Post your best Macro shots

[freelanceshots]

Also caught this guy in the yard today. The biggest Garder snake I've ever seen at almost 3 feet long. Never tried to bite me but he pooped and pee'd to try and avoid capture. My macro lens has to be my favorite lenses for just about anything I can use it on.


Three shots composited together to get more focus out of the 100mm IS macro, f/16


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5975621816_0f93a535df_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5975621816/) garder snake flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5975621816/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]


One shot at f/25 to try and avoid extra computer work.


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5973147680_ab8ac32b95_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5973147680/) large garter snake (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5973147680/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[Jon Ruyle]

Cool!

[Jayson]

Spent some time in the back yard with some dragons and damsels. I have no idea what there classifications and names are, but hope you enjoy. Damsels were with the 100mm macro USM with a Kenko 1.4x TC. The Dragons were with the 300mm F4 IS, Kenko 1.4x TC and 56mm of Extension tubes. Sorry for the large post.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BtjHnC4ucuw/TisTl37f6DI/AAAAAAAABik/WI9riiOJl58/s800/2011_07_22_18452.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uuqJ96uRrco/TisTmGL2tLI/AAAAAAAABio/n9L9VzD_2Cw/s800/2011_07_22_18454.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LIyS6p0HEMM/TisTml_y45I/AAAAAAAABiw/Ldd8ERZaTfc/s800/2011_07_22_18460.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S_kPICTAIJ4/TisT1NPOFHI/AAAAAAAABjA/0J1pgoDi90E/s800/2011_07_22_18447.jpg


Threw this in also. With the 300 and the Kenko TC cropped a bit


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-94PGuVFSqYE/TisUE6pXgKI/AAAAAAAABjc/cZlwlBSdaNg/s800/2011_07_22_18439.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ES2D7DrGRpU/Ti5Fmuha5SI/AAAAAAAABjo/t5xoGwYq5Pc/s800/2011_07_24_18545.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pUiq8ly-tS8/Ti5Fmwdf0ZI/AAAAAAAABjs/MpD45aZId38/s800/2011_07_24_18573.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e62OT4y7evA/Ti5F4C7nKdI/AAAAAAAABjw/_bgbybecWJg/s800/2011_07_24_18520.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w6fnuGAost8/Ti5GWWTf0KI/AAAAAAAABkE/1zEeDjyUwwU/s800/2011_07_24_18586.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uj_5PCv0LyY/Ti5GW3smE6I/AAAAAAAABkM/UJbyuIv3Cw8/s800/2011_07_24_18553.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o61cVy_wOXU/Ti5Gok1d80I/AAAAAAAABkQ/IjUojYApPtc/s800/2011_07_24_18489.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lLDg3_nbV8E/Ti5Gpt-svZI/AAAAAAAABkc/BhrizyvNRrc/s800/2011_07_24_18502.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ep1n-tUZQvM/Ti5GqLozhGI/AAAAAAAABkk/i5HvRZ5SUNM/s800/2011_07_24_18511.jpg

[freelanceshots]

Snake egg with the new Speckled King snake before he takes his first journey into this world. Used my 40D this time to see if I could get some more depth of field with the 100mm IS lens. f/20


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/5977302724_21814d7eff_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5977302724/) snake egg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/5977302724/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[Dr Croubie]

I

[Dr Croubie]

Do you guys get these green Leaf-Pretenders in other countries?


This guy was such a good subject, he barely moved the whole time, except when he fell off the wall and landed on my cactus collection.


All shots 7D, shrunk to 600*900 after cropping. Camera JPGs only, unprocessed besides crop/rotate/shrink. I did get them in RAW this time but not processing anything until i get my new computer...


First shot 70-300L, 104mm, -2/3EV, ISO400, f/7.1, 1/125s, all my Kenko Tubes. Cropped to 2400*1600.


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Next shot Zeiss Sonnar 180mm Pentacon Six mount, ISO400, 1/13s, f/no idea, all my Kenko EF tubes and Pentacon Six Tubes. Cropped 2000*3000.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0383.IMG_5F00_6264s.JPG


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Next Zeiss Biometar 80mm, ISO800, 1/5s, f/no idea, all EF and P6 tubes. No cropping, only shrunk.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7752.IMG_5F00_6281s.JPG


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Last shot, Zeiss Biometar 80mm P6 Mount, ISO400, 1/4s (damn this guy was well behaved, and out of the wind), f/no idea, 2X Kiev MC Converter, and a bit of extra lighting. No cropping.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5383.IMG_5F00_6290s.JPG


.


Actually, I think the photo of me taking these photos is even funnier, me smells another thread idea coming on...

[Dr Croubie]

And why not, one more.


Zeiss Sonnar 180mm, -1EV, ISO400, 1/250s, f/no idea (put possibly f/4 or lower given speed), I think only Kenko Tubes at this stage, first one after he fell on the cacti, no cropping. Love that smooth zeiss background...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7271.IMG_5F00_6248s.JPG

[freelanceshots]

I have been pursuing the hobby of owning snakes and lizards for 31 years. My dad got me started by taking me to Town East Mall in Dallas Texas at age 8 or 9 where back then this pet store was full of every reptile imaginable and I was hooked. My mother allowed me to have just about anything I wanted and I had a lot. In college I had a 10 foot Burmese Python where I raised him from when he was approx 5 feet long. He got to hard to feed as I was actually living in the dorm and they did not allow any pets especially large snakes.


These baby snakes were hatching for what seemed like forever. As they start hatching out of their eggs you can hold them or move them around. I actually had to help by cutting some of the last few eggs open and allowing a nice passage way out of the leathery eggs as they were drying up from the 75watt bulb I was using to keep temps up around 90 degrees.


I took this one into my small studio and took a few pics before it felt the need to bail out of its egg. Its on a black background so no PS work.

[Fast Glass]

I bring to you......"The Bug!".[:)] Don't ask what kind though.


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7802.IMG_5F00_9718_5F00_DxO-reduced.JPG


MD 50mm f/1.7, f/4, 200/th sec, ISO 1600, 20mmextension tube,handheld.


Cheers,


John.

[freelanceshots]

What camera body was used Fast Glass? Image is pretty clean at 1600.

[jake66]

Great shot Fastglass. I think its a Lacewing. Their eyes really light up in torchlight.

[Fast Glass]

At freelance,


Used my 60D, DxO does an awesome job on noise reduction. I think you should try the demo version to see what you think.


At jake,


I just googled "Lacewing" and it sure looks like the right bug.


I forgot to mention, I also used the built in camera flash. It works better than my big Minolta 360 PX flash, closer to the axis of the lens.


Cheers,


John.

[freelanceshots]

I

[Jayson]

Those snake pictures are pretty awesome. I am personally not a huge fan of snakes but you have the shots dead on. Great work.


That leafbug is something that I have only seen on some of the other forums I frequent, but never in real life. Great catch on a very tough bug to spot.


John, nice lacewing. I never can catch up to those guys. Guess I should try to get out in the morning a little more often when they aren't as quick to fly away. Love the exposure and lighting, especially since it was the built in flash. I can never use that since I have the hoods on all the time. Nice capture.

[Jayson]

I followed this guy around for about a 1/2 hour and he wouldn't land on any flowers in the area. I decided to hop in the car and take off. When exiting the park, this guy landed on the side of the road and started sucking on rocks. Don't understand the thinking of eating rocks instead of nectar but I decided to snap a couple of shots anyway.


Taken with 300mmf4IS and Kenko 1.4x TC Swallow Tail


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rACNxqE5rgY/TjHGyuZk_SI/AAAAAAAABlM/PJKjlV3iIpU/s800/2011_07_27_18842.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EVrwmFqopKM/TjHGy3pRbYI/AAAAAAAABlQ/BHccKvGZX6s/s800/2011_07_27_18846.jpg


And a crop since I clipped off the top of the wings.


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8DvOCQl3ATY/TjHGzPZD_jI/AAAAAAAABlU/t73w0pxjYW4/s800/2011_07_27_18848.jpg

[freelanceshots]

Got to have the pictures hosted somewhere or they will vanish. Its only a matter of time.

[Jayson]

??? That comment directed toward someone or on a different thread???

[freelanceshots]

When I wrote my comment none of the pictures where showing up on the page. The only sure fire way to have them not disappear is to link to a pic from a different site until there is a fix.

[Jayson]

Ah, Gotcha. I wasn't sure what was going on. [:D]


Here are some butterflies.


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MgDSkxrKpjc/TjY6FTA4lxI/AAAAAAAABmE/lL56w4x9HfA/s1600/2011_07_29_18851.jpg


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SRQeacixuk/TjY6D93rIYI/AAAAAAAABl4/0uojMSArEKA/s1600/2011_07_29_18860.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q3jX7pD026g/TjY6P327WwI/AAAAAAAABmI/MCNiM2kbRVw/s800/2011_07_29_18866.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M4h4xJu8MaA/TjY6Qzw22VI/AAAAAAAABmQ/rIcdGGYoo4c/s800/2011_07_29_18875.jpg

[Jayson]

Forgot my favorites from this little outing.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JR_oUGi023E/TjY6DTqwhYI/AAAAAAAABl0/D4Llwivo6KY/s800/2011_07_29_18863.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-onxe0TWhQtw/TjY524DJG5I/AAAAAAAABlw/pH5SNbF3pUc/s800/2011_07_29_18896.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jStdFS5iZBQ/TjY513vIcaI/AAAAAAAABlo/IAs9IxnU5MQ/s800/2011_07_29_18889.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i4O_ecr79qs/TjY52ZCvNPI/AAAAAAAABls/320ovGfvbJM/s800/2011_07_29_18893.jpg

[w349]

Lovely butterfly shots Jayson. There's something fascinating about insects close-up. Here's a shot of an orchid leaf getting watered... the DoF isn't as deep as I would have liked at f/7.1, but what's done is done. Taken with a Canon 450D, 50mm 1.4, 1/250sec at f/7.1 with a 500D close up lens and off-camera flash.


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[Fast Glass]

Great shot there W349. I actually prefer it with the thiner DOF, the background would be more distracting otherwise. I leads the viewers eyes to the water droplets.


