Flies !

Lord Vetinari · February 24, 2007

Some fly pics from Yesterday.

Brian V.

Click on pics for larger size

Crop from above

Skippy · February 24, 2007

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Some fly pics from Yesterday.

Brian V.

Click on pics for larger size
Crop from above

Hey there Brian what is that first fly sitting on?
I love that background of that very first fly, and the second one being the crop of the first

I'm yet to see you post a bad shot I tell ya

...... Skippy
.

Rhuarc · February 24, 2007

I never thought I would say a fly is beautiful, but seeing them as something other than a little annoying insect makes you realize just how amazing they are. Not like you need anyone to tell you this, but great captures!!

Dalantech · February 24, 2007

Excellent composition and lighting Brian!

Lord Vetinari · February 24, 2007

Skippy wrote:

Hey there Brian what is that first fly sitting on?
I love that background of that very first fly, and the second one being the crop of the first I'm yet to see you post a bad shot I tell ya

...... Skippy
.

Thanks Skippy

First fly is sitting on a fibre door mat - I have several of these round the garden supposedly for me to sit on when taking pics- doesn't seem to work that way though- normally find either my cat or various bugs using them

Brian V.

Lord Vetinari · February 24, 2007

Thanks Rhuarc and Dalentech for looking and commenting.

Agree re flies- they look quite amazing close up- lots of interesting detail.
Brian V.

Milan · February 24, 2007

Wow, amazing. Great shots!

Seamus · February 24, 2007

Brilliant pics Brian, a macro lens is on my wish list.

Lord Vetinari · February 24, 2007

Seamus wrote:

Brilliant pics Brian, a macro lens is on my wish list.

Thanks for the kind comments Milan and Seamus

Brian v.

Awais Yaqub · February 24, 2007

Wow amazing what a bird

Van Isle · February 24, 2007

Amazing.

I do not yet do any macro work, but when I grow up I wanna be like you! I imagine you used a tripod/beanbag for these shots, or were they handheld? Thanks.

VI

PS love the smugmug website.

Lord Vetinari · February 25, 2007

Thanks Awais and VI

VI- no I don't use either- I'm normally resting the lens on the same surface as the bug (if solid) or using a cross between your suggestions- a bean pole

- no not a joke- see below.
Brian V.

DanDan · February 26, 2007

good shot.. watch it like from a microscope

tlee · February 28, 2007

I really enjoy your images. Thanks for sharing them, and for sharing your technique(s). Great images--as always!!

Lord Vetinari · March 1, 2007

Thanks for the kind comments Tlee and Dan Dan

Much appreciated

Brian V.

Rhuarc · March 4, 2007

LV, if you don't mind me asking what lenses do you do for all this fantastic macro work of insects? At some point I want to get a macro lens and start practicing, but I wouldn't know where to start looking...

Lord Vetinari · March 4, 2007

Rhuarc wrote:

LV, if you don't mind me asking what lenses do you do for all this fantastic macro work of insects? At some point I want to get a macro lens and start practicing, but I wouldn't know where to start looking...

Thanks

I started using a sigma 105mm EX then got a set of extension tubes, then started reversing a 50mm lens on the end of that. That ends up being pretty good optically but a bit unwieldy so I eventually after about a year I got an MPE-65. I do still use the sigma a lot though for lower magnification stuff.
I'd recommend you get one of the macro lenses around 100mm (Tamron 90, sigma 105, canon 100mm) and a set of kenko ext tubes to start with.
Brian V.

BigAl · March 4, 2007

Another super set Brian. The last one takes the cake

Were these stacked?

Lord Vetinari · March 5, 2007

BigAl wrote:

Another super set Brian. The last one takes the cake

Were these stacked?

Thanks Al,
From memory #1 was stacked from 2 shots the others were not.
Brian V.

pete w · March 7, 2007

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Thanks
I started using a sigma 105mm EX then got a set of extension tubes, then I'd recommend you get one of the macro lenses around 100mm (Tamron 90, sigma 105, canon 100mm) and a set of kenko ext tubes to start with.
Brian V.

Brian, couple of questions, just how good is the MPE-65 V;s the above lenses. The DOF and detail appears much better than a 100mm etc.

I also notice you using a hand held light , are most of your pictures taken with flash of external lighting?

Great pics by the way enjoyed looking through your galleries.

Aaron Bernard · March 7, 2007

Amazing! very interesting shots!

What is the setup on a shot like this? can you take me through one of the above photos?

Lord Vetinari · March 8, 2007

Aaron Bernard wrote:

Amazing! very interesting shots!

What is the setup on a shot like this? can you take me through one of the above photos?

Thanks Aaron.
Shots taken in situ in garden, camera rig pic below- canon 20D with MPE-65 lens at about 2:1- could be taken with normal macro lens with full set of Kenko ext tubes. 430EX flashgun with homemade coca-cola can diffuser.
Camera settings M mode, ISO200, F8,1/200th, ETTL flash.
Think both #1 & #3 were focus stacked from 2 shots.
Focus stacking tutorial here
http://www.flickr.com/groups/macroviewers/discuss/163367/

Brian V.

Lord Vetinari · March 8, 2007

pete w wrote:

Brian, couple of questions, just how good is the MPE-65 V;s the above lenses. The DOF and detail appears much better than a 100mm etc.

I also notice you using a hand held light , are most of your pictures taken with flash of external lighting?

Great pics by the way enjoyed looking through your galleries.

Thanks Pete.
The MPE-65 is the "king" of macro lenses does from 1:1 to 5:1 magnifications with no additions. I don't think it is particularly sharper than normal macro lenses at 1:1. Main disadvantage is that it does not go any lower than 1:1 (longest focus distance is 4" in front of the lens). Most of my pics are taken with a flash gun mounted on a flash bracket- see pic above.
The DOF from any lens at the same magnification and aperture on a given camera body is exactly the same. Shots #1 and #3 are both focus stacked from 2 shots to get extra DOF.
Brian V.

Flies !

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