Perpetual insect photo thread

[TheWengler]

nice one dpr

[jekostas]

Managed to catch this guy in flight.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Wonder why my garden never amounts to much.

[Prospero]

Good catch, Jekostas.
Very nice shots, DPR.

Here are some macro shots I took in my garden.All of them are shot with the Kiron 105.

The first shot had to be cropped severly to make sure that the detail in the eyes would show up in the resized version.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

That first fly shot is faultless. Well done.

The spider shot looks like Rooz might have taken it, it's got his style written all over it.

Nice shots, wish I could duplicate your technique.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Leading lines. A digital crop around 50%, noise removed and background recoloured.

[Prospero]

Thanks for the compliment, DPR.
I love your last shot. Beautiful colours and composition. I think having the head in the picture definetly makes this one stand out over the other pictures you took of this insect.

Here's another fly:

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Another corker Prospero. Rooz said to duplicate his technique I should open up my aperture a bit. What did you use? I stupidly tried to read your exif before remembering you use the Kiron.

[Prospero]

Thanks DPR.
I usually shoot between f/8 and f/11. Generally I use ISO400, 1/200s, and the flash at half power with that. I use a Sto-fen Omnibounce diffuser on my flash, which takes away some light (which is why I have to set it so bright). Tough the diffuser is made for situations where you can bounce the flash, I find that it also gives quite soft light at close range.

I do think some of my shots could use a bit more DOF though, but shooting handheld, going to f/16 is hard without some compromises.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I always try and shoot F/16, handheld, manual 1/320 sec matrix metering forcing the flash compensate. I guess that explains why my shots always look the same. I always use direct flash too. I'm going to have to get a diffuser and try that, thanks.

Here's on from today a touch more open, I like this style much more and think it's a step towards yours and Rooz' style. I think I have to open it up a little more and increase my SS to move away from dark backgrounds. I still like it though.