Badgrandad
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Contest Finalist in The Textures Of Insects Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Macro Masterpieces Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Small Things In Nature Photo Contest
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kenfowkes
May 17, 2017
Even with the lens resting on the table, I'm impressed at the complete lack of motion blur at 1/30 handheld. Wonderfully made image and I like your BTL too, especially the part about how macro photography lets us see what the eye cannot. For example, check out the thoughtful looking expression on this little creatures face! Love it. 8-)
catherinethompson
June 05, 2017
Fabulous macro - even though just a blowfly and not a favourite subject LOL
markkrause
August 02, 2018
Macro photography opens the door to an amazing world. Great job swinging that door wide-open...
mihrt
July 31, 2021
Fabulous detail right down to all the little hairs. They aren’t pretty but find them fascinating to photograph!
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in my back garden on top of our old bird table. I had set out some mashed banana, still in its skin to attract butterflies. However, as you can see more than butterflies were attracted.Time
Not the best time of day generally speaking i.e. midday at 13.00 hrs.Lighting
Fortunately the light was diffused by cloud cover. Bright diffused light from clouds offers the perfect conditions for shooting macro. In this regard any time of day is good, but can be more advantageous at what is traditionally the worst time to shoot i.e. midday. Also helpful was the cover offered by our oak tree and hedge, which gave a nice dark background to shoot the fly against.Equipment
This was a hand held shot and obtained by resting the lens on the bird table whilst supporting the camera to reduce camera shake/movement using my Sigma 70mm macro lens. I have never used flash to date.Inspiration
Just a love for the world about us and the wildlife within it, particularly the smaller ladies and gents that make up the arthropods, which includes insects and spiders etc. It is amazing to see detail at the macro level that the human eye just cannot appreciate and therefore revealing a whole new world to us through the lens of photography.Editing
Initially I use DxO to process the raw files globally and using their lens softness to apply some capture sharpening to the raw image before exporting back to LR as a tiff. In LR I then further adjust exposure and colour selectively, also using the brush, gradient filter and radial tool to do some dodging and burning selectively before exporting to PS CC. Here I will further refine using filters like Google Nik effects e.g Define to control noise selectively, viveza for colour tweaking and more refined dodging and burning selectively, before checking the image out with Colour effects. Finally I will do any necessary tidying up in PS CC and further adjustments using layers and masks if suitable/required before finishing with sharpening using the high pass technique.In my camera bag
I have a gitzo monopod, Giotto tripod, induro ball-head, remote release cable, L-plate, nodal rail, selection of polarisers, Pentax K3 with pentax 12-24, 16-50 and 50-135 lenses plus my sigma 70mm macro lens and supported with a manual old 180mm tamron sp adaptall limited lens.Feedback
One of the best tips is above in the lighting section. A bright overcast day is perfect for macro photography. Also as above consider your background and composition to simplify the image as much as possible so that there are no distracting elements. Knowledge of your subject helps with field craft i.e. the squashed banana to attract insects and also to understand their behavior and habitat requirements to allow you to go out and find what you are looking for with greater success. Once a particular area is found, then visiting in the early hours when the subjects will be most likely to be still and approachable will also yield better opportunities and results. If the weather is not overcast, then avoid bright direct light and the best light will be low in the sky and form the side to emphasize form.