First bug shots - ever

Snowgirl

So, on this first day of spring we had record setting warm temperatures of +20C here in the Maritime provinces of Canada. That is totally unusual. Normal temps would be +2 to +5 in the daytime and we would have snow. But, this year, it's bee bizarre to say the least. There is no frost in the ground. At the moment the snow is all gone (although some is predicted for the coming week-end) and it's warm and sunny - at least today and tomorrow.

So out I went in search of bugs. Since, for us, it's really not truly spring-like weather for another month, all I could find were some happy house flies. I was quite intrigued by the beautiful colours in this one's wings - shot at 1X



Then I decided to go for the eye - just to see if I could do it.



There was quite a breeze blowing and, of course, as soon as I'd get even slightly close enough to shoot, most of the flies would take off, but at least I got a couple. C&C always welcome, of course.

Lord Vetinari

Good captures. You can sometimes get interference colours on insect wings depending on the light angle- it's the same effect as oil on water colour patches on the road.
Brian v

Snowgirl

Lord Vetinari wrote: »

Good captures. You can sometimes get interference colours on insect wings depending on the light angle- it's the same effect as oil on water colour patches on the road.
Brian v

Thanks. That probably explains the rainbow shades on the fly's wings. The flies were all hanging out (literally) in the sun on the garage wall so that would contribute to it, I'm sure.

Ceci

LindaB

Lovely fly pic and its always nice to get the colours in the wings like that.

The second shot is too dark and looks very heavily cropped (I dont know if you have cropped it at all but it does have that look about it). The facets on the eye are good but I would re-do this photo by lightening it up with 'shadows and highlights' and not crop too much if that is what you have done.

Linda

Snowgirl

LindaB wrote: »

Lovely fly pic and its always nice to get the colours in the wings like that.

The second shot is too dark and looks very heavily cropped (I dont know if you have cropped it at all but it does have that look about it). The facets on the eye are good but I would re-do this photo by lightening it up with 'shadows and highlights' and not crop too much if that is what you have done.

Linda

Thanks Linda. You are right - the second shot is cropped - but not much. It was done at 3X with the 65mm MP-E.

Good idea about lightening - I'll play and see what happens.

Our heat wave is over and the temperatures are plummeting which means the flies will vanish again for a while. Oh well, it is only March. Normally we'd still have 2' or more of snow on the ground at this time of year.

GOLDENORFE

Not too bad for first bug shots, it does take practise. Lol
Was it natural light in higher mag shot? Lighting is the hardest part to learn

DeVil

Nice first bug shots

Snowgirl

GOLDENORFE wrote: »

Not too bad for first bug shots, it does take practise. Lol
Was it natural light in higher mag shot? Lighting is the hardest part to learn

Totally natural light and I jacked the ISO waaayyy up. It was a bright, sunny day and the flies were sunbathing on the garage door.