creators
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Mayflies (?) and a bearded dragon.I struggle to get crisp shots with my Tamron 70 - 300 macro lens, any tips Carl?
My nephew got his bearded dragon out for a sunbathe, the poor old chap is quite blind but seems to get by alright.
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creators
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This one was bending itself back and forth, some kind of sexual frenzy? And I just could not get a sharp shot of it.
 [/img]
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hil26
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thats also my problem, but think it may be the focusing technique, combined with DOF combined with slower shutter speed than what should be required
Practice, practice, practice etc etc etc
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carlj
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My weapon of choice Keith!
A larger subject
Main things to remember are, dof (negligible at macro magnification) and focus (even spot focus can be too large for 100% accuracy). Anti-shake/IS is a boon, but not a replacement for technique.
I generally shoot f6.3 for parallel subjects, to allow a mm or so flexibility. For other angles, forget full dof - you won't get it!
Try not to rely on autofocus - manual focus is far easier. I tend to set it to closest focus and move the camera until focus achieved. Then shoot 2 or 3 shots straight after each other. Even if you wobble a bit, (as I do) you should get one bang on target.
Again, an example using shallow dof to emphasise the eyes. This was shot from a majorly unwieldy angle - AS helped!
Hope this helps you Keith!
Oh, and they're Common Blue or Azure Damselflies. The arching is probably the male readying his genitalia - was there a mainly black with thin blue stripes version around?
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hil26
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carl
do you shoot these with flash? If so which ?
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carlj
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Dave, although I've feelers out on a metz unit, nope. All natural light and yes, handheld again. Can't say whether it's AS or technique, but trust me, I get a lot of failures!
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creators
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Carl, that is astonishingly helpful, god I love this forum. I would never have thought to put the camera on its closest focus setting and move on the subject (even though that's what I do with the macro slide, but that's on the tripod for still life). Just brilliant mate, thanks so much! I'm off to give it a try. More later. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
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creators
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| carlj wrote: | | was there a mainly black with thin blue stripes version around? |
That'll be it, cos there were.
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creators
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Well, limited results because I was losing the light and went on to flash, but it's going to take some practice. Actually my bro used the camera more than me, he really got into it. Anyway, sundry stuff just messing.
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carlj
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Ah, exuva - probably from your damsels! Getting some good results there Keith!
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creators
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The concept is brilliant, it's just going to take a lot of practice. I hope it's sunny tomorrow and I get some more Damselflies around the pond. My bro and I were working on breathing, it was pretty much impossible to take a shot breathing in, but breathing out there is a natural pause at the end when we both found the camera the most steady. We also tried using a tripod as a mono, with the head loose, as a third leg in front was helpful, but possibly not for the more spontaneous shots moving around the pond. I've got to say he was having a great time, I think I'm in danger of losing my camera.
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hil26
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what a nice tutorial this turned out to be
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creators
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| hil26 wrote: | | what a nice tutorial this turned out to be |
Didn't it just, though. Yet another post that got me wildly excited and made me seriously think about what I am doing and get down to some serious practice. Oh, and I showed my Bro Carl's 'larger subject' above after he'd had a go and realized what was involved and he nearly wet himself. Cheers Carl, brilliant work.
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digitalkiwi
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| Quote: | | Try not to rely on autofocus - manual focus is far easier |
With the Canon Macro lens i use it actually encourages you to use the manual focus setting, on the focusing dial it has the size of the image in a ratio from 5:1 to 1:1 you just set the lens to the ration you want and move in to focus as Carl suggests, i havent seen that type of measurement before but it helps so much
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carlj
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Isn't this what a forum is all about. Only started macro a year ago, and just fallen in love with the technique. If I try another type of photography, I'd hope to get advice from you guys too!
Geez, I feel a group hug coming on lol 
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hil26
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| carlj wrote: |
Geez, I feel a group hug coming on lol |
all together now ----- HUG
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adam
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awwww...i love you guys!!! 
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creators
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Yaiiiii! Smoooooch. It's a nice place to come home to after a hard days shooting.
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Venom
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| creators wrote: | | My bro and I were working on breathing, it was pretty much impossible to take a shot breathing in, but breathing out there is a natural pause at the end when we both found the camera the most steady. We also tried using a tripod as a mono, with the head loose, as a third leg in front was helpful, but possibly not for the more spontaneous shots moving around the pond |
Might be a good idea for a post in the Tips and Techniques section - of all the different ways people try to get around using a tripod to get a steady shot.
Especially for someone new to photography.
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flyingkites
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Great tutorial , thanks Carl.
Brian
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Venom
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| flyingkites wrote: | Great tutorial , thanks Carl.
Brian |
That's why we call him the 'Macro Man' 
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creators
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| Venom wrote: |
That's why we call him the 'Macro Man' |
Perfect!
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pasvorto
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I have tried to get shots of dragonflies and butterflies. I can't get the buggers to sit still long enough!
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creators
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| pasvorto wrote: | | I have tried to get shots of dragonflies and butterflies. I can't get the buggers to sit still long enough! |
Glad I'm not the only one who's noticed that. I thought of squishing them, but that detracts from the pictures somehow.
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creators
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Or they settle on some random leaf rather than a graceful stem or stalk, as they ought.
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pasvorto
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I guess a little sugar water and some super glue are called for.
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creators
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Smart thinking that man.
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pasvorto
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A little CS2 adjustments, and no one's the wiser ;-)
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hil26
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now I have just got back from the rspb reserve in Conwy and not a double winged object in sight, missed the osprey, couldn't get the heron to take off, rabbits everywhere ( but didn't want a shot of the back ends) all in all - well I'll let you work it out
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creators
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Bummer!
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carlj
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Poor Dave! We're in your territory again at weekend - South Stack with the local RSPB group (I'm only there for Welsh odonata!).
As for sugar water - forget it - unless it's fermented and they use it to wash down dinner 
Now, a nice juicy dinner, with a leg for her, and 5 of her friends, however....
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