Onstream Macro Pics
- This topic has 37 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated Nov 20, 2008 at 7:36 am by
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Hey guys. Here are some pics I took of a bug out on the steam today.
In these situations, what is the best ways to successfully take good macro pics?
I know some of my mates collect the bugs in old film cannisters and bring them home for shooting in a “staged” environment.
Daryl,
I am no one to get advice from concerning this topic, but some good info was shared on a thread a few weeks ago:http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1222397038
HTH,
DustyI’d tell you more if I could; I just don’t know much about macro yet. As soon as I can get consistently good exposures, macro will be my next learning experience. Maybe by then you can tell me what I am doing wrong! 😉
D.
Great topic to discuss Daryl. That thread above is specifically addressing “non” macro applications for “macro” lenses and is a bit specialized. In regards to general nature macro photography please tell us what camera and/or lenses you have and I would be happy to start a discussion. Also, what are your goals with macro?
Hi Neal,
My setup as follows:
1.) Canon 20D, 2gig Card, 17-85 EFS F4/5.6 lens, Speedlight 420EX Flash, Manfrotto Tripod, Polarizing Filter.
2.) Sony W80, Underwater Housing, 2Gig Card, Sony Mini Tripod, Monster Pod. I mostly use this on the streams/rivers.Nothing fancy, just a basic kit.
So my goals with macro functions are particularly on stream, when the fishing is tough and its really actually better to just take pics of stuff you find in/around the river. I would like my pics to have a good balance, get the exposure correct and DOF, which was something I have been battling with a little, especially with the DSLR.
Would I be able to correct the images with a product like CS3?
I know that I cannot get a polarizing filter for my P&S, what can I do to work around this, particularly on the river.Look forward to hearing your views.
Hi Daryl
By no means an expert here – I tend to do as your mates though I use a tank with aerator to make sure any aquatic bugs make it home . Plugs into a voltage convertor in the van.
Live airborne bugs go in a container with bits of egg carton( places for them to hang and hide)
On stream – from your pics – a couple of things – looks like you had the bug ( is that a caddis?) in bright light. So you have two issues – high contrast – from the bright light ( so dark shadows and white areas from the bright light on the wet surfaces.
You could try taking the same pic but in the shade- that would reduce the contrast and – depending on your camera setup- add a polarizing filter to reduce the glare/hot spots a little.
Other option in the same situation – carry a peice of frosted white plastic or mylar and use that to to block the sun a bit and reduce the contrast and highlights a bit.
hope that helps
Will
Hi Will,
Yip, I think its what most fly fisherman immitate with a Green Rockworm pattern.
I tried to “shade” the subject with the shadow cast by my body.
What I have also been trying to do, is, make use of the histogram on my camera. My images were really cr@p, but have improved a little just by learning some of the functions and there uses. (Takes a little more time to learn the 20DHere are a few notes I’ve picked up on macro photography. Others – feel free to add on here.
Preface: These are copied thoughts from my notebook. I have focused on macro photography for the past year in order to develop a niche in medical photography. Below are “topics” that I believe are important to the process and I wanted to share with you how to approach the subject. It is important to understand each topic and spend time at least reading the basics. Early on I did not have a structured road-map to help focus my reading and therefore my reading was disjointed. Think about each topic and ask yourself, “how does this relate to my goals, my camera, my budget, etc.”
First, have a goal in mind of what you are trying to shoot (e.g. bugs on the water is a good start). Then you can hone in the necessary equipment and techniques needed for that subject. Once you master one you can apply the knowledge to another subject and so on. For nature macro photography you won’t need to break the bank to get started but for other techniques like medical macro or educational photography (e.g. Will Milne’s fantastic bug shots) you will certainly need more advanced equipment. Like my example above, I “had” to start with a very specific subject matter but now I have grown to love macro photography and find myself developing my own style and aesthetic feel.
