MACRO SHOOTING - Tips & Tutorials
GOLDENORFE
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Brian Valentine - SmugMug Artist-in-Residence
<HR style="COLOR: #575757" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Dgrin's Lord Veterinari, Brian Valentine, is one of SmugMug's Artists-in-Residence.
Brian is an amazing Macro shooter. We're lucky to have him here!
this thread will be for all shooting technical and gear advise
Brian's Macro Learning Series
Macro Exercises #1 DOF, Aperture and diffraction
Macro Exercises #2 FOCUSING
Macro Exercises #3 FOCUS STACKING
Macro Exercises #4 Lighting
Definition of MACRO - What's a Macro?
Some earlier references and resources:
Macrophotography Tips & Links
More Macro Tips & Links
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->___________
Phil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/
<HR style="COLOR: #575757" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Dgrin's Lord Veterinari, Brian Valentine, is one of SmugMug's Artists-in-Residence.
Brian is an amazing Macro shooter. We're lucky to have him here!
this thread will be for all shooting technical and gear advise
Brian's Macro Learning Series
Macro Exercises #1 DOF, Aperture and diffraction
Macro Exercises #2 FOCUSING
Macro Exercises #3 FOCUS STACKING
Macro Exercises #4 Lighting
Definition of MACRO - What's a Macro?
Some earlier references and resources:
Macrophotography Tips & Links
More Macro Tips & Links
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->___________
Phil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/
Phil
moderator - Holy Macro
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Phils Photographic Adventures Blog
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standard flash gun on a small 19mm ball head to alter flash angle, a home made diffuser with either kitchen towel or diffusion sheets from manfrotto diffusion pack to soften and diffuse the light.
the subjects are quite often 2-6 inch infront of lens , without diffusion the light would be very harsh with blown highlights and fine detail would not be seen.
canon 100mm macro with kenko extension tube set, kitchen towel diffusion
canon mpe-65 manfrotto diffusion sheets on home made coke can diffuser
ball head atached to a simple straight flash bracket
close up of ball head
hope this helps
Phil
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/
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Any pics done by the canon macro MPE65 mm lens i was just given one of these for my B'day in August...I would like to know how to use this awesome lens
Great understanding is broad and unhurried, Little understanding is cramped and busy" ..... Chuang Tsu
congrats on the new lens, try shooting at x1- x2 mag at first. move the camera towards the subject & shoot when the eyes are in focus.
depth of field very narrow,
shoot f8-f11 at x1-x3 mag and f5-f7 at x3- x5 mag for a start
just takes a lot of practise.
what flash are you using?
here are 3 shots, #1 &3 taken by holding leaf in left hand & resting lens on hand, keeps everything steady.
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Love your work any tips i use a canon 40d and canon 100mm 2.8 macro i just want to get in closer any suggestions on extention tubes? are the kenko ones ok? or do you only use canon?
here are some of my macro shots
http://afterglowphotography.smugmug.com/Nature/Macro-Photography/9153227_BWsVR#610579427_XLxE3
any tips would be great
amy
that is enough magnification to show good eye detail in your subjects
what flash are you using?
phil
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at higher magnification you need flash to bring out detail and freeze movement.
phil
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your photo's are stunning cant wait to get into more photography next ill by some kenko extension tubes!
Cheers again
Amy
the angel right or on a try pod
EF 2.0x II extender BG-E6
almost always shoot handheld.
the flash needs to point directly onto subject
as the subject distance varies so the flash angle needs altering.
when magnification increases the flash needs to point down at the subject instead of lighting up the area behind the subject.
especially when using mpe-65, as the barrel extends quite alot between x1 & x5 mag. you have to alter angle continiously to compensate .
with 100mm + tubes only have to alter height usually for larger subjects, or when shooting "portrait" format.
phil
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http://www.adorama.com/MCAETEOS.html
Canon 24-105 f/4L IS
Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS
Canon 17-40 f/4L
Sennheiser MKE400 shotgun Mic
everyone does say kenkos are best
phil
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Yeah, they have two versions... one is the 'budget' set for $59 or so, then there's another set that has electrical connections and metal mounts, for $89 for the set.
