[photos] real macros not taken with 500mm lenses :)

Sorry about the jibe, Rita

Been testing out some new diffusers. These were all taken with
100mm lens and extension tubes, 430EX flash with Lumiquest
Softbox diffuser. Quite happy with the lighting. Yet to test
fully the smaller version Mini Softbox.

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8359.jpg

My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...384-mstack.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8405.jpg

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

Neat images. How did you get the model to pose like that?

"Troy Piggins" wrote in message
...
Sorry about the jibe, Rita

Been testing out some new diffusers. These were all taken with
100mm lens and extension tubes, 430EX flash with Lumiquest
Softbox diffuser. Quite happy with the lighting. Yet to test
fully the smaller version Mini Softbox.

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8359.jpg

My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...384-mstack.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8405.jpg

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

* Frank Arthur wrote :
"Troy Piggins" wrote in message
...
Sorry about the jibe, Rita

Been testing out some new diffusers. These were all taken with
100mm lens and extension tubes, 430EX flash with Lumiquest
Softbox diffuser. Quite happy with the lighting. Yet to test
fully the smaller version Mini Softbox.

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8359.jpg

My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...384-mstack.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8405.jpg

Neat images. How did you get the model to pose like that?

Easier when insects are cold - first thing in the morning.
They're less mobile and you can get quite close.

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

Troy Piggins wrote:
Sorry about the jibe, Rita

Been testing out some new diffusers. These were all taken with
100mm lens and extension tubes, 430EX flash with Lumiquest
Softbox diffuser. Quite happy with the lighting. Yet to test
fully the smaller version Mini Softbox.

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8359.jpg

My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...384-mstack.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8405.jpg

These are quite exceptional, Troy. The lighting is very good (although
the perfect focus means you have your softbox type and location
beautifully illustrated on each droplet - good for training purposes,
but perhaps a little distracting..!)

Imo, the bonus of that droplet that focuses the background so well,
makes these images a lot more interesting than the usual 'single
subject' macro. Normally I don't like having two things in a photo
drawing my attention but in these it looks very cool, and they are some
of the best macros I've ever seen.

Congratulations!

* Mark Thomas wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
Sorry about the jibe, Rita

Been testing out some new diffusers. These were all taken with
100mm lens and extension tubes, 430EX flash with Lumiquest
Softbox diffuser. Quite happy with the lighting. Yet to test
fully the smaller version Mini Softbox.

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8359.jpg

My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...384-mstack.jpg

http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8405.jpg

These are quite exceptional, Troy. The lighting is very good (although
the perfect focus means you have your softbox type and location
beautifully illustrated on each droplet - good for training purposes,
but perhaps a little distracting..!)

It's interesting. Seeing several reflections of the diffuser
/and/ the sun refracted in the same drop.

Imo, the bonus of that droplet that focuses the background so well,
makes these images a lot more interesting than the usual 'single
subject' macro. Normally I don't like having two things in a photo
drawing my attention but in these it looks very cool, and they are some
of the best macros I've ever seen.

Congratulations!

Thanks Mark!

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

Troy Piggins wrote:
My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg
This one is most excellent, congrats! The reflections in the water drops
make it unique. Very sharp, too. Lightning is perfect.
I guess you had to get up early to catch them in the cold rigor, right?

Very nice macro!
Markus

* Markus Fuenfrocken wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg

This one is most excellent, congrats! The reflections in the water drops
make it unique. Very sharp, too. Lightning is perfect.
I guess you had to get up early to catch them in the cold rigor, right?

Very nice macro!
Markus

Thanks Markus! Yes, best time is early in the mornings. But
being in Southern Hemisphere and coming into winter, the mornings
are getting colder anyway. These were taken around 7-8am.

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

Troy Piggins wrote:
* Markus Fuenfrocken wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg
This one is most excellent, congrats! The reflections in the water drops
make it unique. Very sharp, too. Lightning is perfect.
I guess you had to get up early to catch them in the cold rigor, right?

Very nice macro!
Markus

Thanks Markus! Yes, best time is early in the mornings. But
being in Southern Hemisphere and coming into winter, the mornings
are getting colder anyway. These were taken around 7-8am.

Wow, great photos, seems your depth of field is great. When I use my
Nikon 105mm it seems my depth of field is nill. Would you tell me
exactly what equipment (you mentioned extension tubes) you are using???
Thanks, Dave M

* Wolfgang Schmittenhammer wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
* Markus Fuenfrocken wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg
This one is most excellent, congrats! The reflections in the water drops
make it unique. Very sharp, too. Lightning is perfect.
I guess you had to get up early to catch them in the cold rigor, right?

Very nice macro!
Markus

Thanks Markus! Yes, best time is early in the mornings. But
being in Southern Hemisphere and coming into winter, the mornings
are getting colder anyway. These were taken around 7-8am.

Wow, great photos, seems your depth of field is great. When I use my
Nikon 105mm it seems my depth of field is nill. Would you tell me
exactly what equipment (you mentioned extension tubes) you are using???
Thanks, Dave M

Thanks for the comments. EXIF info should be intact for those
photos. My typical settings are ISO 200, f/11, and 1/200s or so
shutter. I always use flash, diffused and on a flash bracket.
Lens is Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Extension tubes are the Kenkon
ones 12mm + 20mm + 36mm giving 68mm total. Always shoot full
Manual with above settings, not aperture or shutter priority etc.

Not sure what apertures you are using, but try sticking with f/9
to f/11 for 1:1 macro shots. Don't more than about f/16 or your
images will end up softer, although it is tempting to get DOF.

Main thing is just to practise the focusing technique. Only use
manual focus, get it roughly where you want it, then slighly move
forwards or backwards until you hit the spot. I know it's hard.
DOF is in the order of millimetres or less.

Hope that helps some

--
Troy Piggins
I always appreciate critique.

Troy Piggins wrote:
* Wolfgang Schmittenhammer wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
* Markus Fuenfrocken wrote :
Troy Piggins wrote:
My favourite:
http://piggo.com/~troy/photos.php?al...8/img_8361.jpg
This one is most excellent, congrats! The reflections in the water drops
make it unique. Very sharp, too. Lightning is perfect.
I guess you had to get up early to catch them in the cold rigor, right?

Very nice macro!
Markus
Thanks Markus! Yes, best time is early in the mornings. But
being in Southern Hemisphere and coming into winter, the mornings
are getting colder anyway. These were taken around 7-8am.

Wow, great photos, seems your depth of field is great. When I use my
Nikon 105mm it seems my depth of field is nill. Would you tell me
exactly what equipment (you mentioned extension tubes) you are using???
Thanks, Dave M

Thanks for the comments. EXIF info should be intact for those
photos. My typical settings are ISO 200, f/11, and 1/200s or so
shutter. I always use flash, diffused and on a flash bracket.
Lens is Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Extension tubes are the Kenkon
ones 12mm + 20mm + 36mm giving 68mm total. Always shoot full
Manual with above settings, not aperture or shutter priority etc.

Not sure what apertures you are using, but try sticking with f/9
to f/11 for 1:1 macro shots. Don't more than about f/16 or your
images will end up softer, although it is tempting to get DOF.

Main thing is just to practise the focusing technique. Only use
manual focus, get it roughly where you want it, then slighly move
forwards or backwards until you hit the spot. I know it's hard.
DOF is in the order of millimetres or less.

Hope that helps some

Thanks,
Dave M