Hoverfly and flowers - LR suggestions?

Emja

Emja

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Emma
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I was very excited to take delivery of a new toy yesterday - the Sigma 105 lens. Of course it was a gloomy and grey day which didn't help with the macro shots I was hoping to take (or any others, come to that!) but I did like this one. It's sooc at the moment - I did play with it in Lightroom, adding a little saturation but it seemed to detract from the hoverfly. As LR is brand new to me, too and I don't have a lot of confidence in my pp skills I just wondered what others might have done?

sweet delights by Em Jay, on Flickr

 
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You could crop out the bottom flower and remove the stem and seed head above it using the spot removal tool.If you want to make the bee stand out more try the radial filter and reduce the clarity in the background.
 
AdamSi said:
View attachment 44685here is a quick edit on iPad as not on laptop but I would increase contrast and make it more vivid (I have over exaggerated it in iPad)
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for taking the time to edit it Adam. My first thought was to increase saturation, too. I think this and your increase in contrast does bring more of the flower's colour and texture out, but as I said detracts from the bee. I guess the lesson learnt is a grey day's shoot is a grey day's shoot!
 
Its a hoverfly btw and not a bee... and yes a grey day is a grey day you can shoot flash to help though :D
 
Tintin124 said:
Its a hoverfly btw and not a bee... and yes a grey day is a grey day you can shoot flash to help though :D
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Oops...thanks for that! Identification's not my strong point :oops: :$ it looked larger than I thought a hoverfly did!

I definitely need to practise using flash, but will need something off camera I think to use with this lens. What would be the best option to start with? I was looking at ring flashes recently. Don't have a lot to spend for a while, though.
 
Emja said:
Oops...thanks for that! Identification's not my strong point :oops: :$ it looked larger than I thought a hoverfly did!

I definitely need to practise using flash, but will need something off camera I think to use with this lens. What would be the best option to start with? I was looking at ring flashes recently. Don't have a lot to spend for a while, though.
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Hi Emma,

I bought a Sigma 105mm a couple of months back.

I hired the Nikon Close up Flash kit for the weekend and was quite happy with it. I wouldn't spend the £500+ for it though. This one here : http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-...yekcy0oa5gxo94xpol9x5lcqeofgnboaz5xoc3qjw_wcb

But then I found the Macro thread on TP that showed all kinds of home-made diffusers for Macro. I followed a guide to make one out of an Evian bottle and a protein shake tub. Took an hour or so to make and I'm more than happy with the results it gives me. Who needs to be spending silly money for the Nikon rig, if you're doing it for fun?

A pic of the diffuser is here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/66760617@N08/16440151030/

I'll probably make another one out of a Pringles tube :)
 
Lez325 said:
I too shoot with a Sigma 105mm f2.8 my advice is get in closer a ;lot closer

Like this - lens only no tubes or extensions - did use a Sony flash on a bracket


DSC05076 Wasp Harvesting wood by Les Moxon, on Flickr

Les
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Great capture Les! It's good to know the lens has your seal of approval - I've seen some good shots of yours on here.

I have been getting closer, too (see below) but need to work on depth of field as this type of lens is a whole new learning curve - but I can see it will produce some great results with time. Just wish the weather had been less wet and windy this week...

So when you say you used the flash on a bracket - that means off camera? Sorry to be such a newbie!

small fly.jpg
small fly3.jpg
 
Thank you glad you like my image

Off camera flash I use a bracket and wireless trigger and receivers to get the flash away from the camera

This one to be exact- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-A...qid=1440591220&sr=1-17&keywords=flash+bracket


Teamed up with a suitable wireless Trigger/Receiver like this- http://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE-Ch...591315&sr=1-1&keywords=wireless+trigger+flash

cheap enough the trigger mounts on the camera's hot shoe- the receiver on the flash a very simple yet effective way of illumination your subjects

The other alternative is a hot shoe cable like this



Les
 
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wezza13 said:
Hi Emma,

I bought a Sigma 105mm a couple of months back.

I hired the Nikon Close up Flash kit for the weekend and was quite happy with it. I wouldn't spend the £500+ for it though. This one here : http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-...yekcy0oa5gxo94xpol9x5lcqeofgnboaz5xoc3qjw_wcb

But then I found the Macro thread on TP that showed all kinds of home-made diffusers for Macro. I followed a guide to make one out of an Evian bottle and a protein shake tub. Took an hour or so to make and I'm more than happy with the results it gives me. Who needs to be spending silly money for the Nikon rig, if you're doing it for fun?

A pic of the diffuser is here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/66760617@N08/16440151030/

I'll probably make another one out of a Pringles tube :)
Click to expand...
Now this sort of stuff is right up my street Wez - something to do with working with 5 year olds and having a bit of the Blue Peter touch...! I'll definitely be having a closer look at this - thanks :)
 
Lez325 said:
Thank you glad you like my image

Off camera flash I use a bracket and wireless trigger and receivers to get the flash away from the camera

This one to be exact- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-A...qid=1440591220&sr=1-17&keywords=flash+bracket


Teamed up with a suitable wireless Trigger/Receiver like this- http://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE-Ch...591315&sr=1-1&keywords=wireless+trigger+flash

cheap enough the trigger mounts on the camera's hot shoe- the receiver on the flash a very simple yet effective way of illumination your subjects

The other alternative is a hot shoe cable like this



Les
Click to expand...
Thanks for that Lez.
 
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