Book to read: IMHO the best book on nature macro photography is John Shaw’s Closeups in Nature (Practical Photography Books) (Paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Shaws-Closeups-Nature-Practical-Photography/dp/0817440526/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226534850&sr=8-1. This is an older book, copyright 1987, and the author employs film photography. However, it is a superb read and very detailed. I have read it at least 3 times and the pages are full of notes and earmarks. It is a perfect start for nature macro photography.
Macro state of mind:
*Decide what to place within the frame and what to leave out.
*Macro is saying, “look at this and only this.” You are telling others this one little scene is special for a reason.
*Think like a chef – macro is like making a perfect crème brûlée – very simple ingredients but requiring mastery of all aspects of the baking process. Your not grilling a steak on the grill in a hurry, you are attempting to create perfection through skill while at the same time making it look simple and easy. Don’t let em see you sweat.
*You need to be a clinician – set up the camera, choose exposure, understand lighting, harness available light, and manipulate the micro environment, while at the same time remembering to compose the shot in order to convey the simple poetic beauty of the original scene.Enough rambling. Here are the topics you want to write down and study. Each topic is important and filled with it’s own technical learning curve. However, you can find good reviews on each topic via the internet or in books.
Magnification Rates: you need at least a basic understanding of what is meant by 1:1 vs 1:4 vs 1:8 etc.
Exposure: learn to shoot in manual mode and know how aperture effects depth of field. Remember, you will be using small aperture settings (large f stop number) most of the time. Know when to change your aperture and how it effects your exposure and lighting.
Autofocus: at least know what this means and when to turn it off.
Light Metering (know your camera’s metering system and how to manipulate the settings): youtube has some good videos on this topic, it is very helpful to know how to meter and how this effects your image.
Camera system and the available lenses: Canon vs Nikon, etc. Know what they have to offer in the line up.
Lenses (what is a macro lens and what focal length do you need): Learn what your kit zoom lens can and can’t do and when to upgrade to a macro. Then you will need to decide what focal length lens you really need (basically there are 3 macro focal lengths – 50-60mm vs 100-105mm vs 200mm) They are all completely different beasts but share a common ability to focus down to about 1:1.
Focal length and how it effects the background and main subject: Different macro lenses create different effects on the background.
Tripod and heads: You need a tripod and a good head for macro, just do a google search or ask around, kind of a broad topic.
Here are a few internet links on macro photography I’ve collected
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/macro-photography-tips-for-compact-digital-camera-users/
http://www.photomacrography.net/
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~parsog/photo/macro.html
http://www.cameralineup.com/blog_8.shtml
http://www.shutterbug.com/refreshercourse/lens_tips/172/
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/4881/photolesson1.html
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_focal_length.html
http://www.naturemacrophotography.com/indexNGM.html
http://www.alrfoto.com/galleries.htm
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/21/25-beautiful-macro-photography-shots-photos/
Thanks for the detailed response Neal. You have certainly covered quite a bit there. I will no doubt be researching the points you have mentioned. Looks like I have still got tones to learn about Macro photography. Going to be really interesting.
Daryl
Been going through those links, some awesome information there.
Once again thanks Neal, you have made it alot easier for me and anyone else who reads this post to find some really great and valuable information.Daryl
Damned Neal: ;D Doctor, Lecturer, Amazing Fly Tyer and Flyfisher, Photographer, Wireless Network Consultant and now on your way to Author 😉 Well done my friend :)!
Simmer down now people. You all know my posts tend to run on the long side. Force of habit.
Ben, LMAO, over half the notes I posted are directly a result of our conversations. You are the true mentor. Every time we speak I have to take notes and then go to internet to learn in more detail. The above notes are simple summaries of the knowledge I’ve learned from people like you and Zach. And you’re right – you are good at spending my money, ha. BTW, today one of my patients was a professional photographer; when he saw my R1C1 on-lens setup he practically volunteered to pose (only problem is that I was seeing him for acid reflux, hahahaha).
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