Macro Photo thread

[motoroller]

A change from all the creepy crawlies!

[LongQ]

motoroller said:

A change from all the creepy crawlies!

The shot looks nicely composed and well lit.

I suspect that it is also sharp but Thumbsnap hosting seems to have killed that aspect, as usual. For this type of image content that is a really bad thing.

The regular advice around here is to host somewhere else and create a link to that source in order to retain image quality.

Yes, it's a pain but for a quality image is worth the effort.

HTH.

[motoroller]

LongQ said:

Yes, it's a pain but for a quality image is worth the effort.

HTH.

How's this?

[LongQ]

motoroller said:

LongQ said:

Yes, it's a pain but for a quality image is worth the effort.

HTH.

How's this?

Much better if one clicks on the thumbnail!

Clicking through on the Thumbsnap version also works to some extent but I find I have to click twice and then I get a much larger image that, once again, takes the edge off the percieved sharpness.

However, I'm no expert on this sort of subject matter so hopefully those that are will pop up sometime soon and offer advice about how they manage things to best effect.

[motoroller]

LongQ said:

Much better if one clicks on the thumbnail!

Clicking through on the Thumbsnap version also works to some extent but I find I have to click twice and then I get a much larger image that, once again, takes the edge off the percieved sharpness.

However, I'm no expert on this sort of subject matter so hopefully those that are will pop up sometime soon and offer advice about how they manage things to best effect.

I'm trying to improve the lighting a bit, so that the top surface doesn't go into shadow - have ordered a cheap pop up tent for this

[LongQ]

motoroller said:

LongQ said:

Much better if one clicks on the thumbnail!

Clicking through on the Thumbsnap version also works to some extent but I find I have to click twice and then I get a much larger image that, once again, takes the edge off the percieved sharpness.

However, I'm no expert on this sort of subject matter so hopefully those that are will pop up sometime soon and offer advice about how they manage things to best effect.

I'm trying to improve the lighting a bit, so that the top surface doesn't go into shadow - have ordered a cheap pop up tent for this

Something light overhead would probably work too.

If you are going for a "pro jewellery photography" look you probably need to be thinking in terms of focus stacking.

After that it gets complicated.

[motoroller]

LongQ said:

Something light overhead would probably work too.

If you are going for a "pro jewellery photography" look you probably need to be thinking in terms of focus stacking.

After that it gets complicated.

This was with a large softbox propped above, but not quite big enough to prevent reflection of the roof.

Focus stacking is the next step but it's difficult with reverse-mounted lenses :P

[LongQ]

motoroller said:

LongQ said:

Something light overhead would probably work too.

If you are going for a "pro jewellery photography" look you probably need to be thinking in terms of focus stacking.

After that it gets complicated.

This was with a large softbox propped above, but not quite big enough to prevent reflection of the roof.

Focus stacking is the next step but it's difficult with reverse-mounted lenses :P

Ah.

Indeed.

You have just reminded me that I never did get around to a proper planned shoot after I obtained my reversing ring.

I must dig it out and have another go.

[DibblyDobbler]

This one is a 4 shot stack (using Zerene stacker)


Fly Macro by Mike Smith, on Flickr

[Yellabelly]

DibblyDobbler said:

This one is a 4 shot stack (using Zerene stacker)


Fly Macro by Mike Smith, on Flickr

Exellent image Mike

[LongQ]

Spectacular stuff DD.

Does it take long to train the models to stay still?

[DibblyDobbler]

Yellabelly said:

Exellent image Mike

LongQ said:

Spectacular stuff DD.

Does it take long to train the models to stay still?

Thanks Gents

LQ - no not at all, just a few ninja skills I picked up over the years.

[ExPat2B]

Something different, natural light and a long lens.

Yellow_DragonFly by Nature Ist, on Flickr

Emperor_Dragon_Fly_in_Flight by Nature Ist, on Flickr

Brown_Spotted_Butterfly by Nature Ist, on Flickr

[DibblyDobbler]

^^^ Excellent!

[ExPat2B]

Thanks Dibbly !

Not quite as natural this shot....I used water spray and flashguns. Experimenting with the effect.

Spider_Dew2 by Nature Ist, on Flickr

[DibblyDobbler]

Really like that too! Get up early and find a dopey dragonfly then give it the water spray treatment and you're onto an award winner

[ExPat2B]

Thanks Dibbly, I have seen people who do sunflowers in water drops like so :

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c...

I think getting trying a dragonfly with water drops and flower in reflection would be a good game. Still trying to figure out the single water drop technique though.

I have heard iced water works best, slows them down.

[DibblyDobbler]

ExPat2B said:

Thanks Dibbly, I have seen people who do sunflowers in water drops like so :

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c...

I think getting trying a dragonfly with water drops and flower in reflection would be a good game. Still trying to figure out the single water drop technique though.

I have heard iced water works best, slows them down.

I believe for the single drop type stuff you can use gelatin - never tried it myself mind!

[DibblyDobbler]

Well chuffed to get this right at the end of the season


Common Darter by Mike Smith, on Flickr

[Boring_Chris]

Not a patch on some of the work here but found this little thing on my window last week. Don't even know what it is (it's wings look rubbish for flying!) but still, cool little creature.

MystoBug2 by chris_obrien1982, on Flickr

MystoBug by chris_obrien1982, on Flickr