IMG_5997
by MikeO

Comment by MattO:
Bug Porn. :D Nice catch.

IMG_6007
by MikeO

Comment by KarenNfld:
Wow he's really deep in there....good shot.

IMG_5995
by MikeO

Comment by KarenNfld:
Cool looking bugs!

IMG_5989
by MikeO

Comment by aliqui:

Originally posted by Sevlow: Originally posted by aliqui: Being all closed down to f/14 is probably doing you more harm than good with these setups. I'd recommend trying to keep it in the 5-8 range to keep the image at its sharpest. The problem with shooting that wide is that the flash will probably wash out the shots and overexpouse them but I will give it a go and see how they come out. Also the dof is very, very shallow on a macro lens - even at f14!

I don't necessarily practice what I preach so to speak. Most of my bug shots are f/10-11. Everyone has always told me to keep it in the 5-8 range. I can't remember specifics, but it has something to do with the curve of the lens and staying more towards the middle. Check out Roz's portfolio. She actually manages to keep it open.

IMG_5989
by MikeO

Comment by MikeO:

Originally posted by aliqui: Being all closed down to f/14 is probably doing you more harm than good with these setups. I'd recommend trying to keep it in the 5-8 range to keep the image at its sharpest.

The problem with shooting that wide is that the flash will probably wash out the shots and overexpouse them but I will give it a go and see how they come out. Also the dof is very, very shallow on a macro lens - even at f14!

IMG_5945
by MikeO

Comment by MikeO:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula: Ha, I already commented on the noise for your other one. You should've been able to drop your iso on this and still maintain sharpness though, so I would recommend that for this specific case. If you've got a flash, that would help things a lot for dropping your iso. You can easily make your own diffusers for very little too to eliminate the harsh shadows a bare strobe will throw on your subject.

Yeh, appreciate your comments and I am now using my ring flash and have dropped my iso down to 200

IMG_5989
by MikeO

Comment by GregoryB:
This I like Mike...detail is quite good

IMG_5945
by MikeO

Comment by spiritualspatula:
Ha, I already commented on the noise for your other one. You should've been able to drop your iso on this and still maintain sharpness though, so I would recommend that for this specific case. If you've got a flash, that would help things a lot for dropping your iso. You can easily make your own diffusers for very little too to eliminate the harsh shadows a bare strobe will throw on your subject.

IMG_5936
by MikeO

Comment by spiritualspatula:
Nice job slicing the scene with your dof. A little noise reduction would help this a long way- even just hitting it heavy handed and creaming the heck out of the green would do it.

IMG_5986
by MikeO

Comment by MacDonald:
I think I like the other angle better too although he is nicely framed by the black b/g