flash and the camera and taking a pic. :D

Brian V.

[Lord Vetinari]

Thanks all for the comments. Encouragement is always welcome.

Funny about the flies- I'm trying not to photograph them anymore- On Dpreview 300D/350D forum I've been nicknamed "Lord of the Flies". :rofl

Brian V.

[REECEPHOTO]

Outstanding!!!
The thing I love the most about your photos is the sharpness do you use a tri or mono pod??? I find I miss to many shots if I try to use the pod on bugs. Maybe a spider but no flying bugs thats for sure there to busy and fast.

[Lord Vetinari]

Outstanding!!!
The thing I love the most about your photos is the sharpness do you use a tri or mono pod??? I find I miss to many shots if I try to use the pod on bugs. Maybe a spider but no flying bugs thats for sure there to busy and fast.
Thanks reecephoto
No the shots are hand held manual focus. I tend to set the focus/magnification I want on the lens and then move the rig slowly back and forth and fire (using a remote trigger on the back of the handle of the flash bracket) when the subject appears in sharp focus. Used to only get about 20% of the shots in sharp focus, but now get about 80% of the shots in sharp focus- amazing what practice does for you.
Actually just thought I have actually used a monopod sometimes but not on the ground- had it on a small ball joint at right angles so it sat on my shoulder- can help stabilise the system.

Brian V.