Haystack butterflies

DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
edited May 5, 2007 in Holy Macro
Just a post to prove that I can shoot more than just spiders and bees :wink

Xti + 12mm extension tube + 100mm macro lens. I had the camera set to aperture (-1/3 EV), shutter (-1/3 EV), and manual mode (I changed it depending on the light and magnification). Some shots at 1.2x. MR-14EX ring flash set to a 4:1 ratio and -2 FEC for the aperture and shutter priority shots, -1/3 FEC for the macros.

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147818225-L.jpg

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I struggled with this last one because I don't crop, but I managed to get the shot that I wanted. Look at the upper right corner of the frame and how the color in the butterfly's wing lines up with it :wink

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Comments

  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Beautiful shots of a beautiful butterfly :)
    brian V.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Lord Vetinari wrote:
    Beautiful shots of a beautiful butterfly :)
    brian V.

    Thanks Brian! I need to shoot outside of manual mode before I forget how...
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    Looking for tips on macro photography? Check out my Blog: No Cropping Zone.
  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Dalantech wrote:
    Thanks Brian! I need to shoot outside of manual mode before I forget how...

    Yes I like to play with settings every now and then that I don't use often, but you need to watch it- I've missed several shots recently where I was changing camera settings and FEC on the flash only to find the bug had got bored and flown :D
    brian v.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Dalantech wrote:
    Just a post to prove that I can shoot more than just spiders and bees mwink.gif

    Xti + 12mm extension tube + 100mm macro lens. I had the camera set to aperture (-1/3 EV), shutter (-1/3 EV), and manual mode (I changed it depending on the light and magnification). Some shots at 1.2x. MR-14EX ring flash set to a 4:1 ratio and -2 FEC for the aperture and shutter priority shots, -1/3 FEC for the macros.

    I struggled with this last one because I don't crop, but I managed to get the shot that I wanted. Look at the upper right corner of the frame and how the color in the butterfly's wing lines up with it mwink.gif

    These are really nice John,
    I love the dusty powder blue colour on the body iloveyou.gif
    The little butterfly looks dainty and delicate.
    Spot on with your focus and sharpness clap.gifclap.gif
    Well Done ! ..... Skippy
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Lord Vetinari wrote:
    Yes I like to play with settings every now and then that I don't use often, but you need to watch it- I've missed several shots recently where I was changing camera settings and FEC on the flash only to find the bug had got bored and flown :D
    brian v.

    Happened to me as well over the weekend cause I was shifting from one subject to another and changing settings :cry
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  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    Skippy wrote:
    These are really nice John,
    I love the dusty powder blue colour on the body iloveyou.gif
    The little butterfly looks dainty and delicate.
    Spot on with your focus and sharpness clap.gifclap.gif
    Well Done ! ..... Skippy
    .

    Thanks Skippy! iloveyou.gif

    Haystack butterflies are one of my favorite subjects but they are really tough to shoot. Normally they don't let me get close enough for a real macro shot, but I went out early hoping to catch them trying to warm up and dry out. Sometimes it's all about timing...
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  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    What a pretty thing! I love the challenge of photographing insects. Unfortunately, mine rarely turn out nearly as well as yours. thumb.gif
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

    In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited April 30, 2007
    JenW wrote:
    What a pretty thing! I love the challenge of photographing insects. Unfortunately, mine rarely turn out nearly as well as yours. thumb.gif

    Thanks for the props Jen! :cool
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    Looking for tips on macro photography? Check out my Blog: No Cropping Zone.
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2007
    WOW, What a pretty blue!! I don't think i've ever seen this before!!! clap.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2007
    ShepsMom wrote:
    WOW, What a pretty blue!! I don't think i've ever seen this before!!! clap.gif

    Thanks Marina! Small (no bigger than a quarter) and very skittish! They don't look like much from a distance (unless their wings are open, since the top surface is a dark blue) but up close they are not only colorful but they also have multiple textures (scales, hair, etc.). Rare that I can get that close, especially the shots in tall grass, but I went out during a time when I knew they would be trying to dry out and warm up and it paid off mwink.gif
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  • thebigskythebigsky Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2007
    They're lovely Dalantech, how do you get so close without them moving on? The one time I did get close enough I'd left my camera on self-timer and couldn't understand why it wouldn't take the shot headscratch.gif

    All the other times they always fly away before I get near.

    Charlie
    Landscape & Flower Photography
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 1, 2007
    thebigsky wrote:
    They're lovely Dalantech, how do you get so close without them moving on? The one time I did get close enough I'd left my camera on self-timer and couldn't understand why it wouldn't take the shot headscratch.gif

    All the other times they always fly away before I get near.

    Charlie

    If you go out early in the morning, while there is still dew on the ground, then you can catch them trying to dry out and / or feeding. During the heat of the day they are just too active, and too skittish, to shoot.
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  • tleetlee Registered Users Posts: 1,090 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2007
    Wow! Beautifully done! I really like the 2nd one!
    T :D

    www.studioTphotos.com

    "Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons."
    ----Ruth Ann Schubacker
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2007
    tlee wrote:
    Wow! Beautifully done! I really like the 2nd one!

    Thanks tlee! :cool
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2007
    The comp on #3 is really nice. thumb.gif

    Looks like family of this one from down here:
    http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/gallery/762191#47276174

    Really difficult blighters to get to stay still...
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2007
    BigAl wrote:
    The comp on #3 is really nice. thumb.gif

    Looks like family of this one from down here:
    http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/gallery/762191#47276174

    Really difficult blighters to get to stay still...

    Thanks BigAl! Yup, they are constantly on the move and getting close to them has improved my stalking skills :)
    My SmugMug Gallery

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  • ShasocShasoc Registered Users Posts: 691 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2007
    Great shots. Exquisite use of DOF, sharp detail, very pleasing color and BG.clap.gifthumb.gifclap.gifthumb.gif
    Socrate
    "Natura artis magistra"
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2007
    Shasoc wrote:
    Great shots. Exquisite use of DOF, sharp detail, very pleasing color and BG.clap.gifthumb.gifclap.gifthumb.gif

    Thanks for the props :cool
    My SmugMug Gallery

    Looking for tips on macro photography? Check out my Blog: No Cropping Zone.
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