Pathfinder's Return to Macro Shooting

pathfinder

I had a few minutes free this afternoon, the weather was warm and pleasant, and the bugs were all very busy. They particularly liked the orange blossums on a butterfly bush.


Honey Bee



Fly





An Ant



A small Preying Mantis



Comments and Criticisms willl be warmly welcomed:thumb

Lord Vetinari

Lovely series of shots- particularly like #1
Brian V.

Skippy

pathfinder wrote:

I had a few minutes free this afternoon, the weather was warm and pleasant, and the bugs were all very busy. They particularly liked the orange blossoms on a butterfly bush.

Honey Bee
Fly
An Ant
A small Preying Mantis
Comments and Criticisms willl be warmly welcomed

I love the colour of those Orange Blossoms what a gorgeous colour!
Great series Jim, I like that first shot too
See you and your dear wife in Glacier National Park soon my friend
.... Skippy
.

Richard

Nice work. The orange flowers provide great color, especially in #1 and #4. Looking forward to seeing more.

Cheers,

Dalantech

That first image just "pops"!

It's about time... :poke

pathfinder

Thanks for the kind words,LV.

Skippy, Nightingale and I look forward to seeing and shooting with you again this fall ( spring for you though:D)

Thanks Dalantech. I enjoy reading your blog about macro a lot.

Thanks for the kind words RS.. A little bit of orange goes a very long way though. How about some green instead...

schmoo

They're all great but #1 is amazing. I can see every hair! Whatcha using to shoot these little guys?

wxwax

I agree, #1 is excellent!

pathfinder

schmooo wrote:

They're all great but #1 is amazing. I can see every hair! Whatcha using to shoot these little guys?

All were shot with my old Tamron 180mm f3.5 Di macro and an extension tube - I think 32mm but I'll have to check at home this evening.

Illuminated with an MT-14ex in ETTL in with the camera in Manual mode.

pathfinder

I see the title of this thread has been altered just a little too too much over the top.:D:D One of my fellow mods must have been busyrofl

I have restored it to its pristine original title which is " Pathfinder's Return to Macro Shooting"

DavidTO

You spoiled all my fun.

PF: very nice shots. It is a triumphant return.

pathfinder

:D:DThanks, David for the kind words, but that just sounded way too pretentious for me.

I knew someone had been editing my title, and wondered if they would own up to it.

I am still LMAO.rofl

pathfinder

I went back out this evening and the little mantis was right where it was last evening. I could not pass it up. It is only about 1/4 inch wide and maybe 1 1/4 inches long.

The extension tube I am using behind the Tamron 180mm lens is a 36mm Kenko.





And a single Monarch butterfly

saurora

#1 is fantastic and the others aren't too shabby!!! I especially like the warm background created in #1, as well as the awesome detail! Nice comeback!

Ann McRae

Lovely - the first shot of the bee is fantastic. I like the ant shot alot too.
What's your maro set up -I am starting to think about one of my own.
ann

pathfinder

I used a Tamron 180mm macro with a 36mm extension tube and a flash for lighting Ann.

Almost any of the macro lenses would do for these shots, the 100mms or even the 60-70mms, except for flying insects like butterflys. The longer macro lets me stay a little farther back from them so they won't loft quite as soon, but a lot of it is up to the bugs temperment too. The longer macro does not cause as much shading by you and the lens because of its further remove from the subject also. A good flash arrangement is very helpful. LV and Dalantech have written about flash here several times.

Awais Yaqub

These are beautiful !

pathfinder

Thank you Awais, Ann, Suarora and others. I am glad you enjoyed my bugs.

I find shooting macro a pleasant way to explore my backyard.

Nightingale really deserves the credit, as she is the driving force behind creating the garden. I am just a passerby who tries to find things of interest, and who has come to realize that lighting is the key to imagery, macros or not:D The beauty of macro is that the shooter can provide the light, and thus, not be so dependent on the vagaries of the weather.

gluwater

pathfinder wrote:

Thank you Awais, Ann, Suarora and others. I am glad you enjoyed my bugs.

I find shooting macro a pleasant way to explore my backyard.

Nightingale really deserves the credit, as she is the driving force behind creating the garden. I am just a passerby who tries to find things of interest, and who has come to realize that lighting is the key to imagery, macros or not:D The beauty of macro is that the shooter can provide the light, and thus, not be so dependent on the vagaries of the weather.

It's her garden so get her to post something!!! Great as always Jim. I recently bought a set of Kenkos and it is one of the best purchases I have made. I can't believe it took me this long to get them. Tell Nightingale I say hi.

pathfinder

HI Nick.

Nightingale does what she wants when she wants. I have little influence in that area:D I'll see what I can do to encourage her. She stil has shots from Utah that are worth a look.

schmoo

Jim, I'd love to see more of nightgale's shots. I really miss her easygoing, sweet personality already!

And, great macros of course.

remy

excellent series !!! love them all but especially the last one (the mantid).

well done!!

Regards,,

Remus.

pathfinder

I see one of my fellow mod's has been at it again with their warped sense of humor - editing my thread's title for the second time!:D



DavidTO was that you? Or was Gus having fun? Or what?

Skippy, folks are messing with your forum......

DavidTO

It wasn't me, I swear!!!

(really)

ivar

DavidTO wrote:

It wasn't me, I swear!!!

(really)

that's what they all say

pathfinder

DavidTO wrote:

It wasn't me, I swear!!!

(really)

I know, the IP address was different than yours - Not sure who it was, but it will ultimately show I am sure.:D