Canon 24-105 f/4L IS
Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS
Canon 17-40 f/4L
Sennheiser MKE400 shotgun Mic
I had Kenko extention tubes before and I end up selling it because I have having a hardtime focusing. I have the 100mm Canon lens at this time and I would like to upgrade it. Is it better to get the MPE 65 or the new Canon 100mm L
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what subjects are you shooting?
the mpe isnt really an upgrade from the 100, as it does not focus to infinite it is more restrictive in its use and is used in addition to 100mm.
if you couldnt focus with ex tubes on your 100mm macro you will really struggle to use the mpe with its shorter focus distance where correct focusing is critical at high magnifications.
phil
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For those of you who use the MP-E, how dark is that lens through the viewfinder? Specifically at 3x and above.. If you could compare it to a 100mm with tubes or a 50mm with a 2x TC for example..
Brian v.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
I would introduce you to my website about macro photography and ask what you think about it. There aere some tips on issue and small gallery of macro pictures - http://www.macro-photography.eu
I've noted Phil and Brian's flash setups and plan to do something similar. My main question is whether similar results are possible with a greater flash-to-subject distance? Working distance for smaller subjects is often very small, but I will generally be farther away and will have more "space" to light. My other concern is the effect on highlights and whether diffused flash will produce harsh results on dew (I guess the many dewdrop shots I've seen may answer that question?).
Here are some shots I've posted before whose colors I think could have been richer with stronger, diffused flash lighting. I think all three had some fill from the pop-up, though I'd need to check the EXIF. Any thoughts?
[img][/img][URL=%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/42993036@N05/4054290167/"][/url]
A diffused bracket mounted flash should give better results than a naked pop up flash but you are correct in thinking the working distance matters and suspect you will get bright reflections from dewdrops etc and possibly double light reflections from both the sun and the flash.
I suspect it's a case of try it and see how you get on but hard to see how you could improve on shots like #3
Brian V.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
Another reason to try the off-camera flash is to get away from the tripod. I began using the Nikon 200, and now the Sigma 150, and have always used a tripod; hand-holding will be something new for me. The slow shutter speeds required at dawn are always challenging.
And then there are those rare shots, like #3, that are just fine without a big blast of light.
BTW not sure if you have seen Remy's stuff on flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/remus3374/ but he does a lot of early morning natural light shooting often with a tripod or a bean bag.
I tend to only shoot in my garden and can't find early morning bugs- they only appear when the sun comes out so have to content myself with early morning dewdrops instead
Brian v.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
flash just lifts the slightly dark areas.
do prefer nat light for full body shots dragons/damsels & butts
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you might find that mounted on the hot shoe the light is not lighting up the area nearer the lens, better mount off camera so flash can be angled to light closer to focal distance being used.
ttl works fine with mpe, shooting in manual on camera ,just need to alter flash exposure compensation for different subject - background lighting differences. usually only +- 1 stop
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Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.
Chris
home made diffusers are always superior to commercially available products as they are constructed for your specific requirements. took me 2 years of experimenting to get the light how i like it!
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I just love Macro Photography!!! I've been looking between the Kenko Extention Tubes or Raynox 150 & 250. Your photos here are exactly what I want to achieve! I have a Nikon D90 I have 3 lens right now a Nikon 85mm 1.8F, Tameron 17-50mm & Tameron 70-200mm. Now can I just add something on one of these lens or would I have to buy another lens plus add one of these on. Not wanting to spend alot. I really need someone's advice, when I look online there is so much out there. Thank u!
https://www.facebook.com/soulbeautyphotographyVanessaKessler/
you could also think about getting a secondhand 100mm macro + ex tubes to get x2 magnification, you will need to use flash at higher magnifications, have u got a standard flash gun?
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