Dragon Flies...

RBrogen

I hope they qualify as wildlife. I took these today. C&C welcome.

Question I have is even though I've run a series of test using different F/Stop settings 2.8 to 22, I can't seem to get the depth of field correct in Apeture Priority mode so that the entire dragonfly is in focus. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5

Harryb

They ain't ildlife but tehy are cool shots.

RBrogen

Harryb wrote:

They ain't ildlife but tehy are cool shots.

Thanks Harry. If the forum admin wants to move to Other Cool Shots then please do. Sorry if I posted in the wrong place.

Randy

dlplumer

Love these Did you use your 100 macro?

RBrogen

dlplumer wrote:

Love these Did you use your 100 macro?

Glad you like. I did actually use my 100mm.

dlplumer

RBrogen wrote:

Glad you like. I did actually use my 100mm.

Isn't the dof two shallow on that lens to get a sharp dragon fly when viewing him head on?

RBrogen

dlplumer wrote:

Isn't the dof two shallow on that lens to get a sharp dragon fly when viewing him head on?

That could be my issue though I thought I could compensate for some of that by adjusting the F/Stops.

puzzledpaul

<< I thought I could compensate for some of that by adjusting the F/Stops >>

For a head-on / or 3/4 shot ... no chance if you're trying to fill the frame (at the mags involved ... even tho it's nowhere near 1:1) ... one of the reasons you see lots of profile shots of DFs / insects where they're also fairly small in the frame. (assuming uncropped)

Stopping down below f11 or so takes you well and truly into 'compromise land' ... gain a bit of extra dof - but lose sharpness thro' diffraction.

Also, greater the mag, thinner the dof eg ... from my mpe65 booklet... all at f16

1 x mag, dof 2.24mm
3 x mag, dof 0.5 mm
5 x mag, dof 0.27 mm

Need a lot of 11 thou slices at 5 x for a complete DF head

Only way round this is to focus stack - which isn't always practical

Suggest you have a shufties at some of Brian v's tuts on the macro forum.

Here's one as a sampler.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=58028

pp

RBrogen

Terrific information!!!! Thank you sooooo much.

puzzledpaul wrote:

<< I thought I could compensate for some of that by adjusting the F/Stops >>

For a head-on / or 3/4 shot ... no chance if you're trying to fill the frame (at the mags involved ... even tho it's nowhere near 1:1) ... one of the reasons you see lots of profile shots of DFs / insects where they're also fairly small in the frame. (assuming uncropped)

Stopping down below f11 or so takes you well and truly into 'compromise land' ... gain a bit of extra dof - but lose sharpness thro' diffraction.

Also, greater the mag, thinner the dof eg ... from my mpe65 booklet... all at f16

1 x mag, dof 2.24mm
3 x mag, dof 0.5 mm
5 x mag, dof 0.27 mm

Need a lot of 11 thou slices at 5 x for a complete DF head

Only way round this is to focus stack - which isn't always practical

Suggest you have a shufties at some of Brian v's tuts on the macro forum.

Here's one as a sampler.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=58028

pp

Skippy

RBrogen wrote:

I hope they qualify as wildlife. I took these today. C&C welcome.

Question I have is even though I've run a series of test using different F/Stop settings 2.8 to 22, I can't seem to get the depth of field correct in Apeture Priority mode so that the entire dragonfly is in focus. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes well wouldn't we just love it if they would make a lens that keeps things in focus no matter how close you get to the subject

You'll notice Brian does a lot of focus stacked shot, but he also has a great understanding of DOF and truly has a remarkable ability when it comes to shooting MACRO ... I am forever in awe of his work

I hope Brian replies to your post and share more of his knowledge in the field of MACRO Photography with you and the forum

Dont forget to look at the TUTORIALS Brian has put on the forum too http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=50752

I think Image #3 is the pick of the bunch with these.
You had a pretty good day by the looks of it .... Skippy
.

WilliamClark77

Dragonfly shots are tough! I have very few. And yeah, it's almost impossible to get the entire body in focus without making some sort of sacrifice either by backing up then cropping or using an extremely narrow aperture. I haven't done many focus stacks. They're rarely still long enough for me to get one shot, much less 4 or 6.

I'm sure it varies a bit from copy to copy, but don't be afraid to stop your 100mm macro way down. My copy does fine up close down around f22 - f25 if you are very steady (even flash syncing to a 1/200 shutter speed loses a lot of detail to cam shake) or have a prop. The bokeh does begin to take on a less attractive smootheness below about f16. A lot of subject to background seperation helps a lot.

I won't post pics in your thread but here's a few links to some shots of mine stopped way down.

f22, 1/200, iso 200. I don't think I even opened it in photoshop.

http://WilliamClark77.smugmug.com/photos/262316009_AKU2w-L.jpg



f16, 1/200, iso 100. No usm applied

http://WilliamClark77.smugmug.com/photos/278047119_Ymg3e-L.jpg

{Edit} Doh! Posted same pic twice

RBrogen

Skippy wrote:

Yes well wouldn't we just love it if they would make a lens that keeps things in focus no matter how close you get to the subject

You'll notice Brian does a lot of focus stacked shot, but he also has a great understanding of DOF and truly has a remarkable ability when it comes to shooting MACRO ... I am forever in awe of his work

I hope Brian replies to your post and share more of his knowledge in the field of MACRO Photography with you and the forum

Dont forget to look at the TUTORIALS Brian has put on the forum too http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=50752

I think Image #3 is the pick of the bunch with these.
You had a pretty good day by the looks of it .... Skippy
.

Thanks for the feedback Skippy. I'll definitely be looking into the tutorials by the master!