Here is one from me.


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2068.IMG_5F00_9130_5F00_DxO-reduced.JPG


60D, MD 100mm f/4 macro, f/4, 200th sec, ISO 400, handheld. I love dedicated macro lenses!


This shot has a very Juza like style to it. He is my favorite photographer BTW.


Cheers,


John.

[w349]

I really like the colour contrast in that shot, John. Simple and effective. Regarding the DoF, the idea is that the 'splash' on the leaf would be entirely in focus and not just half of it, but agreed, that would create more background distraction. Thanks for the comment :)

[Fast Glass]

Thanks for the comment :)


Thats what it's all about[:)]


Keep up the good work,


John.

[Dr Croubie]

Is a picture really worth 1000 words??


I could say "OMG WTF IS THAT?" 250 times and still not have any idea what this thing was, sitting happily on a leaf on my Orange tree.


My best guess is somewhere between a hairy spider, grasshopper, warthog, anteater, and octopus.


Either that or Snuffleupagus got into a de-hairing shrink ray:


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By this point he was getting a bit annoyed at all the double-curtain flashes and put his antenna up, that hinged from the front of his snout and folded back flush. Weird.


.


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Half with 70-300L on the 36mm extension tube i could find, other half with Pentacon Six Biometar 80mm f/2.8 cos i had more tubes. ISO 800-1600, on-camera 7D flash, the last shot was f/10 8s exposure, he sure held still for me (the wind was horrendous this morning and died down just this afternoon). Tripod on top of wheelie bin to get the height and thankfully didn't fall, only gave up when it got pitch black outside.


I'm going to try focus stacking a few of them later, when this damn new computer finishes compiling.

[freelanceshots]

That is the strangest bug ever!

[DavidEccleston]

Is a picture really worth 1000 words??


I could say "OMG WTF IS THAT?" 250 times and still not have any idea what this thing was





You only need to say it once. The other 249 members will take care of the rest. :)


edit: Oh, and I'm pretty sure it's got some ALF in there somewhere.

[freelanceshots]

same camera and lens as usual but at f/25 jeez!


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/6012871090_8cd1a47eeb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6012871090/) skink (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6012871090/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/6012785324_edf8899f50_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6012785324/) skink (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6012785324/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[Jayson]

Some Bees


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4qAlZpQJyk0/Tj242uk-71I/AAAAAAAABoM/xB9ly-5bX2U/s800/2011_07_30_19087.jpg


Bee Butt


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HswnLQtxEAw/Tj241_8gfCI/AAAAAAAABoE/dK0gGNKLJ-s/s800/2011_07_30_19094.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VXsGhGci0cw/Tj241MqCgII/AAAAAAAABoA/fQOXSyy3YUw/s800/2011_07_30_19097.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jOKqfSkTbl8/Tj24fhWpEXI/AAAAAAAABns/abBhm4PogFg/s800/2011_07_30_19075.jpg


Tiger Swallowtail, female I believe


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KAWt-Yrxkww/Tj24DS_3tHI/AAAAAAAABnQ/WegVbkY06Rw/s800/2011_07_30_19340.jpg


Painted Ladies


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j7nAIpP8txs/Tj23xU_gp4I/AAAAAAAABnI/9jHe4wSxIJo/s800/2011_07_30_19254.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C-8SnCQktXg/Tj23xH95-tI/AAAAAAAABnE/ni89ApSyk9E/s800/2011_07_30_19250.jpg


And A Robber


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0eaVnA-hmns/Tjw5nA0X64I/AAAAAAAABm4/EMr3I0tO4vU/s800/2011_08_01_19751.jpg

[ddt0725]

Jayson, this set is fantastic! Please post info on your set-up.

[Jayson]

Thanks Denise. I actually have just been shooting with the 300mm f4 IS with an extender to get greater magnification. I think on the monarchs I had the 36mm tube on the lens also. These, with the exception of the robber fly, were all in natural light with just the lens. The robber I just used the on-board flash since it was a quick capture on the back bushes.

[Fast Glass]

A lily from a local park, the 24mm focal length helpedto makea more dramatic perspective.


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/1462.IMG_5F00_9732_5F00_DxO-reduced.JPG


60D, MD 24mm f/2.8, wide open, 125th sec, ISO 100,tripod.


Cheers,


John.

[Jayson]

John, I like the wide angle perspective on the flower. I have been trying to get a wide angle on some flowers recently, but haven

[clemmb]

/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x800/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8750.IMG_5F00_0017.jpg


Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D
Lens: Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.010 s (1/100)
ISO equiv: 160
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/6044620720_c08bf33be9_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6044620720/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/6044071537_fc0fcee49c_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6044071537/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/6044071943_e3eda05f6f_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6044071943/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6044074589_63435dae5a_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6044074589/)

[Kayaker72]

Denise...I look at #2 and really wish I had taken it.[:P] [:D]...reallyamazing capture.........I love it.......

[ddt0725]

Thank you very much :) I was actually trying to track the butterfly in flight next to my garage (hence the plain background of my garage), when I saw this guy coming right at me! I actually was able to get two pretty in-focus shots before I had to dodge the bullet!


Denise

[HDNitehawk]

Thank you very much :) I was actually trying to track the butterfly in flight next to my garage (hence the plain background of my garage), when I saw this guy coming right at me! I actually was able to get two pretty in-focus shots before I had to dodge the bullet!



You know there is allot of talk about shooting Birds in Flight in the bird thread. Here you are out shooting bee's in flight. I mean if you can do that how hard should it be to track a bird. Maybe you could give us some pointers.


I like the pic's, well done.I assume this was with the new lens?

[ddt0725]

lol! Sometimes the unexpected is the easiest!


Yep, these were taken with my new Sigma macro. I am pretty much shooting with it exclusively for awhile to make sure I am fully adjusted to it before time runs out to return it. It is most definitely a different breed than what I am used to for the focusing mechanism but I

[JJphoto]

Denise,that bee in flight shoot is awsome!what

[ddt0725]

Thanks, JJ! My settings are really messed up on this one! I went from shooting in the shade with ISO of 800 to sunlight very quickly. My quickest reaction was to dial in a higer shutter speed until I had the correct exposure so shutter speed ended up being 1/4000 while ISO still sat at 800! So if time wasn

[thekingb]

Totally ridiculously awesome bee in flight. I don

[ddt0725]

Thanks!! Getting a thumbs up from you guys really means alot to me!


Here is another I took right after the one posted. Not as good as the one above IMO but the lens still hung in there with decent focus ...


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6047636531_2da30429f8_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6047636531/)

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6047570161_3d1b1ab88c_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6047570161/)

[Jayson]

That is a great capture of the bee Denise! I have been trying for a bee and dragon in flight this entire summer and nothing. I am very impressed and like your new macro a bunch.

[ddt0725]

Thanks, Jayson! These are handheld so a tripod and the macro slider I sold would sure improve them but still, I think this lens is Sigma

[Fast Glass]

John, I like the wide angle perspective on the flower. I have been trying to get a wide angle on some flowers recently, but haven't quite grabbed the shot yet. I really like your angle of view on this one.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>



That's were I think using a prime has helped me. I am very used to a paricular lens because it never changesandI knowwhat it can do, that it makes it easier (for me at least)to compose a shot that way.Not to mention I really like thisfocal length, I have said this beforewhen/if I get a FFafast 35mmprime is coming with it.


John.

[JJphoto]

that 1/4000s might have been necessary to stop that bugger in flight.


I think so.

[ddt0725]

This had all the potential of being a really cool macro shot ...if only I wouldn't have messed up on my apeture setting![:'(]





http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6051843848_4fb91d4f18_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6051843848/)

[DLS]

What do mean? It looks great - eyes are in-focus and the background is creamy enough to be non-distracting. What were you going for?


Well done!


Damian

[ddt0725]

I wish more of him was in focus ...legs &amp; antenna

[DLS]

I see your point. Still great though. Boy macro is fun, eh?

[DLS]

Good try Americo but its the super-thin DOF that is the trouble for me here - my eye has nothing to hold attention to. Maybe try stopping down a bit?


Damian

[freelanceshots]

Americo,


There are many other interesting things to shoot other then wine bottles and wine bottle corks. Go outside and look for other things to shoot that tell a story. Open up that camera and shoot at f/5.6 to f/11. Shoot some pretty landscapes, capture a cool car, shoot an interesting reflection, look for a beautiful sky or ask some friends to pose for some funny or unique portraits. No more wine bottles please. Stay away from the wine.

[Dr Croubie]

DDT, i don't think you stuffed the aperture, i reckon it's spot on. Perfectly focussed head makes it stand out from the blurry body, looks a fair bit more agressive and threatening (now I know how a tiny fruit fly must feel if i saw one)


.


Here's two i took in the last day or so.


First is some giant (1.5" long) mosquito- or lacewing-looking thing, 7D, 50mm f/1.8 @ f/6.3, 52-37mm stepdown ring and lensbaby +10 macro lens, ISO1600, 1/200s handheld, no cropping. Taken under my very yellow outside lights (which are meant to discourage bugs, they don't work), so lots of PP colour adjustment to get the wall almost white, and too much NR to make it sharp, but still, i love the expression.


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"There's something creeping up behind me, I can feel it"


.


Next is a hoverfly, damn it was hard to get a good shot of. 7D, 70-300L with 36mm extension tube @ 300mm, f/6.3, ISO800, 1/640s. They dart around so freakishly fast, and spot you from 3' away, that there's nothing else to do but Manual Focus, high-ish DOF, high shutter speed (so unfortunately high ISO and noise), aim, machine-gun, and pray. 100% crop of the best I managed (needs more NR, but goes too soft with any more)...


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[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6067889786_ee1eab57e5_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6067889786/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6067889426_3d1eda849b_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6067889426/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6067343531_ccda3cf7ca_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6067343531/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6067889280_5511d7b6eb_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6067889280/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/6067343235_73b167d749_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6067343235/)

[ddt0725]

Two more before I call it a night!


