Macro photography

SpikeK6

SpikeK6

Messages
3,546
Name
Spike
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi

I have been looking around the macro section as I love to see pics of bugs up close.
Question is though how do you get so close to the bug/fly etc etc to take the pic so that the objest is really up close and every little detail is there.
I have the canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens and just cannot get the quality of shot I see in the macro section.

Here is the best i got the other day, this is cropped a little but still no where near what some people get

All advice is welcomed

spike

P.S woohoo 1000 posts
 
Last edited:
Typically the shots you see are using f/16 or higher to give you DoF and then flash to give you a fast shutter speed you need to stop motion blur at these close distances. Problem being on board flash doesn't really work as you get a shadow from the lens so at the least you need a separate flash, preferably a ring flash.
 
I shoot macro at f11 and 1/125th sec using a ring flash - seems to work for me

have a gander on my flickr account


Les :thumbs:
 
Nawty said:
Typically the shots you see are using f/16 or higher to give you DoF and then flash to give you a fast shutter speed you need to stop motion blur at these close distances. Problem being on board flash doesn't really work as you get a shadow from the lens so at the least you need a separate flash, preferably a ring flash.
Click to expand...

Depending on the lens, the on board flash does work provided you diffuse it to prevent the shadow. This is the setup I used on both my D50 and D90 with a Tamron 90mm macro up to 1:1. The diffuser is made from a 2l milk bottle.


Nikon D50 Flash diffuser by jomike, on Flickr

The result: (You can see the reflection of the flash in the fly's back)


Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii by jomike, on Flickr
 
Getting close to insects, especially flies, is extremely difficult as they don't tend to hang around if there is the slightest movement.

It really is a matter of care and taking lots of pics in order to get that one special one.

But you are off to a good start with the 100mm Macro.

.
 
Thanks for all the info guys, ring flash it is then. I have tried using built in ans external flash but it just does not feel right.

Ring flashes, I know the canon one is probably the one to go for but is there any others that are worth their salt that are not at canon prices??

Spike
 
SpikeK6 said:
Thanks for all the info guys, ring flash it is then. I have tried using built in ans external flash but it just does not feel right.

Ring flashes, I know the canon one is probably the one to go for but is there any others that are worth their salt that are not at canon prices??

Spike
Click to expand...

Personally would'nt bother with a ring flash - the light is to harsh and difficuly to diffuse - upto 1:1 just use a diffused hotshoe flash much much better that a ring flash.
 
Hi Paul

Just had a look at your pics, they are really something else.
So all of them where taken with just a diffused flash???
And how do yu get so close to your subject, like the one with the fly's eyes, the detail is amazing?

spike
 
Do you have to have a special macro lens to do these or just be focused very close. Never tried macro work and only have an 18-200 and a nifty 50 to play with
 
Close-up adaptors?

Rumour has it they can be very good and are cheap enough not to worry about if they're not to your liking.



Other sizes are available, they just had a decent picture :)
 
SpikeK6 said:
Hi Paul

Just had a look at your pics, they are really something else.
So all of them where taken with just a diffused flash???
And how do yu get so close to your subject, like the one with the fly's eyes, the detail is amazing?

spike
Click to expand...

Thanks spike :) -

Some of the images are diffused hotshoe flash and some are using a macro twin flash (MT24-EX) with my Canon MPE as the working distance usually at high magnification is limited.

rather than chasing fly's i tend to wait next to a flowers / leaf etc where the flys are settling and they tend to get used to you, then move slowly and don't cast a shadow across the subject. Bugs / flys tend to be slower early in the morning or later in the day, and you can spray a sugar & water mixture onto the leaves to tempt the bugs.
 
Last edited:
Dedicated macro lens is the way to go, close up adaptors are a waste of time, usually because of poor optical quality. Extension rings can work dependent upon your camer and lens combo.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Thanks spike :) -

Some of the images are diffused hotshoe flash and some are using a macro twin flash (MT24-EX) with my Canon MPE as the working distance usually at high magnification is limited.

rather than chasing fly's i tend to wait next to a flowers / leaf etc where the flys are settling and they tend to get used to you, then move slowly and don't cast a shadow across the subject. Bugs / flys tend to be slower early in the morning or later in the day, and you can spray a sugar & water mixture onto the leaves to tempt the bugs.
Click to expand...

Thats a good tip about the sugar water mix:thumbs:

Going to ask a silly question here but you said about not useing a ring flash but you have used a twin flash for some of your photo's ,so these must be easier to control over a dedicated ring flash???

Just read a great write up on that MPE lens you have, no wonder you can get the images you do, My canon 100mm at 1:1 is nothing in comparason to that lens, wow!!!

spike
 
Stratman said:
Close-up adaptors?

Rumour has it they can be very good and are cheap enough not to worry about if they're not to your liking.

Other sizes are available, they just had a decent picture :)
Click to expand...

Might give then a whirl for a the cost of a few pints!
 
SpikeK6 said:
Thats a good tip about the sugar water mix:thumbs:

Going to ask a silly question here but you said about not using a ring flash but you have used a twin flash for some of your photo's ,so these must be easier to control over a dedicated ring flash???

Just read a great write up on that MPE lens you have, no wonder you can get the images you do, My canon 100mm at 1:1 is nothing in comparason to that lens, wow!!!

spike
Click to expand...

It not all about the lens ;) - lighting is just as important in macro as is nailing the focus on the eye - this was taken a couple of years ago with a sigma 105mm Macro and probably a sb600 with lambency diffuser


Hover fly by HiddenNature, on Flickr​

and this a few days ago with a Canon 85mm f1.8 and kenko tube with a Canon 550ex flash fitted with a lambency diffuser



The twin flash is a lot more versatile and controllable, the flash fits on the lens and you can move each head independently around the lens and each head swivels left and right and up and down and you can fit you own blue Peter diffuser
 
Thanks Paul for all the info, all very helpful.
I think this is where I have been going wrong. I get the focus point on the eye(most times) but I have never used a flash, Going to get the flash out of its box (I have a jessops flash that has a difuser on it)
keep watching this space.

spike
 
SpikeK6 said:
Thanks Paul for all the info, all very helpful.
I think this is where I have been going wrong. I get the focus point on the eye(most times) but I have never used a flash, Going to get the flash out of its box (I have a jessops flash that has a difuser on it)
keep watching this space.

spike
Click to expand...

try using maual settings - Start with f16 1/200 and iso200 and use the flash on auto ttl - good luck :thumbs:
 
Went out tonight armed with the 100mm 2.8 macro and my flash and these are alot better but still alot of room for improvement.

macro1.jpg


macro2.jpg


macro4.jpg


Thanks Paul once again, things can only get better from here on in.

spike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top