Caught in the Rain I
Robberfly hanging on on a rainy day.
Robberfly hanging on on a rainy day.
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Jan, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in a public park near Tokyo Japan. It was a rainy day, and I was making the most of a day off with interesting lighting and rain. I'd was recovering from hip surgery a few months before, and this was one of my first trips out and about on my new leg. The public parks in Japan are great places to shoot flowers and bugs - lots of fantastic photo ops for macro lovers.Time
It was around noon and very rainy. I wasn't even certain I should be out, as my camera, a Nikon D90 is not weather proof. I had a plastic rain cover over the camera - like a form fitting raincoat and had one of those transparent umbrellas that are cheap and popular there. I ended up getting soaked.Lighting
I didn't have a macro flash at that time, and used natural lighting. Given it was midday, and overcast due to the rain - I had lots of diffuse light. The clear umbrella I used also did not block the overhead light - bonus!Equipment
Nikon D90 with the 105mm f/2.8 Nikkor G Macro, hand-held, with the transparent umbrella and a rain cover over the camera. Unfortunately, I fried the camera - shorted it out - was lucky to get these shots before it completely stopped working. The rain cover worked - sort of. But to get different angles on shots with one hand (the other held the umbrella), I shot the camera in portrait mode with my arm above it holding the grip. I didn't realize water was running down my arm into the battery compartment (not weather sealed!). It cost me maybe $150 to fix, and I had no camera for a week.Inspiration
Robberflies are amazing insects, sometimes looking like horror movie monsters with all the hair. This one was covered in rain drops and holding very still. I could take my time and shoot at a relatively slow shutter speed - the animal was sort of out of it and not going anywhere. I loved the colors and the separation the lens got between the fly and the background - which was mostly solid green. A home run all around. When ever possible, I go out to shoot during rain anywhere I live. Diffuse lighting, drops, and a sense of calm if it's not raining hard.Editing
I shot this at ISO400, which on a D90 was a bit noisy. So, I adjusted exposure and did a little luminance smoothing to get rid of noise. It's still grainier than I like, but otherwise this and the other shots I took were very solid.In my camera bag
I graduated to weather proof full frame Nikons, but now use mostly a Fuji XT-4 and an Olympus OMD1-MII. I now live on Guam, where the conditions are humid and hot every day. I mostly buy weather proof gear as a result of the experience with this shot. So, for research surveys, I used the OMD1-MII with the 60mm f2/8 Olympus macro, and often the weather proof macro flash from Olympus. Light and durable. For other work (including landscape), I favor the Xt-4 with the 80mm Fuji macro or the 16mm f/1.4 for landscape shots. I love the color rendering and shooting experience with Fujifilm cameras. I use mostly MindShift camera backpacks, for their utility, ruggedness, and ability to keep my gear safe and dry. I usually carry LED lights (small panels) and a lenspen to clean my gear. Mosquito repellent a must here!Feedback
Take your time and shoot from different angles if you can. If light is limiting, trade-off ISO and shutter speed, but keep your aperture 8 or higher if you can for maximum DOF for macro shots. Find the angle that gives you the least distracting background, and make sure the eyes of your bug are in focus. Most flying insects react to your presence if you move quickly too close. I usually take a few shots from a distance, then work my way closer bit by bit, shooting and moving with exaggerated slowness. Keep your camera pointed at the subject and avoid having to lift the lens when you are in tight. I usually can get close enough to get detailed shots like this one if I'm patient, but I may have to get on my knees or belly to get the angle I want.