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6068388582_b1935e2cf4_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6068388582/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6068269660_4d29b0c1dd_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6068269660/)

[Jon Ruyle]

My kids pointed this spider out to me a couple of days ago:


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8741.IMG_5F00_6566-fr-pic.jpg


MP-E 65 + twin flash + 5DII f/16 ISO 100


If anyone can guess the flower, I'll be impressed [:)]


[Edit: the picture was there when I previewed and gone when I looked at Nates pictures later... I put it back but not sure it will stay. Dunno what I did wrong.]

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Hi Guys and Gals, I haven't posted anything lately...here are some images that I've shot in March, man that was the last time I did any serious photography :)





No fancy macro lens, just the good old 70-200 f/2.8L IS and the 7D





http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/5-14-2011_9-58-37_AM.jpg


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/5-14-2011_9-57-52_AM.jpg


http://www.pscvn.org/members/308/8-22-2011_9-48-04_AM.jpg


thanks for viewing, comments are always welcome


Nate,

[Jon Ruyle]

Nice, Nate. I think the first is my favorite. I

[ddt0725]

If anyone can guess the flower, I'll be impressed


Wow! Nice shot, Jon! I will take a stab at it and go with a purple "mum"!?

Here are a couple more from me ...I've been a macro-holic lately!


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6067/6072059188_d8ab750851_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6072059188/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6071758666_b44da77077_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6071758666/)

[Rocco]

Looks like the flower is crying. I also like how there is a purple color cast on the last one. Very nice shots!

[Jayson]

Wow, great shots everyone! As for a guess on the purple flower with the (crab) spider (I believe), I was going to guess outside of the yard and it being a thistle???


Denise you are really getting into macro again. Those all with the new lens?


Here are a couple taken yesterday. This guy was hanging upsidedown between the boards of my fence. The lighting was horrible so I tried flashing, but it was more difficult to hold things straight. So I turned the camera upsidedown and mounted the flash and this is about as good as I could get before he flew off. Ugly dude!


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1w3QxJ7HChw/TlMnP784DwI/AAAAAAAABs8/bIXk9vLILoE/s800/2011_08_22_20253%252520copy.jpg


First one was with a 100mm macro and a 1.4x TC. The last two are with the 300F4IS +1.4xtc and a 36mm tube with 580 exII

[ddt0725]

Denise you are really getting into macro again. Those all with the new lens?



Yep, I figure I might as well take advantage of it while all the flowers &amp; insects are around! Butterflies are just starting to frequent my gardens so more to come! And yes, these are all taken with my new Sigma. I put the Canon 100L on for a few shots this weekend and went right back to the sigma. I guess I've just grown to be more comfortable with it.

Denise

[Jon Ruyle]

Thistle was a good guess. It is an artichoke, which looks like a thistle and might even be a kind of thistle for all I know :)


It

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6075025729_313a769c09_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6075025729/)

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6082285520_b39b2ff4bd_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6082285520/)

[freelanceshots]

That's a really nice flower image ddt0725. Magazine/post card quality for sure. Very clean!

[Jon Ruyle]

I really like your macro work, Denise, but that flower stands out. Beautiful composition.

[Jayson]

Great shot of the monarch! Is that cropped or as is?

[ddt0725]

Thanks, guys! Yes, it has been cropped. To be honest, I wasn

[freelanceshots]

Another critter I found in my yard. Looks like my big dog dug him up. I was out filling the hole back in early this morning where I almost stepped on this guy. Odd thing is there is no water or creek near my house.


No crop with 5D2 at f/22, rocks set up in my studio with monolights and honeycomb grids.


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6099001554_b59603d06d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6099001554/) wild crayfish (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6099001554/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/6102506173_eb810c5a92_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6102506173/)

[Jayson]

Oh, I like this shot Denise. You have kept the highlights in the flowers, eyes in focus, have all of the wings...I

[Jayson]

Freelance, that is one ugly fish! Great capture and great light by the way.

[freelanceshots]

This is about the most ugly thing crawling around where it was really tough for me to pick it up. All it wanted to do was get it's pinchers around my finger or hand. It even tried to battle with my miniature dachshund out in the yard. I love sicking my weenie dog on the critters that come into the yard even the non venomous snakes. Did I mention that anything insect like gives me the heebie jeebies! Sometimes I don't know how I can eat the farm raised guys. Seems like a pretty disgusting food source know that I think about it.


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6099081020_4b57b2f9ea.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6099081020/) crayfish (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6099081020/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[ddt0725]

Nice shot freelanceshots! Extremely sharp!


Just another butterfly pic ...


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6110712973_9507ac4a63_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6110712973/)

[clemmb]

Just another butterfly pic ...


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6110712973_9507ac4a63_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6110712973/)
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>





Nice shot Denise. Looks like a catch-light in his eye. Did you use flash?


Mark

[Fast Glass]

They might be ugly but they taste great! But then again I am a fan of seafood, I have lived close to the ocean for better part of my life so I guess that would expected.


Great capture,


John.

[freelanceshots]

The little guy I photographed was a 2 inch crawfish/crayfish/crawdad/mudbug. It might look like an ocean going crustacean because you cant judge the scale with my photograph but they are typically pulled out of creeks, swampy areas here in the south. Just thought I clarify.

[Fast Glass]

I guess I should have been more clear, I sometimes catch these guys in fresh water streams so knew that it was fresh water. But oyesters are even uglier, but I like

[Jayson]

I have been using my 300mm for what seems to be a ton of macro recently. These had a 36mm tube and 1.4x tc attached. Thought I would share a couple. Sorry for those who don't like spiders, but these particular spiders, I think, are pretty cool.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Kyu--trWJ4/TmqNT0MBARI/AAAAAAAABvM/s-SmwA4hUSc/s800/2011_08_27_20805.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ctHgBJq1TZ0/TmqM4PsjHUI/AAAAAAAABuw/Mvvh8zV_q8s/s800/2011_08_29_20856.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rAJjGSbsYss/TmqM2yWzllI/AAAAAAAABuk/sBstAkMCgXg/s800/2011_08_29_20847.jpg


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vof6f55RMuo/TmqNE7tNZoI/AAAAAAAABu8/OBLRlj2AniM/s800/2011_08_31_20878.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WThzT2_E4rQ/TmqNcesyKzI/AAAAAAAABvc/gFaGW50kCXw/s800/2011_08_27_20799.jpg

[Don Burkett]

Agree Jason,2 thumbs up for the 300 f/4 L.


While technically not macros it's is a terrific lens for shooting close ups of insects and bugs.


(Canon 7d, iso 800, 1/250th @ f/9)


http://www.pbase.com/dtburkett/image/127384232/original.jpg





And while it's not the fastest focusing lens in the bag, it's a nice focal length to even be able to catch the occasional dragon in flight.


(Canon 7D, iso 400, 1/2000 @ f/8)


http://www.pbase.com/dtburkett/image/136900233/original.jpg

[Dr Croubie]

"I'm the king of the black, white, and red tree!"


.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5582.IMG_5F00_8200cs600x900.JPG


(proof once again that you should always swap your rear lens caps when changing lenses, because you never know what is going to happen to it)

[Dr Croubie]

And the 'portrait' shot I got of him once he'd reached the top, then tried to climb further (not that there was anything to climb on to, except the front of my lenses, he tried that often enough)


.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3326.IMG_5F00_8214rcs900x600.JPG

[freelanceshots]

Where do you live to encounter a bug like that, at the zoo or a tropical rain forest?

[Dr Croubie]

adelaide, australia.


I got home and my 80 year old neighbour came in and said "look what i found on our grapefruit tree".


he

[Rocco]

Woah! Dr Croubie, with you being an Aussie.. I DEMAND more insect macros! [:D] I've heard you guys have some wild bugs crawling around down there.. like this guy. We don't have anything quite like that here in Utah. Very strange and exotic to me.

[Dr Croubie]

I've done some digging, and it's called Extatosoma Tiatarum, and they are endemic to Australia.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum says they're only meant to be from up north in Queensland, so maybe this one was (descended from) an escaped pet...





/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7838.IMG_5F00_8193rs900x600.JPG


"I'm a scorpion!"


.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3666.IMG_5F00_8204rcs900x600.JPG


Guy knows his quality lenses, he didn't go near the niftyfifty when I was taking shots using the L..

[Dr Croubie]

Also, for more weird bugs, check out these guys. We always called them "spitfires" as kids, and I thought they were caterpillars from moths or butterflies. Turns out that they're the grubs of sawflies, family Pergidae (related to wasps and ants), and they do indeed spit out some nasty chemicals to warn off things that might eat them. Always gotta be careful about walking underneath them, but then again you can't look up to see where they are or a dropbear will get you. Man this is a dangerous country to live in.


.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6862.IMG_5F00_6919rcs900x900.JPG


.


And for no artistic merit, this is just to show what they can do in larger numbers (although that's nothing compared to some 'swarms' i've seen as a kid). This particular shot was in a eucalypt tree in a playground, directly over the swing set...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8741.IMG_5F00_7615rcs900x600.JPG

[Andy Stringer]

What an interesting assortment of weird and wonderful creatures. Great shots everyone.

Here are some of the flora and fauna from my back garden today:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6178434365_86e53c402c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apstringer/6178434365/)
1D Mark IV, EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 400, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash

[/URL][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/apstringer/6178978280/]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6178978280_dbdfde0321_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apstringer/6178978280/)
1D Mark IV, EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, 1/125s, f/22, ISO 200, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6178976440_616755bfe4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apstringer/6178976440/)
1D Mark IV, EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, 1/40s, f/22, ISO 200, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6178463087_fec9fdb5fd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apstringer/6178463087/)
1D Mark IV, EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 400, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash

[Dr Croubie]

*knock at the door*


"What do you want to do with this creature?"


"Ok, i'll get my camera back out..."


.


Who asked for more weird Australian bugs? No idea what it is, best I can think of is a Jewel Bug, family Scutelleridae. Forget my last comment from the birds i just posted, this is the lowest keeper rate i've ever had, this one shot is the best I could get. He wouldn't keep still, even iso400, 1/160s at f5 couldn't keep him in focus or still long enough, then once i upped it to iso800, 1/100s, f9 for more DOF i threw them all out, and he was in bright sunshine too. I gotta get a proper ringflash...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/900x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6840.IMG_5F00_8474rcs900x600.JPG

[ddt0725]

Really nice shots, guys!!


