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Hi there,

Despite the rain I thought I'd go out into the garden to see what I cound find
today...


All Photos:
D70 + 68mm extension + Sigma 180 f3.5 macro, SB-800, Lumiquest Softbox, Wimberly Macro Bracket


ISO400, F14, 1/125


ISO400, F8, 1/125


ISO400, F11, 1/125


ISO400, F11, 1/125


One thing I found out was that the wet weather is actually quite good for macro work... It's a LOT(!!) harder to find insects. But the wind is a lot calmer and the insects are a lot more tollerant (cold?).

Comments and Suggestions always welcome

Paul

Nice work Paul. I'd have loved to see a pic (maybe with a P&S of you and the setup in action (if you have a willing offsider). The level of detail is good, as is the lighting, I really like the different view of the mozzie, Nice work.

Beautiful...

I'd love to see a pic of your setup too if it's not too much hassle.

Me in a photo? No chance. I stay behind the lens for a reason!!

I don't have a P&S but here are some shots without the camera attached.

They are large pics so you can see the detail but they shouldn't take too long to load as I've compressed them heaps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/ ... 4c338d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/ ... setup2.jpg

Hope that gives you some idea.

Feel free to ask questions

Paul

Thanks Paul, Almost as good as having you in the shot j/k

Seriously thanks for the detail in the shots, I was wondering when you said softbox what you meant exactly and I was waaaay off, It seems it would be pretty hard to track a moving insect with that setup you'd have to be very careful not to scare the bug away..

It is pretty hard to get the moving ones. I usually try and wait until they settle for a couple of seconds. I generally don't find the tripod too much of a hassle to use... I certainly get more keepers using it than without at the higher magnifications.

As for scaring the bug away.... I'm VERY good at that

The great thing about that flash setup is that it's VERY easy to change it's position. Most of the time you can set it up so it's not too obvious to the insect.

Paul

Thanks heaps...

Something I can't really tell from the pics. Does the head/bracket allow some sort of forward/backward movement like a slide rail?

greencardigan wrote:Thanks heaps...

Something I can't really tell from the pics. Does the head/bracket allow some sort of forward/backward movement like a slide rail?

That's the arca-swiss head and foot you are talking about...

Yes it does allow very easy fore-aft movement of the lens. It's not nearly as smooth or precise as a proper sliding rail but it's better than nothing.

Usually I get a rough focus using that method and then fine-tune with the focusing ring on the lens. That only works though if you have a co-operative insect.



Paul

Closer view of the tripod head/lens foot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/ ... setup3.jpg

Very nice Paul. I have the same lens but haven't gotten around to trying it with the tubes. After seeing these you can guess what I'll be up to

Gosh there is some detail in those. I reckon that you could count the hairs on that red eyed fly's butt if you were so inclined.

Very nice work. Saving saving saving for a 180 Maro

love the detail in the fly.

gotta get me some extension tubes!!

Steve

NikonUser wrote:Closer view of the tripod head/lens foot

Thank you for posting your set up. Very helpful!

Is #1 a self-portrait? I can't quite make it out. I'm talking about the reflection in the drop on the fly's back, of course...

Cheers
Steffen.

Damn that fly is sharp.... awesome picture!! but the Katydid pics look real soft.. nice tho

Tim