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09/08/2009 08:53:03 AM · #1 |
So I entered this guy in the free study
I was pretty happy with it... I like the spiky details on the head. I got conflicting comments about like the shallow DOF and not liking it.
Regardless... is there a way to get that close up and still have depth w/o a major crop? I look at stuff by  roz and others here and can't seem to get the details with my 60mm macro. Am I limited by the lens or doing something wrong? |
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09/08/2009 09:06:34 AM · #2 |
It looks good, that's just DPC for ya. DPC and the real world are 2 different worlds.
If you have the time and want the whole fly in focus, take multiple shots changing your focus and combine them in PS. |
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09/08/2009 09:24:08 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you have the time and want the whole fly in focus, take multiple shots changing your focus and combine them in PS. |
That's practically impossible to do with a fly or other insect that is moving about.
To get more DOF I up the ISO and use a higher aperture. But it's hard when you're so close to the insect. |
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09/08/2009 09:32:31 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you have the time and want the whole fly in focus, take multiple shots changing your focus and combine them in PS. |
That's practically impossible to do with a fly or other insect that is moving about.
To get more DOF I up the ISO and use a higher aperture. But it's hard when you're so close to the insect. |
I understand, here's a magicians trick. Catch the fly and put him in the freezer for about an hour (put him in a bag so you know where he is). It will lower his body temp and put him to sleep. Once you take him out he will stay still for about 10-20 minutes depending on how cold your freezer is. Then you can place him anywhere you want, photograph him all you want and as soon as he warms back up he will fly away. |
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09/08/2009 09:48:32 AM · #5 |
you can use the above approach and shine some lights on the subject in order to give you more freedom with your aperture range.
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09/08/2009 10:16:07 AM · #6 |
| I see that you used an aperture of F7.1 , definitely insufficient to get more DOF. It is tough to balance shutter speed and aperture. Normally I try to use apertures for F11-F16 if the lighting condition allows and sometimes I will sacrifice a little bit of quality by using higher ISOs. |
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09/08/2009 11:13:54 AM · #7 |
i shot a macro ( straight on - pretty much a flat subject for a challenge ) full 1:1 macro.
i shot at f:22 1/200th ISO200 - with a flash for backlight, and got comments the DOF was too shallow....
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09/08/2009 09:17:36 PM · #8 |
| So its either building DOF from multiple shots, or sacrificing ISO... Granted, I don't have a great flash unit, but maybe that'd help. |
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09/08/2009 09:28:13 PM · #9 |
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09/08/2009 09:49:47 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by tpbremer:
So its either building DOF from multiple shots, or sacrificing ISO... Granted, I don't have a great flash unit, but maybe that'd help. |
I had my macro lens with Canon Speedlight flash and I was not able to get the lighting I needed. I tried putting a hood on the flash to capture the light and focus it in front of the lense, but that didn't quite do it.
In a fit of desperation I purchased a macro flash that enabled me to go to f/16 and get some good depth. I'm willing to bet that is your biggest hindrance.
580EX Speedlite
Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash
Message edited by author 2009-09-08 21:53:02. |
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09/09/2009 01:31:40 AM · #11 |
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09/09/2009 03:38:17 AM · #12 |
| Also, using a ttl synch cord to get your speedlight off the hot shoe would let you control the lighting much more easily. |
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09/09/2009 08:48:57 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by ErikV:
Originally posted by tpbremer:
Granted, I don't have a great flash unit, but maybe that'd help. |
From roz's profile page:
"...for insect macros i use a Canon Speedlight 580EXII external flash with a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce plastic diffuser..."
Also getting the bug at the right angle so that both head and wings are the same distance from the camera can be very helpful -- see roz's entry in the Pink challenge:
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What you pointed out here is helpful... I hadn't noticed the significance of the angle. Still pretty shallow DOF, and the fly almost appears to be in focus because of the wing and eyes, but the back wing is actually quite blurry. |
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09/09/2009 12:02:56 PM · #14 |
Take a look at some of my macro's most of them are handheld, with a flash, about F13 or so.  
  
Many of these are uncropped photos. Angle that you take the shot is very important. Also don't be afraid to bump the ISO, I use a flash on camera sometimes with a stofens omnibounce sometimes bare. Edit to add, I also almost always use a 25MM extension tube and use AF. Glutton for punishment I guess, but it seems to work for the most part. :D
Matt
Message edited by author 2009-09-09 12:03:40. |
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