Andy - I love the color in your last two shots and that is one sharp lens!








http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6182804489_92baeffa6f_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6182804489/)

[Trowski]

Caught this honey bee collecting pollen from a wild aster.


http://trowski.com/files/2011-09-28/IMG_7656-Edit.jpg


I really liked this shot because of the mother and nymph aphids that I didn't even notice when I took the shot. The bumblebee appears monstrous compared to the aphids.


http://trowski.com/files/2011-09-28/IMG_7671-Edit.jpg

[Jayson]

I really liked this shot because of the mother and nymph aphids that I didn't even notice when I took the shot. The bumblebee appears monstrous compared to the aphids.


http://trowski.com/files/2011-09-28/IMG_7671-Edit.jpg





Great Shot! Sometimes there is a surprise in every shot. I like how the aphids even have pollen on them.

[Jayson]

I see plenty of pictures of Praying Mantis, but have only seen 2 with my own eyes. First one was a long time ago and second was this weekend mowing the yard. I grabbed the camera, but didn't have my ideal set up to capture them any better. Here's what I captured...


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3eOKpg8vsI/ToCM3AESO9I/AAAAAAAABxA/lZuXmqdxyAQ/s1600/2011_09_24_21599.jpg


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f35UhQnsPPE/ToCM1bgNC2I/AAAAAAAABww/76Njydaguho/s1600/2011_09_24_21583.jpg


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOzMLB_W4q4/ToCM11GmpFI/AAAAAAAABw0/nRNvwSl8OHI/s1600/2011_09_24_21587.jpg


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8S4GIG8Nbnw/ToCM4JC_RnI/AAAAAAAABxI/HUc_-838S9w/s1600/2011_09_24_21603+stacked.jpg

[ddt0725]

Those are really some spectacular macro shots Trowski &amp; Jayson! I sure am going to miss shooting bugs in a few months!


One thing about it getting colder ...the bees get alot more cooperative to shoot!





http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6199274531_edcea8eb25_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6199274531/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6199274121_b541d98b60_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6199274121/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6199274053_3447939e4c_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6199274053/)

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6201902171_97031610b5_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6201902171/)

[bob williams]

Denise---That

[bob williams]

Denise, All are grrrrreat, but the third pic of the wasp is nothing less than spectacular---hang it, sell it---Nice work

[freelanceshots]

I just now swatted this fly off the ceiling and it came to a rest on the floor where my rolling chair sets. I didn't notice its resting place at first but then I caught it out of the corner of my eye. I then saw all these little moving objects around it and then I went in for a closer look. Babies perhaps or some kind of parasite?


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6204893868_9e8fc449e8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6204893868/)
swatted fly (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6204893868/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr

[bob williams]

Freelanceshots----Those would be Maggots (fly babies)----This is one I am not going to thank you for sharing:) But on the bright side, Thats 13 flies with one swat---Nice job

[freelanceshots]

Good, we don

[thekingb]

Denise - my WI bee shots don't hold a candle to your #3! Wow!


/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x800/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/2500.IMG_5F00_9166-_2D00_-Version-3.jpg


/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x800/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/3683.IMG_5F00_9186.jpg


And a butterfly for good measure....


/resized-image.ashx/__size/800x800/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/8446.IMG_5F00_9213.jpg

[ddt0725]

Thank you! The lighting &amp; sharpness on your shots is perfect and I love the creamy background!


When I was outside, I caught this guy trying to climb in my bedroom window! I took a few shots &amp; ran inside to get an extender ...when I came back, he was gone! I think he succeeded on his mission!!


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6223506211_76eae02282_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6223506211/)

[Jon Ruyle]

Sweet!


Um, how big was that thing? Is this at 1x?

[ddt0725]

Thanks, Jon! It was just shot with my naked 100mm macro lens. He was an itty bitty thing and the image is heavily cropped.

This is the original ...excuse the dirty siding on my house!


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0574.IMG_5F00_5430-resized.JPG

[freelanceshots]

wasp that I pulled from certain death from the dogs water bowl where the temp outside had dropped 25 degrees over one day. f/20 and no cropping so my lens hood almost always touches my subjects to fill the frame with no cropping.


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/6261663508_52853ee432_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6261663508/) wasp (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6261663508/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[Sheiky]

Oh my...f/20. How long was your shutterspeed?

[freelanceshots]

5Dtwo, 100mm IS macro, 1sec exposure, ISO 400, light from the window


With my camera and lens to get any DOF range I have to at least go that amount unless I want to step back and and then have to crop heavily into the image. I could use some extension tubes but that's on the back burner until I've got cash just sitting around. I think my insect photography days are limited unless bug photography business picks up.

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6271592250_76e9124781_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6271592250/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6271592090_64e3966230_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6271592090/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/6271065863_980bea0536_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6271065863/)

[Joel Eade]

Awesome Denise!!!


Especially like the third one.....makes me want to buy a macro lens!

[Richard Lane]

Denise,


Those shots are the "Bees Knees."


They're sharp, with nice color, contrast and bokeh. I don't think you can hope for more. On the first shot, you can actually see the pollen on the bees legs and antennae. I think I like the color rendition of the Canon 100mmL f/2.8 Macro IS better than the Sigma 70mm Macro.


I agree with Joel, the 3rd shot is my favorite! The DOF is exceptional and you really get a sense of the bees macro world that it lives in. It's like a little bee city.


Are you using your macro twin light? How about sharing some tips of your setup? I have the Canon Macro too, but I really haven't shot any Macro with it. This makes me want to go out and shoot macro too.


Nice Work!


Rich

[ddt0725]

Thanks guys! The 3rd is my favorite also &amp; I really don't know why it turned out so much better than the others but whatever I did ...I like it!


I didn't have the twin lite ...I used to own the ring lite but I sold it. So, I really don't have any special tips to give. These were all hand held and I only used flash (580 II w/ bracket) on the first one I think.


Here's another from yesterday ...





http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6271654690_06d2e08e5b_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6271654690/)

[ddt0725]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6274554181_fb2b1fccb1_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6274554181/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6275080114_3f83b0c7a3_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6275080114/)


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6275079984_3403a663ee_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6275079984/)

[bouwy]

Brilliant Denise. Well done.

[Dr Croubie]

Wow, love all the bees and their metallic looks.


I was fixing up a new hosereel in the back yard this afternoon, this guy didn't like being disturbed and scuttled off behind a fencepost. Once i'd finished fixing the hose up, i sprayed him with the hose to get him to move out into the open. He didn't like it too much.


Took a few shots, 7D + 70-300L and 36mm tube, iso800 and f/9. Popped the onboard flash and he got used to it eventually, managed to get 9 shots relatively still while i turned the focus ring.


First real shot at focus stacking using Hugin, used the raw-converted jpgs. Good thing i didn't use raw-converted tiffs, I got out-of-memory errors with 4GB ram and 500mb swap, so i turned the unused 32gb of my ssd into swap space...


Didn't turn out too good on first go, so second try I masked out all the obviously blurry areas from each shot, took an hour or two, and looks a lot better. Not sure what's going on in the top right, i'll have another crack tomorrow morning...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/1780.IMG_5F00_0317r_2D00_26r_5F00_fused2ndcs700x55 0.jpg


I hate spiders.


.


(and just for those who are squeamish, here's a 100&amp; crop from the 7th in the stack)


/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0550.IMG_5F00_0324c700x700.JPG

[Dr Croubie]

And this one I like better, even though it's not stacked and the original was a few stops too bright.


Didn't turn out too bad after raw-converting.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7318.IMG_5F00_0306rcs700x550.JPG


I hate spiders.

[freelanceshots]

wasp gathering at the entrance to their nest. I'm inches away from these guys so I'm nervous. They where moving fast and I could just not gain enough shutter to stop all the movement. f/16 ISO 1600 shutter 1/20, handheld so that I could move fast.


These critters give a nasty sting plus I'm allergic. I don't die if I'm stung it just makes me sick for a couple of hours.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6283820117_62f999bfbc_z.jpg


Brought out my 580 flash and flash cord and dropped the f-stop down to f/11


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6284459192_2ebf01d4f1_z.jpg


25% percent crop on this one as I don't usually do cropping but it lets you see these guys a little closer. The yellow headed one is the boss or the queen from what I can tell because the others could not leave it alone.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6283990563_87049376da_z.jpg

[freelanceshots]

A so called leaf bug from today. f/13 this time with my trusty 5D2 and 100mm IS macro. No sharpening done except my for my in camera setting.


While doing the setup and focusing this little bug had some fun with me. In the middle of shooting this little session I looked up to see it suddenly sprouted its wings and fly right at my face hitting me between my nose and my right eye. Even though this insect is pretty much harmless I let out a big yell as it startled me.


[View:http://community.the-digital-picture.com/themes/generic/utility/http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6292335973_3e5d84fb13_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6292335973/) leaf bug (http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelanceshots/6292335973/) by freelanceshots (http://www.flickr.com/people/freelanceshots/), on Flickr:550:0]

[Rocco]

Holy crap! Where are you from Freelance?? Those look much different than the wasps here. This is what I'm used to seeing:


/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/0121.IMG_5F00_3079.jpg

[Dr Croubie]

That looks like what we call (in Australia), a European Wasp.


I saw one in a museum in Sweden, apprently they call them German wasps. Not sure what Germans call them though...

[Rocco]

That looks like what we call (in Australia), a European Wasp.


I saw one in a museum in Sweden, apprently they call them German wasps. Not sure what Germans call them though...






HAHA! Maybe they call them Australian Wasps? Or just "Vasps"? heh.

[Dr Croubie]

de.wikipedia.org/.../Deutsche_Wespe ("http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Wespe) Yep, even the germans claim responsibility for them and call them the Deutsche Wespe, as does every other language on the "this page in other languages" (except the finnish and thai that I can't read). Strangely enough the icelandic just calls them 'house wasps'.


Still, it looks like the same one that is one of australia's worst introduced pests...


Those wasps freelance put up with the purple wings look more like australian native wasps, which i'd presume if he wasn't from the states.


