MACRO – Cicada

[J A Y M O R R]

Some recent shots of the Cicada on Utah’s Green River. Thought you may like to see them:

Good times, beautiful fish:

[Jason DeBacker]

Jay,
Great photos (as usual)! The light and color on the bugs are awesome.

Can I ask what you are using for a on-stream macro setup? In particular – are you adding light and, if so, how? Any recommendations for a macro flash setup for a wading angler (i.e. not too expensive (in case of water damage) or bulky)?

Best,
Jason

[J A Y M O R R]

Thanks Jason. I use a 105 macro. I will almost always try to tripod up but packing a pod around can be a challenge and heavy. Most of the stream side macro photos from me are hand held. I use speed lights (off camera flash) triggered with pw’s. I will use any kind of light modifiers I can find including umbrellas, small softboxes, etc. Their is no easy route on the water packing the gear. The risk is always taking a spill with the camera. Having a few helping hands always pays off.

An investment in a water housing can limit the risk a bit. A couple years back I lost an Alienbee that was packing portable power on it (vagabond mini) as a gust of wind picked up my strobe and launched it. Paul C. Buff was awesome with replacing the light under warranty and got it back out to me promptly. Whenever I pack the big strobes I usually try and have another angler help out and hold gear down.

Pop Up flashes on camera bodies can work great when bounced our diffused properly.

Brett Colvin knows how I roll (image from a few years back):

PS. No shortcuts….it’s not cheap.

[Jason DeBacker]

Jay,
Thanks for the info. I’ll have to adjust my expectations and play around with with the pop-up flash a bit more. I had made an adaptor for the pop-up flash with a Pringles can (e.g., http://petapixel.com/2011/04/26/use-a-pringles-can-as-a-cheap-diffuser-for-macro-photos/), but while it worked ok, it doesn’t have the durability for slingling over a should on-stream.

Best,
Jason

[Darryl Lampert]

Great pics Jay, especially 3 and 4!

[J A Y M O R R]

Thank You Darryl. I am holding out on a few of the Cicada photos. I am keeping them tucked away 🙂 I hope you are doing well.

[Tim Angeli]

Damn these are awesome Jay! Inspirational work, as always. #3 is particularly cool with the transparent wings splayed out like that and the green ‘veins’ running through them. Great shots.

[J A Y M O R R]

Thanks Tim. I really like that shot as well. It is so cool to see these up close and watch them change color.

[Darryl Lampert]

Let us know when and where they are published please. All good this side, tomorrow is probably the last day I will be able to fish before our season closes at the end of the month. After that it’s gonna be a sad 3 months as usual!

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