Bees Knees

Stumblebum

Didn't know crop sensor would help macro as well, so thanks Paul + Ian!:bow
Below are my attempts with 7D. Bees were very active so hard to get lock on. Could not clean up the back ground for two shots where pure black would have helped but pattern is what too intricate.

All helpful pointers and criticism is cherished!

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5)

Lord Vetinari

Lovely series - esp like #5.
As a general pointer I would try using a more open aperture say around F11/F13. This should help brighten the backgrounds a bit.
Brian V.

Stumblebum

Thanks Brian! I will give bigger aperture a go. I think it even helps with focus, but I may be misreading data.

Lord Vetinari

Stumblebum wrote: »

Thanks Brian! I will give bigger aperture a go. I think it even helps with focus, but I may be misreading data.

One point I'm not sure of- when you talk about focus lock on are you talking about autofocus ?
Just most macro shooters when shooting near 1:1 magnification or higher use manual focus.
Brian v.

silvio000

Uau Stumblebum, you managed to do the hard part, capturing bees.
I find it so hard to lock on Bees :-(

As for focus lock, as Brian, i was also confused because it seemed like you were using autofocus.

I always get the best results in using manual focus, or at least manual override. I set the focus to the shorter distance and then i move towards the subject until i see a focus point.

Sílvio Oliveira

Stumblebum

silvio000 wrote: »

Uau Stumblebum, you managed to do the hard part, capturing bees.
I find it so hard to lock on Bees :-(

As for focus lock, as Brian, i was also confused because it seemed like you were using autofocus.

I always get the best results in using manual focus, or at least manual override. I set the focus to the shorter distance and then i move towards the subject until i see a focus point.

Sílvio Oliveira

Thanks Silvio! I was going to bring up that question......the bees never stop moving....ever...so getting close and then reaching for focus ring is exercise in futility....but NOW I know the right strategy.....get relative focus on some subject and then do I hold shutter half way?.....see the focus point come up and beep....if that works....then next step would be to practice the art of moving back and forth...as at that depth of field, slightest movement and focus is lost.

Thanks again brother! This helps a lot! Will give it a go! Cheers!

silvio000

I use the back button to focus, so that i dont need tô half press the shutter. Using the back focus button is the greatest trick i learned. My shutter is just for shooting. Give it a go, you might like it.

Silvio

Stumblebum

silvio000 wrote: »

I use the back button to focus, so that i dont need tô half press the shutter. Using the back focus button is the greatest trick i learned. My shutter is just for shooting. Give it a go, you might like it.

Silvio

Back button? Live view? How do I find it on canon bodies?

silvio000

How to Set Back Button Focus on a Canon 7D: http://youtu.be/Gbs6dlNGLhY

Hope it helps.

Stumblebum

Thanks Silvio! Have to check this out! Saw other goodies there too!

basflt

for close-up work its almost undoable to use auto-focus , for several reasons

just use your eyes
move back / forward , when the eyes come in focus you shoot

Stumblebum

Thank Bas! That's what I have to learn to do...and lose the fear of MF! Cheers!

GOLDENORFE

Good shots, like last frame best , when shooting bees I use higher iso , say 400. And with a slower shutter speed. 1/60 th - 1/140 th to balance flash to slow more background light into the frame and prevent black background .
Always manual focus