And come to think of it, Denise, since when are bees metallic green? and with white stripes and not yellow?

[freelanceshots]

Rocco, we have yellows ones like that too. I

[Dr Croubie]

It's a Waspy kind of thread at the moment, so here's what's making a nest under the eaves at the moment. (or re-using the nest he or another one made a while back). Some kind of native Australian Paper Wasp (I've taken other photos of them chewing up the wooden stakes in the garden, which they vomit up to make these nests).


Playing around with my new 430EX speedlite, mounted on a tripod about 3' high (to my lower right), zoom on 105mm, 2:1 ratio to the 7D onboard flash with wireless trigger, 70-300L on 68mm Kenko tubes, me standing on a kitchen chair about 50cm away from him (under the eaves is about 220cm up). 140mm, 1/200s, f/13, iso200.


I knew that the 7D had the inbuilt speedlite transmitter when I bought it, but didn't think much of it because i never planned to use a flash much past the inbuilt. If i'd known how useful it was I would have bought one with the body last year, I'm in love with it already...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/6888.IMG_5F00_0653rcs700x550.JPG


.


Edit: I'm not sure if I like it rotated and cropped, it gets a bit tighter than the 'hanging' style, but i like the pose of the wasp on top...


/resized-image.ashx/__size/500x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/4604.IMG_5F00_0653rRcs500x700.JPG

[Dr Croubie]

Baby larva looking at me before it's born, freaky.


Think this one was with the speedlite on the hotshoe, the white-painted background got washed out but the centre was perfectly exposed.


/resized-image.ashx/__size/600x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/7737.IMG_5F00_0515rcs600x700.JPG

[conropl]

Freelanceshots, those are strange wasps.


Since we are on bees... here is a little different color from the wasps. A green bee.


I saw quit a few or these this year. I do not remember seeing these much in the past, but maybe I am just looking more since I got a macro lens.Looking back a few post, Isee Denise has some real nice close up shots of green bees.


alshttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5922358587_0269c7f575_z.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/5922358587/)

[ddt0725]

Fantastic bee and wasp shots!! Sorry to detour the thread away from them ...


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6302235319_0fc975f23f.jpg ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6302235319/)

[Dr Croubie]

This guy was sitting happily on a Radish leaf in my garden, until he got a lens shoved in his face.
I think my 85/1.8 with kenko tubes is my new favourite macro (no IS, but nowhere near as heavy as the 70-300L).
111

[Dave Throgmartin]

Shot at f/16

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6103/6403209759_d925be560c_b.jpg

[doggiedoc]

Very nice Dave. I love the warm tones and especially fond of the way the shadows fall.

[Dr Croubie]

7D + 70-300L, no tubes so 100% crops, shot off just over 100 frames at MFD in really windy conditions, maybe 20 half decent, and whittled it down to these 3. (although i'm not expecting them to look very sharp once I upload them to this forum).
Just don't ask what the hell it is, because on that I'd have no idea...
175176177

[ddt0725]

Nice shots, Dr. C. Looks like your spider is dressed up for halloween!

[Dr Croubie]

A more normal looking spider I shot about half an hour ago.
7D + 85/1.8 + 68mm tubes, 430EX with $5 chinese softbox I just got, 1/160s, f/10
Cropped 3750/5184 pixels, he's probably not more than 1cm in total length. (And the dark diamond behind him is the lattice along our fence, didn't do it on purpose, that's just where the tripod fit)
235

[Sheiky]

Looks good Dr. C!:D

[Jon Ruyle]

Really nice, Dr. Croubie!

[bob williams]

Dr. C, great looking spider, and I would love to know what he/she is?

[bob williams]

7D + 70-300L, no tubes so 100% crops, shot off just over 100 frames at MFD in really windy conditions, maybe 20 half decent, and whittled it down to these 3. (although i'm not expecting them to look very sharp once I upload them to this forum).
Just don't ask what the hell it is, because on that I'd have no idea...
175176177

Ok, I just had to look this guy up---My guess would be a "Spiny Orb-Weaver" or one of its kinfolk---

[Sean Setters]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6561967923_bf935ce145_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6561967923/)
Please Spend Me (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6561967923/) by budrowilson (http://www.flickr.com/people/budrowilson/), on Flickr

[DanoPhoto]

Very nice pic.

Curious, did you use dedicated flash on this? What recommendations do you have for staged or studio (non-nature) shots?

edit...disregard question about your technique...visted your Flickr site and the info was there...

[bob williams]

Sean, Nice shot of the coin----and I took a look at some other work of yours on your flicker account. Your portraits are outstanding as always but I really like the job you did on that press machine---very nice. That had to be a tricky one. I am sure the customer was very happy with it. Nice work.

[Sean Setters]

Very nice pic.

Curious, did you use dedicated flash on this? What recommendations do you have for staged or studio (non-nature) shots?

I used a Paul C. Buff White Lightning x1600 on the shot of the coins. I was using it at about 3/4 power, diffused by an octabox, and positioned fairly close to the coins. This put out a lot of light, which allowed me to shoot at f/16. Truth be told, I probably should have pushed it to f/22 and adjusted the flash power or ISO to compensate, but the slight out-of-focus area at the top didn't really bother me at the time.

The best advice I can give for staged or studio shots is:

1) Make sure you have a decent, re-positionable, yet solid support. A good tripod will help you nail things down. After you get the framing figured out, you have one less thing to worry about because it'll stay the same from that time forward.

2) Studio strobes are wonderful for pseudo macro work. They let you to shoot at narrow apertures allowing for greater depth-of-field while using relatively fast shutter speeds (up to your max sync speed). Of course, with good stability, you can open up the shutter for extended periods of time allowing the ambient light to carry your lighting workload. Many times, however, the color of ambient light is mixed--making consistent color hard to nail down.

3) Speaking of strobes, learn the principles involved in lighting a subject and have a decent amount of modifiers on hand. Some modifiers can be made with a little bit of time and effort, or improvised with a little ingenuity; others will need to be purchased ready-made. Modifiers currently at my disposal include the following, and range in cost from about $5 - $170.

-White umbrellas
-Reflective (silver) umbrellas
-22" silver beauty dish
-16" silver beauty dish w/ grid
-20" white parabolic reflector
-Strip boxes w/ grids
-48" octabox w/ grid
-Small, medium, and large softboxes
-64" extreme silver parabolic light modifier (PLM) with diffusion cover
-Snoots
-Grids
-Flags
-Queen sized bed sheet
-White foam board

4) If you don't own a macro lens, buy some extension tubes. I bought some used extension tubes off of Ebay for around $100. All my macro work is done with them. For as little as I do macro work, the quality is perfectly acceptable to me. You can buy even cheaper extension tubes new from Amazon.

5) Play. The only way you're going to learn a new skill is to practice, make mistakes, and learn what works. If you're curious about a technique, or you want to duplicate something you've seen done, try it until you succeed. After that, you'll have one more skill tucked away in your mind's closet for pulling out when the occasion calls for it.


Sean, Nice shot of the coin----and I took a look at some other work of yours on your flicker account. Your portraits are outstanding as always but I really like the job you did on that press machine---very nice. That had to be a tricky one. I am sure the customer was very happy with it. Nice work.

You know, it took me a full hour to nail that shot down. The machine itself is not terribly interesting or pleasing to the eye, so the lighting and framing had to work wonders. And yes, the client was indeed pleased with it. I was so happy with the shot that I had (8) 8x10 prints of it made on Kodak Metallic Paper and gave it to the employees who worked closest to that machine as a memento.

[DanoPhoto]

5) Play. The only way you're going to learn a new skill is to practice, make mistakes, and learn what works. If you're curious about a technique, or you want to duplicate something you've seen done, try it until you succeed. After that, you'll have one more skill tucked away in your mind's closet for pulling out when the occasion calls for it.


Thanks for all the recommendations. Wll use the all...especially #5...

Will hopefully post some soon for feedback. After the Holidays, of course.

[Dr Croubie]

Thanks guys, but yeah, no idea what this guy is. He was just floating around my pergola in the back yard, only 1cm long or so. We get heaps of spiders around there, because it's always so damp they love the mosquitos that love breeding there.
Meanwhile, here's a better version of it, seeing as i'm smugmugging some stuff to try out...
[/URL]
[url=http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#1648873910_Xgf7Wcp-A-LB]http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-Xgf7Wcp/1/L/i-Xgf7Wcp-L.jpg (http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro-1/20775850_8mvrLn#1648873910_Xgf7Wcp-A-LB)

ps, Bob, where'd you find the name of that other guy? My sister had some site she used to find an insect name before, but they didn't have spiders...

[bob williams]

ps, Bob, where'd you find the name of that other guy? My sister had some site she used to find an insect name before, but they didn't have spiders...

I used the scientific resource called "google". I just searched for spider photos and looked through them until I found something that looked like your spider---Given its uniqueness, it was pretty easy. But wiht your most recent post, I think it would be much more challenging useing my search method.

[conropl]

Thanks guys, but yeah, no idea what this guy is...

ps, Bob, where'd you find the name of that other guy? My sister had some site she used to find an insect name before, but they didn't have spiders...

Try this out. http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

It looks like you can even do a I.D. request if you can not find it.

[Jonathan Huyer]

Speaking of spiders, I just came across this site. Awesome stuff. Have a look at the video section to see how he does it... he's using reverse-mounted prime lenses with extension tubes, and a homemade flash diffuser.
http://www.thomasshahan.com/

[thekingb]

he's using reverse-mounted prime lenses with extension tubes, and a homemade flash diffuser.
http://www.thomasshahan.com/

Amazing macro shots. How does he get so much depth of field? Is it the focus stacking?

[Dr Croubie]

I was playing with reverse-macro the other day too, getting some insane magnifications, like up to 7x (3mm-wide framing). But stupidly long exposures and nanometer-thin DOF. That's gotta be stacked, dozens of shots or more (too bad I don't like killing things, or i'd be doing the same...)

[Jonathan Huyer]

He occasionally does focus-stacking, as described in this interview:

http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/ThomasShahan.html

(http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/ThomasShahan.html)However from the sound of it, he just takes lots and lots of pictures.

