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Thread: Insect Macro photography from Sungei Buloh

  1. #1
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    Insect Macro photography from Sungei Buloh

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    Hi all

    Please comment. The spider was taken with only one hand as the other hand is pulling away a leaf that was blocking it.. extremely challenging



    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    Nice pictures!
    Just wanna point out that you might want to crop away the leaf on the left of the picture 1 and try to move closer to the spider next time. The basic rules of approach are Slow and Low. oh, and be careful of chopping away its legs.

    Your grasshopper wasn't very well focused in picture 2.
    Last edited by benny; 4th Jun 2007 at 21:07. Reason: Remove immediate quote
    Cheers and Regards,
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    Just most of the time...

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    Insect

    Hi Billy

    Thanks for the advice.. How is this spider after I cropped it?



    agree with the grasshopper... but so hard to focus with handheld even with VR on...
    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    Wah, beautiful! Finally get to see your shots!
    Eugene (^_^)
    De Dwergcichlide Fanatiek
    Now swimming: Plecos and Apistogrammas

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    Jeff.. Nice work...

    For insect pictures..its always better to use a deeper DOF... especially when doing macro on insects...even at f8.. the back will still be blurred on most cases...whats more you are using a SLR so that will be even more evident. Otherwise you get pictures like your grasshopper...head not so much in focus and thorax in focus.
    Also for the spider.. did you use a diffuser on the flash?

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    I think he didn't use a diffusor. Can see the harsh shadows. Maybe can invest in a Stofen or DIY a bounce card.

    Ranma, he is already using f11 for the grasshopper. Maybe up the f-stop and stand abit further so that the DOF is deeper.
    ~ Vincent ~ Fishes calm your mind...
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    I find the composition a bit messy. e.g. The white bit in the background in both pic draws attention away. The twig infront of the grasshopper. Other things already mentioned by the guys.

    Yes, macro is not easy because the DOF, control of lighting etc. Also, you might wanna consider using manual setting instead of aperture priority in case of handshake etc.

    ck

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    Quote Originally Posted by ranmasatome View Post
    Jeff.. Nice work...

    For insect pictures..its always better to use a deeper DOF... especially when doing macro on insects...even at f8.. the back will still be blurred on most cases...whats more you are using a SLR so that will be even more evident. Otherwise you get pictures like your grasshopper...head not so much in focus and thorax in focus.
    Also for the spider.. did you use a diffuser on the flash?
    Thanks ranma. Are you saying that i should higher than F8 such as F11 or F16?

    I did use a diffusor on the flash.... something like a white box over the flash...

    Quote Originally Posted by genes View Post
    Wah, beautiful! Finally get to see your shots!

    Thanks Eugene....

    The rest... cant seem to multi-quote except for genes and ranma's. I am still learning so any comments are good...

    CK, hmm.. agree with you on the white background.. did not realise it at all until you said it...

    one thing though.. i do not know how to do manual setting on this pic.. what would you have set?
    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    try to angle the flash at an angle (45 degrees or more) rather than directly at the subject.

    f18-f22 is not unheard of for macro shots, but a tripod is usually needed then.

    I am finding manual settings produce much better results. Maybe something like f11-f14 and 1/40 to 1/60 for yours?

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    As in, set your camera to manual mode (instead of aperture priority mode) to shoot. Since you are using flash and e-ttl, the exposure will be compensated by the flash. In that way, your background will be darken and only the immediate areas around your subject will light up nicely by the flash. Try different settings and see what works best for you. The great thing about digital photography is that you can check your image immediately.

    The white box thingy attached to your flash is called a omni bounce.

    ck

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    Quote Originally Posted by CK Yeo View Post
    As in, set your camera to manual mode (instead of aperture priority mode) to shoot. Since you are using flash and e-ttl, the exposure will be compensated by the flash. In that way, your background will be darken and only the immediate areas around your subject will light up nicely by the flash. Try different settings and see what works best for you. The great thing about digital photography is that you can check your image immediately.

    The white box thingy attached to your flash is called a omni bounce.

    ck
    Thanks CK for the explanation...

    So does the omni bounce help in making the pic less harsh? is that the diffusor you are talking about?
    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    isn't 1/60 rather slow for a 105mm lens at 1.5× crop? the target shutter speed should be at least 1/160s.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
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    Quote Originally Posted by hwchoy View Post
    isn't 1/60 rather slow for a 105mm lens at 1.5× crop? the target shutter speed should be at least 1/160s.
    Ya.. i agree with hwchoy.. it's handheld... 1/60 will definitely have handshake...
    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    Quote Originally Posted by valice View Post
    I think he didn't use a diffusor. Can see the harsh shadows. Maybe can invest in a Stofen or DIY a bounce card.

    Ranma, he is already using f11 for the grasshopper. Maybe up the f-stop and stand abit further so that the DOF is deeper.

    I don't think omni bounce or card will help in this situation. ideally two diffused flash from two sides, or a ring flash!
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

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    When i was shooting insects i always had a ring flash that i could borrow from my previous laboratory... Howeer, since i no longer work there.. i agree with choy.. about the 2 diffused flashes... that is one of the major reasons why i have 3 flashes at home..and when i go out to shoor insects..i have flash stands to hold more than one flash.

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    Man... you guys are incredible.... so you actually set up 2 separate stands on the sides?
    I am into Plecos now...
    L46, L173, L134 & L236
    ~~Jeffrey~~

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    can also try to rubberband the flash to your lens hood.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

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    if you have only one flash, you can substitute the other with a mirror, that is if the subject and circumstance is conducive to such things.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

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    obviously, you guys don't do much macro photography in the wild :P.

    Ring flash is good with really closeup shots, do a wider shot, you find the flash overpowering. best bet, use a tripod, set to AV then either bounce the flash using a omni bounce or a bounce card.

    choy, 1/60s isn't hard to handhold for a 105mm lens, I have tried 1/60s with my 180mm, i know some guys doing 1/8s

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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon View Post
    obviously, you guys don't do much macro photography in the wild :P.
    we are arm-chair photographers.
    sitting only in front of the tanks, so can do all sorts of funny flash positionings.
    ~ Vincent ~ Fishes calm your mind...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/valice/





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