Various Macros -

[pathfinder]

I have been watching the improvement in the macros being posted and it is impressive. Thomas and L Vetinari are definitely raising the bar. Hopefully, I can add a few for the threads enjoyment also. All these were taken with a 580ex flash off camera with a reflector on the opposite side from the flash and a Tamron 180 macro.

Here is a little skipper
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27833077-L.jpg

And another...
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27833363-L.jpg

Some kind of dragon fly perhaps
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27833460-L.jpg

A bumble Bee at work
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27857913-L.jpg

A day lilly
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27857701-L.jpg

and last but not least, my humble attempt to catch a fly
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27857360-L.jpg

I am most interested in criticism and suggestions for improvement.

[Andy]

A bumble Bee at work
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27857913-Ti.jpg



I am most interested in criticism and suggestions for improvement.

good light on the skippers - and the catchlights in the dragon, too :thumb i also like the action in this bee shot, he says "it's mine!" :clap

[GREAPER]

Awesome shots Pathfinder. The last one is my favorite I think...

[pathfinder]

good light on the skippers - and the catchlights in the dragon, too :thumb i also like the action in this bee shot, he says "it's mine!" :clap


Thanks, Andy. I have been experimenting with using one flash off camera and a silver reflector opposite it - It is large and ungainly at times, but gives pretty nice illumination sometimes also. I like the bee too.

[pathfinder]

Awesome shots Pathfinder. The last one is my favorite I think...

Thank you Greaper. I have been so impressed with the quality of L Vetinari's flies that I was reluctant to post this one as it is a significant crop, but I did like the color and overall tonality.

[tmlphoto]

They all look great to me Path. The lighting is really great and your focus and depth of field are spot on. I enjoyed them all. Keep them coming. Hurricaine weather around these parts, so no shooting for me:cry .

[pathfinder]

They all look great to me Path. The lighting is really great and your focus and depth of field are spot on. I enjoyed them all. Keep them coming. Hurricaine weather around these parts, so no shooting for me:cry .


Thank you Thomas, here is one more for ya. I just like the colors...

Bee on a day lilly

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27897549-L.jpg

[MuskyDude]

Wow, these are all really excellent PF. Another macroholic in the making!:clap


And looking forward to seeing more!



AJ

[bfjr]

DragonFly rocks :thumb

[pete w]

:clap Here's looking at you

A bumble Bee at work
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/27857913-L.jpg

[Lord Vetinari]

Some great shots there pathfinder, especially the Bee shots.
One suggestion- where you have cropped the pics and got a bit of noise on them, try using neatimage on them- there's a free "demo" which has no limitation apart from no commercial use and it works extremely well.

You've beaten me to the reflector idea- I was thinking of playing with one. How have you got it rigged up?
Brian V.

[ian408]

Nice shots there PF!

Ian

[gus]

All great but i really love that last one PF :thumb

Gus

[pathfinder]

Some great shots there pathfinder, especially the Bee shots.
One suggestion- where you have cropped the pics and got a bit of noise on them, try using neatimage on them- there's a free "demo" which has no limitation apart from no commercial use and it works extremely well.

You've beaten me to the reflector idea- I was thinking of playing with one. How have you got it rigged up?
Brian V.

I like and use Neat Image also. But sometimes I just go with the grain I get:dunno


I used a bracket from RRS to hold the flash to camera right, and a Plamp and a 12 inch Photoflex white or gold disk reflector on camera left.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/gsmacrokit1.jpg
This picture is linked from The Nature Photgraphers site where I purchased the Plamp and reflectors. Very nice site to do business with.

I purchased the whole reflector kit here
http://www.naturephotographers.net/gs/gsmacrokit1.html

[Lord Vetinari]

Whoops- sorry about the comment on neat-Image :scratch

Those "plamps" and reflectors look neat, although with both of them on it looks a bit like an insect squashing machine :rofl
Brian V.