Perpetual insect photo thread

[Tony Growden]

Man thats a work of art Tony. Great composition with a moving insect. Belongs on your wall for sure.

Man I've got so much to learn.

Thanks for the kind words but I dont know about plenty to learn about shooting bugs. I was sitting here in awe of your shots. They are so crisp and clear for digital crops. Well done.
Regards
Tony

[TheWengler]

nice looking insects. Rooz how'd you get such a shallow DOF? Did you have some 1800mm F/0.5 lens laying around somewhere?

Also for the rest of you... are you wearing full body armor to shoot some of those insects "just in case" or are you using 1200+mm telephoto lenses?

DOF is also affected by the focusing distance in addition to the focal length and aperture. A lot of times macro shooters are working with a really small DOF because of this. Rooz is the most patient man alive, chasing bugs the size of a pea around with his gear (and there seems to be a lot of it) and his razor thin DOF.

[d0od]

I am amazed by these photos, I applaud you all. I have tried getting some bug close ups and have failed. Can some of you post your typical setup? Maybe have someone take a pic of you taking a pic.

I have a Nikon D90 w/ the kit 18-105 and the 55/f1.8. Is there a "must have" macro lens?

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I am amazed by these photos, I applaud you all. I have tried getting some bug close ups and have failed. Can some of you post your typical setup? Maybe have someone take a pic of you taking a pic.

I have a Nikon D90 w/ the kit 18-105 and the 55/f1.8. Is there a "must have" macro lens?

Here's Rooz's setup. http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=setup&w=10435080%40N00

In case linking to a search page didn't work here's a link to a specific photo from his setup http://www.flickr.com/photos/10435080@N00/1946845928/

My setups a lot simpler, I have bad technique and less gear. I handhold an "off camera" flash under the camera lens barrel and use the camera on board flash which of course shoot above the lens barrel. I then follow the bugs around by hand and hope.

My shots improved 10,000% when I bought a devoted macro lens. In my case the tammie 90mm which is a good budget macro lens.

[Rooz]

been to long since i posted in here...

[Rooz]

I am amazed by these photos, I applaud you all. I have tried getting some bug close ups and have failed. Can some of you post your typical setup? Maybe have someone take a pic of you taking a pic.

I have a Nikon D90 w/ the kit 18-105 and the 55/f1.8. Is there a "must have" macro lens?

you definately need a macro lens to get the best quality out of it. i'd also recommend a flash if you can afford it. while my current setup is reasonabley pricey and complex, you can achieve great shots even with a single flash.

this one is just with an sb400 and 105VR


and this one is with an sb600 off camera and a tamron 90mm f2.8

[Geoff Chandler]

Rooz - amazing stuff!!
What can I say?

BTW - 105VR or Tamron 90mm (or Sigma 105) ??

I will sometime buy a macro lens - the Nikon is a touch pricey though...

[d0od]

I have been thinking about the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX and then later on get the SB-800 or 900. I have a SB-50 DX, but do not like using it.

[Rooz]

Rooz - amazing stuff!!
What can I say?

BTW - 105VR or Tamron 90mm (or Sigma 105) ??...

thanks Geoff. some with the nikkor 105 and some with the nikkor 300/4.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Chasing butterflies with my 16-85 instead of the Tammie.
A lesson in not leaving mots of your gear home on the desk.