[Dr Croubie]

I cut off a wayward cane from our grape vine that was hanging too low, and this guy was on the leaf. Think it's what we called a 'spitfire' as kids. Not sure if they spit fire (or acid), but with that red bit and all those spines, I took enough care not to touch him.

7D, Asahi Pentax Takumar 50mm f/1.4 @ f/8, iso100, 1/30s, 30mm kenko tube, 430EX and softbox hovering overhead...

http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-PrP6SQn/0/L/i-PrP6SQn-L.jpg (http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#!i=1666480290&k=PrP6SQn&lb=1&s=A)

[Dr Croubie]

And apologies for that, seems I just sent you all a picture of his butt.

I rearranged the flash to a bit more frontal-top-right, added another 20mm of extension tube, then discovered that this is (probably) its head. Well, at least one of these pics is the head...

[/URL][url=http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#!i=1666504661&k=njshg8c&lb=1&s=A]http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-njshg8c/0/L/i-njshg8c-L.jpg (http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#!i=1666504661&k=njshg8c&lb=1&s=A)

[DLS]

Wow! Nice one Dr. I like the first one best - great comp and the black backround fits with the color of this caterpillar.

Cheers,

Damian

[Dr Croubie]

Thanks, and yeah, I liked the first one better. I took a few more and will look at them later, but then I had to go out so put him back outside. Too bad his head was at the edge of the leaf, I didn't realise he was alive but he was, just very very slow moving. Wasn't game enough to touch him to rearrange him on the leaf (looks like my table is a bit dirty too). Also, he's not a spitfire, I'd already decided earlier that they're a type of Sawfly. So this is just a funky-looking moth caterpillar.

Meanwhile, here's my work of the morning:

http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-NMthMtq/0/L/i-NMthMtq-L.jpg (http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#!i=1668727936&k=NMthMtq&lb=1&s=A)
I have spawned the Devil, thy name is Tomato.

[conropl]

Dr Croubie - These all look great. Since you started importing from another site reather than attaching, your pictures are much more clear and sharp... quite a difference.

[conropl]

Took some shots of roses today. Not to many flowers around outside right now, so when the church gets new flowers I try to get some pictures. Here are a few:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6827325903_9ae11dcb4c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827325903/)
Rose-8409.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827325903/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6827301135_c2f8fb26eb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827301135/)
Rose-8423.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827301135/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6827273869_a862f7aaa4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827273869/)
Rose-8455.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827273869/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6827242951_6473e00ed2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827242951/)
Rose-8430.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6827242951/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

Beautiful flower shots, Pat! We have had such a mild winter that there are actully some flowers sprouting up in my garden! The blizzard we are having today will change all of that!

Weather is keeping me inside most of the day today ...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6853087825_47977786e3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6853087825/)
What's REALLY in that commercially pre-mixed pepper container? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6853087825/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr
The container says black pepper, spices (?), dextrose, sugar, red & green sweet peppers, dehydrated onion flakes ...hmmm, interesting! I love how they can just state "spices". Isn't the point of listing ingredients to tell you EVERYTHING that is in it ...what spices might I ask?
Taken handheld with Sigma 70mm macro w/ 12mm, 20mm & 36mm stacked Kenko extension tubes.

[bob williams]

Denise, That is one of the most disgusting looking shots I have seen. Really, It almost made me gag-----Great shot on evoking an emotional (and physical response)---I love it.

Bob

[ddt0725]

I am very sorry, Bob! How do you think I felt ...I ate a burger with this stuff on it just the other night!

[bob williams]

I am very sorry, Bob! How do you think I felt ...I ate a burger with this stuff on it just the other night!

Well, Just to get even, I am now going to have to photograph a bowl of my green chile stew:p. And of course post it just for DD

[Joel Eade]

Well, Just to get even, I am now going to have to photograph a bowl of my green chile stew:p. And of course post it just for DD

Yum Yum:p

I love green chile stew!

...and green chile Brats

...and green chile Burgers

I think everyone should meet at Bob's house this weekend for a cook out!

[conropl]

I think everyone should meet at Bob's house this weekend for a cook out!

Sounds good;)

Bob - You're not going to serve any of that black pepper spice stuff are you:p

[Raid]

Weather is keeping me inside most of the day today ...


Would it be possible to show us how to shoot a blizzard, as I have never seen one in real life, can you get a good shot?

Tony

PS: I wonder how long before somebody posts an all white picture?

[bob williams]

Yum Yum:p

I love green chile stew!

...and green chile Brats

...and green chile Burgers

I think everyone should meet at Bob's house this weekend for a cook out!

Hmm, Sounds like a man that has been to NM before------Red or Green?

[bob williams]

Sounds good;)

Bob - You're not going to serve any of that black pepper spice stuff are you:p


Never, ever, not in my house. Its Hatch Chile or nothing at all:)

[Joel Eade]

Hmm, Sounds like a man that has been to NM before------Red or Green?

well, if it's brats or burgers then it has to be green for me.....stew I can go either way, whatever you have will work:rolleyes:

[Joel Eade]

This isn't exactly macro, since I don't own a true macro lens, but this is a close up of Sandhill Crane plumage using a 500mm lens.

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v36/p551282748-4.jpg

[ddt0725]

Yum Yum:p

I love green chile stew!

...and green chile Brats

...and green chile Burgers

I think everyone should meet at Bob's house this weekend for a cook out!

Wisconsin is known for their brats but I can't ever say I've had a green chile one! I'm coming and I am bringing my mixed black pepper spice with me!!

[ddt0725]

Never seen a blizzard ...man, you are missing out!

[ddt0725]

This isn't exactly macro, since I don't own a true macro lens, but this is a close up of Sandhill Crane plumage using a 500mm lens.

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v36/p551282748-4.jpg

Really beautiful, Joel!! I guess I never realized all the colors that were in their feathers!

[Joel Eade]

Wisconsin is known for their brats but I can't ever say I've had a green chile one! I'm coming and I am bringing my mixed black pepper spice with me!!

Bob has access to an awesome meat shop and he treated me to some green chile brats(among other local fare) .... they're great.

Remember I'm a Wisconsin native so I do know, like you do, what a good brat really is all about.

Trust me when I tell you that Bob has something special there.

[ddt0725]

Hey Bob, you ship me some green chile brats and I will ship you some kringle ...deal?

[naturac]

Denise what mm macro lens are you using? I just started viewing the macro thread and I do believe I am hooked.

[ddt0725]

Macro photography is alot of fun! I have two macro lenses ...the Canon 100mm 2.8 L IS Macro lens and the Sigma 70mm macro. I think most of my photos as of the last few months have been with the Sigma 70mm macro. If you are referring to any specific photo, most of mine are loaded through flickr & you can click on it to check the EXIF.

Denise

[ddt0725]

My garden is blooming!!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6942706101_78e86a1d65_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6942706101/)
Spring has sprung in Wisconsin! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6942706101/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Raid]

Hi Denise

Very nice shot, like the background, works well.
In these type of pictures I often wonder how much DOF to use. Should I try and get all of the flower in focus or just a part. I don’t know which is better.

Tony

[ddt0725]

Hi Denise

Very nice shot, like the background, works well.
In these type of pictures I often wonder how much DOF to use. Should I try and get all of the flower in focus or just a part. I don’t know which is better.

Tony Thank you! I guess it is all personal preference. The background is old mulch in my garden so I did want to blur it out. With flowers, since they are soft and delicate I do prefer to have them slightly blurred also with not too much detail most of the time.

[conropl]

A couple of butterflies from an indoor garden:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6822369630_f62a2524c4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822369630/)
Butterfly-9858 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822369630/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6822361236_8dc62f3456_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822361236/)
Butterfly-9887 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822361236/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[Sean Setters]

I shot my cuff link last night. I was testing out the use of my Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter coupled with the Kenko extension tubes using my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS for macro work. It was a bit odd finding the right balance of zoom, focus, and subject distance ratio, but with a little work it was fine. The 1.4x tele didn't seem to affect image quality as much as I thought it might.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/6822358988_e93d32657f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6822358988/)
SSP Cuff Link [16x9] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6822358988/) by budrowilson (http://www.flickr.com/people/budrowilson/), on Flickr

[conropl]

No flowers here yet, but I shot these from an indoor garden:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6977930421_ac2b4ca512_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6977930421/)
Orchid-0057 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6977930421/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6831787572_74ff39b785_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6831787572/)
Tulip-0145 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6831787572/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[Steve U]

Beautiful engraving Sean.:D
Like that metalic butterfly Pat and nice orchids.

[Jayson]

Wow, great macro shots guys and gals! Thought I could contribute again since it is finally warm enough for some bugs.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f9NN8aF34eQ/T2KxT8G-6tI/AAAAAAAAClI/j_efUmYKvRI/s640/2012_03_13_EOS%207D_021246%20copy.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JODzN0tyTuI/T2KxR5OsGXI/AAAAAAAACko/3GU6aHUqlUk/s640/2012_03_13_EOS%207D_021235%20copy.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IQj7DC-3GoI/T2KxPudVniI/AAAAAAAACkI/TVkaF_rl_BY/s640/2012_03_12_EOS%207D_021167%20copy.jpg

[Jayson]

A couple of butterflies from an indoor garden:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6822369630_f62a2524c4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822369630/)
Butterfly-9858 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6822369630/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr


This is a great shot.

[ddt0725]

I shot my cuff link last night. I was testing out the use of my Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter coupled with the Kenko extension tubes using my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS for macro work. It was a bit odd finding the right balance of zoom, focus, and subject distance ratio, but with a little work it was fine. The 1.4x tele didn't seem to affect image quality as much as I thought it might.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/6822358988_e93d32657f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6822358988/)
SSP Cuff Link [16x9] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/6822358988/) by budrowilson (http://www.flickr.com/people/budrowilson/), on Flickr

Your patience really paid off! You nailed this one perfectly, Sean!

[ddt0725]

Nice shots, Jayson! I was doing a great deal of spring yard clean-up the other day and came across many bugs, worms & spiders but I had to stay focused on the job at hand and keep the camera in the house! :( Your shots are making me wish I would have swayed from the yardwork and on to some fun macro shots!

