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Very useful tips, I do observe some of them in my experience, thanks for sharing. :D
Posted 76 months ago.
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Thanks!
Posted 76 months ago.
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I'd just like to add... use a long lens. I find a 180mm tele macro to be the ideal bug-hunting lens. I can approach 1:1 from half a meter away.
Posted 76 months ago.
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AtomicMak [deleted] says:
good tips. i really like the aproach you do have.
Posted 74 months ago.
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And do you use your tripod?
Posted 72 months ago.
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I've never used a tripod for bug shots- have used it for indoor flower shots though. I often use a bean pole if I'm shooting around 2:1 , see www.flickr.com/groups/topic/66514/
Brian V.
Posted 72 months ago.
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Hey, nice tips here!
I have one more...if you are not too lazy or sleepy to get up early, wake up at 5 or 6 am, maybe just before the sunrise. When you find a bug, you have all the time you want. All the insects are really numb in the morning because of the cold. Oh, and you get a bonus of dew drops all over the bug! :)
Posted 49 months ago.
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I also have found if you carry a fine spray squirt bottle around on a hot day, some bugs actually enjoy the squirts of water while you shoot them get better, more focused shots. Trail and error to find out which ones will stay a bit longer for that drink of water.
Posted 49 months ago.
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Thanks very useful thread.
Posted 49 months ago.
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Thanks for the tips.
Posted 49 months ago.
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Wow lord v, I can't believe you don't use a tripod! That is astonishing. Well you learn something every day.
Posted 48 months ago.
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Why do insects blow bubbles anyway? I saw a fly doing it for the first time a few weeks ago and was astounded.
Posted 37 months ago.
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foogray - It's thought to aid digestion probably by concentrating the stomach contents.
Brian V.
Posted 37 months ago.
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I have a question that's kind of on a topic, but please don't laugh.
I shoot at f/32 1:1 and no matter the iso usually need supplement light.
Does flash actually hurt/fry bugs?
Posted 37 months ago.
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Thanks, Lord V. I figured it would be something mundane like that :)
skymyrka - No, not really. It might conceivably disorient them a little, but I highly doubt there's any lasting damage done. Flash is actually incredibly helpful for macro photography.
Posted 37 months ago.
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@foogray:
Thanks!! I love how it renders the background pitch black. Hmmm.. don't want to hurt little critters tho (: I'm using ring flash. Seems pretty hot.
Posted 37 months ago.
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I have noticed that some bugs seem to get a startle reflex elicited by a flash, maybe it's tripping the same circuitry they respond to when a shadow passes over them. I have never been able to shoot a long-legged fly with a flash - they also dart out of frame when the flash goes off.
Posted 37 months ago.
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I think I know what you're talking about, e_monk. I've seen house flies literally flinch when the flash goes off. My personal theory with regards to long legged flies(the green ones) is that it's the sound of the shutter or mirror slapping that makes them jump out of frame. If it were the flash that made them jump, we would still get the shot rather than all those photos of empty leaves.
Posted 37 months ago.
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Next long-legged fly I see, I will test that theory by setting the flash off manually.
Posted 37 months ago.
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Actually in my case regular fruit flies seem a bit stunned, enough for a stack sometimes...
With spiders they actually freeze up and stick their front legs and eyes out (house spiders, not sure of the species, sorry).. So I usually fire flash before taking a shot and gotten some outstanding results.
Edit:
That's the spider I'm talking about. Usually they crawl into a tiny ball, but when flash is fired they "open" right up... Love taking photos like this, but does that actually cause damage to them?? Would love to find out before running amuck taking more pix like this
Originally posted 37 months ago.
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skymyrka edited this topic 37 months ago.
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I would like to ask if macro-photography can only be done with macro-specific lenses - in other words only with DSLR cameras? The tips here are extremely helpful, thank you.
Posted 37 months ago.
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Barb - you can take macro shots with P&S cameras in macro mode - this gives a print magnification similar to a 1.6 crop DSLR with a 1:1 macro lens. You can also get add on lenses to further increase the magnification- eg Raynox.
As far as DSLR lenses are concerned you do not have to have a macro lens. You can use extension tubes or reverse lenses onto the camera body or reverse one lens onto the front of a longer lens.
Brian v.
Posted 37 months ago.
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The one & only Madi Rae [deleted] says:
Very useful and helpful tips......thanks so much!!!!!!
Posted 36 months ago.
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Wow, thanks! My mom and I were talking about that today LOL it really helped :-)
Posted 36 months ago.
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