Loads of pictures of flies

[GardenersHelper]

These were captured ten days ago when I first got my new FZ330 bridge camera. I used a Raynox 150 and Venus Optics KX800 twin flash, hand-held. I shot raw and processed in DXO Optics Pro 11 and Silkypix Developer Pro 7, and used Nik Collection's Dfine locally on the backgrounds in the last four. There are 1300 pixel high versions of these images in this album at Flickr.

1

0958 06 2016_09_08 P1000754_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

2

0958 10 2016_09_08 P1000762_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

3

0958 08 2016_09_08 P1000735_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

4

0958 11 2016_09_08 P1000778_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

5

0958 13 2016_09_08 P1000791_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

6

0958 34 2016_09_08 P1000884_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

7

0958 40 2016_09_08 P1000979_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

8

0958 41 2016_09_08 P1000972_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr


Continued in next post .....

 

[GardenersHelper]

9

0958 43 2016_09_08 P1010034_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

10

0958 45 2016_09_08 P1010033_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

11

0958 46 2016_09_08 P1010056_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

12

0958 42 2016_09_08 P1010007_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

13

0958 52 2016_09_08 P1010081_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

14

0958 53 2016_09_08 P1010082_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

15

0958 63 2016_09_08 P1010159_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

16

0958 62 2016_09_08 P1010156_DxO RAW 01a SP7 1300h by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

 

[The Weasel]

Hi Nick...WOW!!, these are amazing, the level of detail is just incredible and everyone is super sharp Top Drawer photography in my opinion.

Don't want to sound like I'm "Blowing Sunshine" but when it comes to Macro, these are the sort of images I want to capture.

 

[GardenersHelper]

Hi Nick...WOW!!, these are amazing, the level of detail is just incredible and everyone is super sharp Top Drawer photography in my opinion.

Don't want to sound like I'm "Blowing Sunshine" but when it comes to Macro, these are the sort of images I want to capture.

Thanks Andy. You are very kind in what you say.

As to getting sharpness and detail, people sometimes think it has to do with using a great camera and lens, or having a mysterious talent of some sort, but it seems to me that much of it comes down to lighting and post processing. The camera and lens obviously do matter, but not necessarily in the way many people think they do.

Please forgive me for rambling, and being a bit opinionated about this, but I've spent quite a lot of time thinking about and experimenting with this side of things - trying different cameras etc. I wrote loads about it over an 18 month period in my "Journey" thread. It surprised me (and not just me I think) where I ended up by way of equipment, techniques and software.

And it's still changing incidentally, as can be seen from my latest update to that thread after a gap of several months. I think that is one of the nice things about close-up/macro. There is a lot of opportunity (pretty much endless as far as I can see) for experimenting, learning about new things (techniques, software, equipment - bought and built), trying them and seeing what works and what doesn't - and that is different for each of us. And sharing our discoveries (and our issues) as well as our pictures.

Works for me.

 

[wezza13]

These are stunning, thank you for sharing. The detail and sharpness are amazing. So much intimate detail (like the hair) really stands out

 

[GardenersHelper]

These are stunning, thank you for sharing. The detail and sharpness are amazing. So much intimate detail (like the hair) really stands out

Thanks Wez.

 

[ChrisA]

Excellent set Nick agree with the other too about there standard.

 

[GardenersHelper]

Excellent set Nick agree with the other too about there standard.

Thanks Chris.

 

[Dazler]

Fantastic pics,

 

[hoftwi]

Lovely set Nick I really like the lighting on them all.

 

[GardenersHelper]

Fantastic pics,

Lovely set Nick I really like the lighting on them all.

Thanks Darren. Thanks Icy.

 

[Paul Iddon]

Very impressive Nick - especially the (muscid?) fly in the first set.

Paul.

 

[Cobra]

They are all pretty damned good Nick. #3 just has the edge for me, because of the extra detail in the prey.
Amazing

 

[GardenersHelper]

Very impressive Nick - especially the (muscid?) fly in the first set.

Paul.

Thanks Paul.

Muscid? Well ... these are the identifying characteristcs according to wikipedia.

The antennae are three-segmented and aristate; vein Rs is two-branched, a frontal suture is present, and the calypters are well developed. The arista is often plumose for the entire length. The hypopleuron is usually without bristles; generally, more than one sternopleural bristle is present. The R5 cell is either parallel-sided or narrowed distally. Vein 2A is short and does not reach the wing margin.

If I understood just one of those characteristics I might stand a chance of knowing one way of the other. As it is ... I'm clueless. As usual.

But the first picture the search turned up was one that looked rather similar (by Brian Valentine (LordV) as it happens, one of my macro heroes.) So I expect you are right.

 

[GardenersHelper]

They are all pretty damned good Nick. #3 just has the edge for me, because of the extra detail in the prey.
Amazing

Thanks. It's always a bit special when you are lucky enough to find one with prey. Not so common with flies in my experience as with spiders for example.