First outing with a diopter -butterflies

Dalantech

I had been using a 12mm extension tube thinking that it would give me a little more working distance than using a bare lens when shooting below life size. But the gain from it was minimal -probably no more than a centimeter. One of my mentors had mentioned to me in an email that he use to use a 500D diopter with his 100mm macro lens and liked the way it changed the bokeh of the lens. After doing a little reading on diopters I thought it might help me get a little more working distance and at the same time smooth out distracting elements in the background -something that's caused me to delete quite a few images.

Here is a sample of the photos I took on my first outing with it. All Canon gear: For closeups; Xti in aperture priority (F5.6 and ISO 200) + 100mm macro lens + 500D diopter. No flash. For macros: Manual mode F8, 1/200, ISO 200. MR-14EX ring flash set to a 4:1 ratio and -1/3 FEC.

thebigsky

Fantastic work Dalantech, and the way you explain your methods is greatly appreciated, thanks for sharing.

Charlie

Dalantech

thebigsky wrote:

Fantastic work Dalantech, and the way you explain your methods is greatly appreciated, thanks for sharing.

Charlie

Thanks for the props Charlie!

Skippy

Dalantech wrote:

I had been using a 12mm extension tube thinking that it would give me a little more working distance than using a bare lens when shooting below life size. But the gain from it was minimal -probably no more than a centimeter. One of my mentors had mentioned to me in an email that he use to use a 500D diopter with his 100mm macro lens and liked the way it changed the bokeh of the lens. After doing a little reading on diopters I thought it might help me get a little more working distance and at the same time smooth out distracting elements in the background -something that's caused me to delete quite a few images.
Here is a sample of the photos I took on my first outing with it. All Canon gear: For closeups; Xti in aperture priority (F5.6 and ISO 200) + 100mm macro lens + 500D diopter. No flash. For macros: Manual mode F8, 1/200, ISO 200. MR-14EX ring flash set to a 4:1 ratio and -1/3 FEC.

You must have a never ending supply of Butterflies John,
where are you getting them all from .
I like Image #5 that plant is very pretty the butterfly is sitting on.
Nice Series ......... Skippy
.

Dalantech

Skippy wrote:

You must have a never ending supply of Butterflies John,
where are you getting them all from .
I like Image #5 that plant is very pretty the butterfly is sitting on.
Nice Series ......... Skippy
.

I'm gonna print that one large on canvas.

There is an abandoned lot in my town that is completely overgrown with wild flowers and the butterflies love it. I think they are getting use to me and my macro gear

Lord Vetinari

Beautiful series John- lovely light and composition not to mention the bokeh
Brian V.

Dalantech

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Beautiful series John- lovely light and composition not to mention the bokeh
Brian V.

Thanks Brian!