Extension tubes

[yeatzee]

and the above spider taken far away for size comparison

C&C welcome

 

[ismart]

Very impressive photos you got there!

 

[yeatzee]

Thanks

 

[Katnapper]

I like the pic of the fly.

 

[yeatzee]

That one was definitely the hardest.....wind + small flowers + flies flying (lol) + very shallow DOF is a set up for failure.

 

[Opivy]

wow, awesome pics!

Temecula? we're not too far away =0

 

[yeatzee]

OH wow! Yeah we are really close :lol:

 

[Opivy]

heh, I actually live in SD.

What kinds of camera did you use? Very nice pictures - I always wanted to get into photography.

 

[yeatzee]

Im a pentaxian

I use a pentax K200d and a Sigma 105mm macro. I also recently own extension tubes (obviously) and a M 50mm 1.7 lens from the 70's that I use daily for everyday shots.

 

[kamakiri]

Tubes will do ya good. Good work even getting the fly.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Im a pentaxian I use a pentax K200d and a Sigma 105mm macro. I also recently own extension tubes (obviously) and a M 50mm 1.7 lens from the 70's that I use daily for everyday shots.

Nice pix, nice camera, nice lens (but it must have cost you as much as the camera body!).

On the spider pix. The first pic is slightly over exposed, not an easy trick with a 2.8F lens and tubes! The second is correctly exposed, but try cropping the top 1/4 of the pic and see if you like it any better. As is, 25% of the pic is wasted, and the usual, "give the critter somewhere to go on the frame" rule applies. With the top cropped, he (she, it) has more space in the area in which it is pointing than behind it. See what you think.

Are you using manual mode?

There is almost always enough breeze to move the plants (at least when you're carrying your camera) in Yuma. Here is a useful trick: drill a hole in one arm of a crocodile clothes peg large enough to pass a heavy guage fishing line through, or alternatively, just tie a loop in one end to make an adjustable loop, and carry a small, sharp stake. When you have selected your plant, stick the stake in the soil clip the clothes peg to the plant and attach the line to the stake. No more movement.

My guess is that you were not using a tripod. Try one, and again, see what you think, though with cameras like yours with an anti-shake mechanism, I tend to like the freedom of hand-held shots.

 

[superfreak]

that shot of the fly is fantastic

 

[yeatzee]

I always love your responses Phill

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I will try a crop and see how I like it of the second spider shot..... The wind was blowing so I didn't have much breathing room composition wise.

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Of course Im using manual

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Wind is easily the most annoying thing do deal with when shooting macro.....its really a day ruiner!

Your "method" of stopping the winds effects seems like a really good idea! Though most of my macro's are of subjects several feet off the ground.

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Sadly I have not shelled out the $ for a decent tripod system. I would need macro rails and a ball head etc which equal BIG $! Also, there is no way I could have gotten most of my shots (especially that fly one) with a tripod. Most of my subjects never stay in one place long enough for me to take a picture.

 

[yeatzee]

Tubes will do ya good. Good work even getting the fly.

that shot of the fly is fantastic

Thanks

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yeatzee: It doesn't seem right to critique yr pix without giving you the chance to do the same with one of mine

I framed the BB fly in the middle of the pic. It's saying, "I'm the boss!"

Here are a cupla honey bees on a Mexican bird of paradise blossom.

Taken with Panasonic DMC-FZ18 and cropped but unshopped.

 

[yeatzee]

Hmmm well lets see...... they suck, now give up because you will never be good enough!!!!!

(obvious JK)

Do you own a DSLR?

 

[Katnapper]

Phil is posting pics!!

Yay!!! I really like your fly pic too, Phil! You ought to post pics more often.

Your "method" of stopping the winds effects seems like a really good idea! Though most of my macro's are of subjects several feet off the ground. -------------

Also, there is no way I could have gotten most of my shots (especially that fly one) with a tripod. Most of my subjects never stay in one place long enough for me to take a picture.

Tanner, another idea to slightly modify or augment Phil's would be to use a taller lath, or wooden dowel rod that you could easily carve to a point on one end. Keep a length of string tied/attached to it, with a spring clothespin tied on the other end.

To avoid missing shots with the time and "scare away" factor of having to set up this contraption, set it up and leave it alone for a bit... then come back and see what has landed on the plant you've staked/stilled.

note: These are only ideas spawned from Phil's idea... I haven't tried them.

 

[yeatzee]

Another great Idea!! Phil and you both need to post more of your pictures!! Wether they be mantis related or not! Im sure people are sick of seeing my same old every day shot lol.