A few from yesterday at the butterfly house

[JohnN]

Well, I got the MP-E after waiting what seems like year!!

So I head out to the local butterfly house, strapped on the flash (felt a bit embarrassed - its a specialist looking beast and I got even stranger looks that I get with the 50-500!!).

Given I like to jump in at the deep end I figure I'll go hand held, plus lugging a tripod round is a pain.

These are the results, and I'm pleased to say that I only binned about five images so the keeper rate is higher than I expected.... but I did have to blow a couple of ants off the lens


120324_8785 by magsnorton, on Flickr

120324_8791 by magsnorton, on Flickr

120324_8793 by magsnorton, on Flickr

Ants! by magsnorton, on Flickr

Day 93 - Ant Macro by magsnorton, on Flickr

Butterfly Macro by magsnorton, on Flickr

 

[JohnN]

Nothing?

I'm pretty pleased with them, but can improve and was hoping for a few pointers, for instance I'd say I stuffed the lighting on the butterfly, but being very new to flashes as well as this lens would happily take some advice.

 

[MWHCVT]

Nothing?

I'm pretty pleased with them, but can improve and was hoping for a few pointers, for instance I'd say I stuffed the lighting on the butterfly, but being very new to flashes as well as this lens would happily take some advice.

Give us a chance looking through them my first though is that overall they're really nice, but as you say there are a couple of areas for improvement, but that's part of the learning curve with new kit and you will get there

The leaf cutters are brilliant the focus is spot on with them and the flowers also look good too

On the butterfly I think that the flash was a little over powered and has spoilt the image a little also it looks like the focus has been missed a little bit

Just a heads up when you but a thread like you just did, that then takes your thread out of the unanswered threads list, so if it get's missed after coming of the front page it could never get picked up so always best to wait it will get a response, I got it from the UA Posts not your bump

Matt
MWHCVT

 

[Bend The Light]

That ant in image number 5 is a superb image. I really want and MPE but I have so much else to get first and no money!

But that one is on the money...well done.

 

[ArthurG]

Love the ants.

Did you acclimatise your setup first? I went into the butterfly house in Chester Zoo recently and everything steamed up.

 

[JohnN]

Give us a chance looking through them my first though is that overall they're really nice, but as you say there are a couple of areas for improvement, but that's part of the learning curve with new kit and you will get there

The leaf cutters are brilliant the focus is spot on with them and the flowers also look good too

On the butterfly I think that the flash was a little over powered and has spoilt the image a little also it looks like the focus has been missed a little bit

Just a heads up when you but a thread like you just did, that then takes your thread out of the unanswered threads list, so if it get's missed after coming of the front page it could never get picked up so always best to wait it will get a response, I got it from the UA Posts not your bump

Matt
MWHCVT

lol, sorry mate! I'll bear that in mind for next time... Impatient me... never!
Yes I missed the eye, which bugged me a bit, I think had I have got the eye right there would have been enough of the body to get a decent shot.
The flash was set up the same as the others - ETTL - I'm not sure thats the way to go but I have much to learn.

That ant in image number 5 is a superb image. I really want and MPE but I have so much else to get first and no money!

But that one is on the money...well done.

Thanks, it is an expensive toy - worse once you realise it needs the flash too!

Love the ants.

Did you acclimatise your setup first? I went into the butterfly house in Chester Zoo recently and everything steamed up.

I really must get back over to Chester Zoo - I went there a year or so ago and didn't get round it in a day (but then I did have to travel 2.5 hrs to get there!)

Yep, I did have to let it demist, although I helped it along a bit with the good old lens cloth - now for the MPE its not too bad, but try it one a 50-500 - it took forever and several wipes before I got anything but fog

 

[whom]

Wow, it must have been pretty scary looking down the viewfinder!

I like the second to last one, it looks like he is warning you...

 

[evilonion]

very nice.
Whats that lens like to work with?
I use a 50mm with 250 raynox but id love to get a decent dedicated close macro lens.

As for demisting... Those places tend to be very warm so i put the bag under the car heater when going there... Once in there let the camera warm up more, if need be use the big blower heaters they have. No need to keep wiping with a lens cloth then

 

[JohnN]

Nice tip thanks

Actually I've found it pretty easy, but only because of the flash, the batteries ran out yesterday and I dread to think what the exposure times would have been!

 

[kyle_s]

Great set. That second to last shot is amazing. Lovely detail.
Try numbering your shots for easier feedback.