Monsters of the Garden

IPClark

Again, my customary 1/200th @F11, ISO 100 and Diffused Flash
Sigma 105 +12mm Ext. Tube - All hand held. On this occasions, AF was on as opposed to normal setting of Manual.



I R the Bat Fly.. either that or I just like hangin' about. - Size about 6mm


Yellow Fly Thing, Not sure of the species. - Size about 4mm




The final one is a crop of the second image

Lord Vetinari

LOvely series of captures- slightly suprised how good the AF focus seems to have come out.
Brian V.

IPClark

Thank you Brian.

I think the reason might be down to my having not focus locked at the half-pressed position prior to taking the shot. I moved the camera into the focus, then pressed the shutter button down entirely whilst allowing the lens to make minor adjustments. As soon as it itself got focus lock, it immediately released so there was no extra movement from the camera that you sometimes get when you press the shutter button down after already gaining focus lock. Combined with the 1/200th and flash, I got nice sharp images.

That said, maybe it's psychological but I'm finding that overall sharpness of my images seems to be greater with a single 12mm ext. tube on hand held as opposed to just the lens, again hand held. I really can't see how this would be unless there's a technical issue with the lens that seems to be corrected if further away from the sensor. Please feel free to debunk this wild theory

That fly is one heck of a hairy though:D

basflt

^^^
my idea ;
tubes get you closer to the subject [ better quality ]

teleconverters do the opposite [ further away , lesser quality ]

( just a thought )

BTW , terrific pic's

ScottW

Amazing. I really like the dark green background, it really makes the shots pop!

IPClark

Thanks Bas, Scott

Potential in that theory Bas .. hehe

GOLDENORFE

great looking flys, not seen any like them

IPClark

Thank you Phil. Much appreciated.

DeVil

Well done! Esp. like #1 and #4

IPClark

Thanks Predrag

1scrappychic

wow...these are spectacular! I'm new here, so please forgive me if you've already discussed this but would you mind telling how you diffuse your flash?

IPClark

Thank you

Firstly, I'd highly recommend having a quick look at the tips & tutorials thread for excellent advice on diffusers - http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=143373

Myself personally, I never got round to making my own diffuser. I bought a Lastolite Ezybox Speedlite. It's quite cumbersome but I've had nice results with it so far and the bugs don't seem any more put off than they were prior to my getting it.

Here's a couple of images of it in use

PS, before this, Brian, you any idea what species the upside down fly is? Looks like a dung fly but the really small abdomen is telling me something else as I can't find anythink like it via a google image search.