[ddt0725]

My tree will be producing some flowers soon!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6986524905_9559512a94_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6986524905/)
IMG_2983 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6986524905/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Jayson]

My tree will be producing some flowers soon!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6986524905_9559512a94_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6986524905/)
IMG_2983 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6986524905/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

That is great and exciting news. My question...how does Wisconsin have trees ready to bloom, while Nebraska is still stuck in the ice age. I only see one tree here that's anywhere close to that.

[ddt0725]

That is great and exciting news. My question...how does Wisconsin have trees ready to bloom, while Nebraska is still stuck in the ice age. I only see one tree here that's anywhere close to that.

LOL! They are predicting we will be having temps well into the 70's for the next few weeks and that spring is here to stay! But last year on April 18th, this is a photo I took & the day before I took it, temps were in the 70's!

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5266/5633754760_ab80008bb9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/5633754760/)
IMG_1791 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/5633754760/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

In Wisconsin, anything can happen!

[conropl]

Jayson and Denise:

Great shots. We are having warm weather here, but no signs of life yet. I can't wait to get the Macro going especially since I got it adjusted for my camera with FoCal. Mushrooms should be coming soon along with blossoms and bugs.:)

[FastGass]

I think this guy needs to go on diet!

657658659

First one is ISO 400, 5 sec exposure, holding a my old manual flash and shooting through a piece of paper (same for the rest of them), f/36; it has lots of difraction but has the DOF I want, tripod, MD 100mm f/4 macro lens with 2 to 1 ex tube.

The rest use ISO 200 and f/22.

John.

[Dr Croubie]

Wow, that is one fat bug.
Totally coincidentally, here's what I shot yesterday, one skinny bug. (You think if they could breed, they'd have normal-sized children?)

Tighter cropping than the one i entered in the 'Wide' assignment, but better detail..
http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-T9RpxCh/0/L/i-T9RpxCh-L.jpg (http://croubie.smugmug.com/TDP/TDPMacro/20775850_8mvrLn#!i=1753316439&k=T9RpxCh&lb=1&s=A)

[FastGass]

ROLF!

I guess they would be "more normal".

Something a little more elegent.

666

I had a hell of a time trying to get this guy or gall! Manual focus and at 2 to 1 magnifacation (plus 1.6 crop) is like using a super telephoto lens!

Cheers,
John.

[francongphotography]

Went to take some shots of flowers in a conservatory..and here's one of my favourites.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6846045882_4373f841c6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/franco_ng/6846045882/in/photostream)

[conropl]

John - Nice butterfly... that would be hard to get with manual focus. With my luck it would fly off just as it was coming into focus.

Franco - Orchids are so colorful. Nice shot at 300mm... they don't let you use a tripod in a conservatory do they?

[francongphotography]

Conropl: They do let visitors use tripods, I guess the staff were just being nice..

[ddt0725]

My tree will be filled with blossoms soon ...

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6037/6998041297_bec7ea3665_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6998041297/)
IMG_3976 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6998041297/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

A few more from the last couple days ...

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6852357558_cf05719c0a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6852357558/)
IMG_4061 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6852357558/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/6852359088_db86033752_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6852359088/)
IMG_3713 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6852359088/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Sheiky]

Nice shots Denise! I'm excited for and with the better weather!

[Kombi]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--TGgCGbaq9Y/T2uawWc40iI/AAAAAAAACGg/FtqTnzfHRyg/s800/IMG_4754-001.JPG
EOS REBEL T2i
ISO 100
Exposure 1/250 sec
Aperture 4.6
Focal Length 105mm


Not a true macro, but closest I have for now, will be playing with extension tube and see what I can get.

[Sean Setters]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7007217551_7887681eac_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/7007217551/)
rockin' the facebook (http://www.flickr.com/photos/budrowilson/7007217551/) by budrowilson (http://www.flickr.com/people/budrowilson/), on Flickr

So me.

[Jayson]

They make facebook cufflinks??? Interesting. Looks good Sean.

[Sean Setters]

I know. I couldn't resist.

[bob williams]

Not a true macro, but closest I have for now, will be playing with extension tube and see what I can get.

Kombi, This is really an interesting shot---the lighting and mood is incredible. Nice job

[bob williams]

Sean, Your hopeless. I am surrounded by facebook junkies and now this---what is the world coming to:confused:.

BTW, Cool shot---Could be a solid Zuckerburg advertisement.

[ddt0725]

I'm not an over the top facebook fanatic but I do like the shots, Sean! You always get your macro shots extremely sharp with of course, perfect lighting! Very nice!

[ddt0725]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7007422249_2e920c4028_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7007422249/)
IMG_4543 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7007422249/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6861510692_c24a6c08a3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6861510692/)
IMG_4557 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6861510692/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/7009705747_df1b334732_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7009705747/)
IMG_2337 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7009705747/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Jayson]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--TGgCGbaq9Y/T2uawWc40iI/AAAAAAAACGg/FtqTnzfHRyg/s800/IMG_4754-001.JPG
EOS REBEL T2i
ISO 100
Exposure 1/250 sec
Aperture 4.6
Focal Length 105mm


Not a true macro, but closest I have for now, will be playing with extension tube and see what I can get.

Looks like a macro to me... You don't have to use a dedicated macro lens to make something macro.

[conropl]

Denise - you have been getting a lot of great shots of flowers and I was getting envious since we still did not have and flowers around here. I went down to Texas on Monday and everything around here was still dead (no flowers, now leaves, no forsinthia), then I came home Wed. night and when I got up in the morning everything was different. We had flowers, leave, and the green was coming out in the grass. It is amazing how fast things change when the temps get in the 80's. What weird weather we are having. So here are a few Dafodiles (finally):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7012632173_b8c65d6195_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7012632173/)
Daffodil-0556 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7012632173/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/7012621315_3cfb9aa99f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7012621315/)
Daffodil-0576 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7012621315/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6866497300_51a81e7008_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6866497300/)
Daffodil-0569 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6866497300/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

Nice shots, Pat! We are back to cold & windy weather so I won't be taking macro shots outside for awhile!

Here are a couple from the other day taken inside with flowers from my garden ....

Taken with the 100mm IS macro lens ...
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6220/6870123188_6d6abeb699_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6870123188/)
IMG_5092 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6870123188/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

This one was taken with the Sigma 85mm and a 12mm ext. tube ...

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/7016232361_b63a952307_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7016232361/)
IMG_5131 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7016232361/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Kombi]

played a bit with extension tube today (ef 25II) with my 24-105.
went to the park thinking maybe something would be budding, but still early here.
so took pictures of moss, bark and dead plant things.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zgVvmyZ57PM/T3I64WalPnI/AAAAAAAACIE/qzLmHQoQnU0/s800/IMG_5788-001.jpg?gl=CA
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZtfcjDPZZnc/T3I6_Gxm2wI/AAAAAAAACIM/3T1hjt6TFIk/s800/IMG_5761-001.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fmxMB0yVw_k/T3I7_xr1VFI/AAAAAAAACIk/AsokamGwVwQ/s800/IMG_5782-001.jpg

and for some life and colour
my Christmas cactus is blooming (indoors)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f1-RFkzYKCk/T3I7MCsWsCI/AAAAAAAACIc/J26zxjf3q70/s800/IMG_5806-001.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HLKpsMwf23w/T24NcOql75I/AAAAAAAACHA/dprWW8rI3Mo/s800/IMG_5684-001.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P4SxlotKgCc/T3I7Gu7iG9I/AAAAAAAACIU/dACkpKPLpJY/s800/IMG_5804-001.jpg

half the fun was the looks of confusion on other peoples faces as they walked by with their dog - while I'm leaning against a tree with lens almost touching it.. how do I even begin to explain it to them? lol

[Dr Croubie]

half the fun was the looks of confusion on other peoples faces as they walked by with their dog - while I'm leaning against a tree with lens almost touching it.. how do I even begin to explain it to them? lol

Well, at least these days we've got image review on the screen on the back. I've been shooting a bit of film recently and i've had people ask to see the shot a second after I've shot it. Try explaining to them that I have to finish the roll then get them developed first, I can show them in a week or two...

[Mark Elberson]

Nice shots, Pat! We are back to cold & windy weather so I won't be taking macro shots outside for awhile!

Here are a couple from the other day taken inside with flowers from my garden ....

Taken with the 100mm IS macro lens ...
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6220/6870123188_6d6abeb699_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6870123188/)
IMG_5092 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6870123188/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

This one was taken with the Sigma 85mm and a 12mm ext. tube ...

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/7016232361_b63a952307_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7016232361/)
IMG_5131 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/7016232361/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

These are lovely Denise :-) Flowers are definitely your thing!!!

[ddt0725]

Thank you, Mark! I am so glad to have the snow gone and the flowers blooming!!

This has to be the biggest bumble bee that I have EVER seen ...

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6236/6879085630_988e975f23_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879085630/)
IMG_5569 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879085630/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

Another from today. It was really windy and these were handheld so probably not the sharpest but I was surprised to see that I had a few keepers ...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/6879275298_372c9327a5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879275298/)
IMG_5577 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879275298/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

Woohoo!! I just saw on Popular Photography Magazine's website that once again they chose one of my photo's as their "Photo of The Day" on their website ... http://www.popphoto.com/

I have had a number of websites and companies use some of my photos (for free) which is great but man, I sure wish I knew how to make some $ from them!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6879487346_f78d1f0edd_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879487346/)
Tulip (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879487346/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Kombi]

congrats Denise- I always enjoy your pictures- no idea how to make money from them guessing more recognition you get more likely someone will hire you for a shoot.

See some adds in local classifieds for teaching- not sure that's up your alley but meeting people in a public place and teaching them how to use their new dslr other than the green square might be a start to making some cash from photography.

[Mark Elberson]

Woohoo!! I just saw on Popular Photography Magazine's website that once again they chose one of my photo's as their "Photo of The Day" on their website ... http://www.popphoto.com/

I have had a number of websites and companies use some of my photos (for free) which is great but man, I sure wish I knew how to make some $ from them!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6879487346_f78d1f0edd_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879487346/)
Tulip (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6879487346/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr
I really like this one. Have you considered hooking up with a local coffee shop or the like and asking if you can hang some pictures up? I would print them to 11x14 and frame them in a modest off-the-shelf frame and look for somewhere between $150 - $250. How does that sound? Total cost to you would be about $30 - $40 a pop. They get free art and you get exposure + some possible sales! I am going consider approaching a local ice cream shop to do the same thing.

[ddt0725]

Thanks! That is all very good advice ...thank you! I know the best thing I could do is print some of them and ask local shops, etc. to purchase or hang them for sale. Only problem is, unemployment has really taken its toll on the savings and I can't spend any $ anymore unless it's a necessity. I am going out to Horicon Marsh Nature Preserve soon since it just fully opened for the season & to be honest, I am considering it being possibly my last hurrah and putting everything for sale afterwards. With an unemployment check for the last 6 months of less than half of what I was making & no jobs prospects in site, I think I have sadly delayed the inevitable long enough. I tried downgrading some of my lenses and selling less important accessories thinking I would find work but that hasn't happened so more drastic steps need to be taken soon.

Maybe once I have sold the gear, I will have a few photos printed and see what happens!

Thanks for the advice!

Denise

[Kayaker72]

Congrats Denise...that is awesome that another photo of yours was selected....with all these new camera bodies coming out, I have to admit some temptation to upgrade. But then I see photos like the one you have taken and know I can do more with my 7D.....great shot.

I really hope you don't have to sell your gear and that there is some rationale to the having paid for entertainment that your gear gives you.

Good luck!

[conropl]

Woohoo!! I just saw on Popular Photography Magazine's website that once again they chose one of my photo's as their "Photo of The Day" on their website ... http://www.popphoto.com/


Another great shot. Very well composed.

[ddt0725]

Thank you, guys!! I will try and keep clicking away for as long as possible!

[ddt0725]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/6882147250_70b64562ec_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6882147250/)
IMG_5787 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6882147250/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[ddt0725]

As you can tell, I am lovin' the change in seasons!!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/6882324534_8a8a1dc47e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6882324534/)
The birth of springtime! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18085870@N07/6882324534/) by Denise Trocio (http://www.flickr.com/people/18085870@N07/), on Flickr

[Jayson]

Congrats on the photo of the day! Those tulip shots are great. I would agree to have a couple printed up and see about selling them. I know times are tough, but spring work is picking up and maybe there is some good things in your future with that.

[Jayson]

Here are a couple magnolia blooms from a couple days back.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Oyu6qqUjjw/T3MdYXPc8RI/AAAAAAAACrM/Ds7O6pZVi4c/s1600/2012_03_22_EOS+7D_021949+copy.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9tiZXj9dbU/T3MdOKm8_eI/AAAAAAAACqs/WggVnL0i6yg/s1600/2012_03_22_EOS+7D_021946+copy.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fkA9stb6CUw/T3MdYNhd7DI/AAAAAAAACrA/Izhrm5Zf1QM/s1600/2012_03_22_EOS+7D_021944+copy.jpg

[conropl]

Here are a couple magnolia blooms from a couple days back.

Beautiful shots... I love the background.

[conropl]

Pussy Willow Blossom

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7033218569_8e21569521_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7033218569/)
_MG_1772 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7033218569/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[MrGreenBug]

I always wanted to get myself a true macro lens but can't get one yet and so I borrowed one. This my first time shooting macro with a true macro lens and I wanted to share the love in this shot. ;)

http://pcdn.500px.net/5987052/3dc9064888d3c6d675a101ad7ee32a1c4df712d8/4.jpg (http://500px.com/photo/5987052)

Thanks for viewing!

[ddt0725]

Very nicely done, Angelo! You would never guess it was your first time using this lens!!

[Jayson]

Beautiful shots... I love the background.

Thanks. I shot down on them since the wind was blowing and the ground was littered with the petals.

[Jayson]

Pat, that is a great shot. Perfect DOF for that!

Angelo, great use of the macro. Ants are tough fellas to get a picture of and you have done superb!

[MrGreenBug]

Very nicely done, Angelo! You would never guess it was your first time using this lens!!

Thank you Denise! Now, I really want one of my own. :D I also love your macro shots.




Angelo, great use of the macro. Ants are tough fellas to get a picture of and you have done superb!

Thanks for the kind words Jayson. Indeed they are tough fellas. Actually, I was shooting flowers when one of these bit me and thus I focused more on them. Sort of a payback for biting -- it was a stingy bite but didn't last much. :o

[DanoPhoto]

Great pix, Pat and Angelo. Going to switch lenses and see what I can find over the next few days.

[thekingb]

My first macro shots of the spring season. It was fun stalking this bumble bee. I was just starting to dial in the "in flight" shots when s/he took leave of my rhododendrons. But I'll be back! All shots with 7D and EF 100L Macro.

http://riverview.smugmug.com/photos/i-fgSrCSV/0/M/i-fgSrCSV-M.jpg (http://riverview.smugmug.com/Other/Uploads/20454185_3zQG3H#!i=1783296365&k=fgSrCSV&lb=1&s=A)

http://riverview.smugmug.com/photos/i-7SbmLfB/0/M/i-7SbmLfB-M.jpg (http://riverview.smugmug.com/Other/Uploads/20454185_3zQG3H#!i=1783296861&k=7SbmLfB&lb=1&s=A)

http://riverview.smugmug.com/photos/i-j42k2rd/0/M/i-j42k2rd-M.jpg (http://riverview.smugmug.com/Other/Uploads/20454185_3zQG3H#!i=1783297142&k=j42k2rd&lb=1&s=A)

http://riverview.smugmug.com/photos/i-cf8w8SP/0/M/i-cf8w8SP-M.jpg (http://riverview.smugmug.com/Other/Uploads/20454185_3zQG3H#!i=1783297519&k=cf8w8SP&lb=1&s=A)

[M_Six]

^^^^^^^^^^^^Great shots! Shot #2 is awesome. Like "As seen by" the following bee.

This was not taken with a macro lens, but it's still pretty much a macro. This was with the 50mm f1.4 and a 12mm extension tube.

http://bimmermail.com/select-sm.jpg

[conropl]

Shot this cricket this morning after the storms rolled through. So he was happy to sit still while I got in close to take a few shots. At full size the head detail turned out pretty good.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6934691600_7f309f7a3a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6934691600/)
Cricket after the Storm-2341 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6934691600/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[Jayson]

Pat, cool cricket! The water drops add a the extra. Great catch!

[Jayson]

I haven't taken too many pictures lately since the Easter Bunny brought a bug to the house. I did take what was left of some dandelions after the massive storms that struck the area this weekend.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DnSsqZ8g0GA/T4xdnOVNs5I/AAAAAAAACyo/EsAn30uFxUk/s1600/2012_04_16_EOS+7D_022366+copy.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-78GzZKNFKC4/T4xdnsDCO9I/AAAAAAAACyw/-zLRKwi4AXg/s1600/2012_04_16_EOS+7D_022371+copy.jpg

taken with 100mm macro usm, kenko 36mm tube and a 1.4x tc.

[Lars]

I haven't had time to do much photography recently, except for the occational family events. But I tested my new "macro" set up lately. That consists of a fd 85mm 1.8 SSC with a 5mm fd extension tube and a fd-EOS converter (with the optics removed). I did not use a tripod this time, but moved slowly back and forth until I was satisfied with the sharpness. 1/160 s and f5.6, adjusted colours and sharpness to fit with my impression of the first day of warm sun (spring is late this year, still below 0 deg. Celcius in the nights).
934

[conropl]

Jayson - Water drops really adds a lot.

Lars - I do not know what it is, but that is cool.

[Joel Eade]

My first macro attempt....just acquired a used 180mm f/3.5L Macro.

This is a withered Iris bloom, hand held in mnaul mode with 1D MKIV, ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/100

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v45/p727945509-5.jpg

[ddt0725]

WOW, Joel!! Looks like you are going to blow us away in this thread too with your fantastic shots!! Congrats on the new glass and you sure know how to use it well! On my screen, it looks like I can just reach out and touch this flower!

[Joel Eade]

WOW, Joel!! Looks like you are going to blow us away in this thread too with your fantastic shots!! Congrats on the new glass and you sure know how to use it well! On my screen, it looks like I can just reach out and touch this flower!

Thanks Denise .... I've a ways to go and alot to learn in order to catch up with you and the others in this area!

[DanoPhoto]

Joel- Beautiful composition......as always!

[Joel Eade]

Joel- Beautiful composition......as always!

Thanks, I am enjoying the new perspective, the opposite of super-telephoto that I have become accustomed to.

I took this one with the 180mm macro + 1.4 TC using a tripod and cable release.

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v44/p900319083-5.jpg

[francongphotography]

I totally agree with Denise, Joel is going to conquer this thread! haha.
Love the colours! The focus is really sharp, and the bokeh is just fantastic!

Here's a shot from this rainy evening.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7094908857_5376dd8d23_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/franco_ng/7094908857/in/photostream/)

[conropl]

Joel - Great start.

Franco - I like the background color and blur.

Here a two from a couple of weeks ago.
7D, f/11, 3.2 sec, ISO 100
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/6949028218_ba323d3254_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6949028218/)
Crocus-2109 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/6949028218/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

7D, 100mm L Macro, f/11, 0.6 sec, ISO 100
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/7095088887_88db96fdbc_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7095088887/)
Easter Lilly-2132 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60479608@N05/7095088887/) by westmichigan (http://www.flickr.com/people/60479608@N05/), on Flickr

[bob williams]

Franco and Joel, very nice shots.

Joel, How are you liking the 180. My boss was a medical photographer and swears by this lens---

[Joel Eade]

Franco and Joel, very nice shots.

Joel, How are you liking the 180. My boss was a medical photographer and swears by this lens---

I have only had it for 2 days so very limited experience so far but it seems very nice, it is sharp and the working distance is very comfortable.

It's not easy to get sharp images hand held due to narrow DOF, probably true with all macro lenses though, more experience might help:)

I like that you can use teleconverters with it as well as extension tubes. You cannot use a teleconverter with the 100mm macro unless you put an extension tube on it first. Also like the included tripod collar.

Have no negatives so far.