Studio Wasp +another

A Wasp taken in the studio on an Ivy leaf. Its amazing the intricacy of the mouth parts on these insects when viewed at 100%. Bizzarre looking things!

Comments and crits welcome.

Regards

Ian

Canon 40D
Canon 100mm F/2.8 macro.
ISO 100
1/250s @ f/16
Studio lights and softbox

Very nice... perhaps a touch large in the frame for me...

You are getting a bit of back scatter from the bg, you can get rid of this by masking with black almost to the edge of the frame, or give the bg less light and use localised and masked adjustments (you don't say which software you are using)

I have to admit I like your studio shots Ian and the composition on this one is spot on. I feel it could possibly be a bit crisper but that could be a combination of the compression and a poor works monitor.
Robert.

Hi both
Thanks for your replies. I'm pretty new to the studio stuff (especially at macro sizes!!) so im still playing around with different settings. I agree that the background light is 'eating' into the edge of the subject and I'm still trying to figure out the overlap between getting a clean white background and getting subject sharpness aswell. Usually its a crisp subject with a slightly grey background. As for the sharpness (Rob) I think it is compression but it may be because im shooting at f/16 and missing the critical sharpness ratio for my camera setup. I'll keep experimenting as its quite good fun and viewing these creatures at such magnifications is very interesting. Thanks again for your comments. Much appreciated.

Regards

Ian

This is another from the same session. I think the sharpness has been retained in this.

Inspiring stuff!! Both have their merits, but I prefer the first because it's BIF

Impressive shots Ian


Look forward to more when you have sorted out the lighting

Hi David, I've always thought BIF is Bird In Flight! I'm guessing it could be Big In Frame or Bug In Frame!! or Bug in Foliage!

Hi Ian,

Great stuff! I really like them both, but prefer the second personally. Way too technical for me !!

Cheers,

Lewis.

2nd takes the prize for me. Very nice.

Tim

Second one for me too.

Two very fine images!
Regards,
Paul.

Both look good to me.
JohnR

Both very nice - prefer the second!

David

Hello Ian.

Yep two very nice images but the second one wins it for me.

Really very nice work on all aspects Ian and I think the second one is just lifted that extra notch based on detail and comp. Like them both.

Brett

Two very well executed images but the second for me.

Major.

Lovely images.... I wouldn't be even able to photograph these - Im one of those mad men the wasp love chasing.

Ian

both nice shots Ian, but would probably choose the 2nd if I had to make a choice. This must have been a very docile wasp - I've only ever managed shots like this when I've given them some honey to eat!

Matt

Both are really good Ian. I prefer the comp of the first but would love to see it as crisp as the second. (As the forecast for this weekend is poor and the missus doesn't have any plans for me this weekend I think I have been inspired to have a bash myself ... where do I buy the tame wasps? ).
Robert

Like these Ian, especially no. 2. Very well executed indeed.

Des

Nice shots Ian, just wondering how you get the wasps to behave?

For those who are interested in my tame wasps i found this particular individual just wondering around on the path outside in the cold. Im guessing it was the cold weather that was slowing it down so I scooped it up on the ivy leaf and took it indoors. I already had the studio setup so started photographing it pretty much straight away. About 30mins later iin the studio it had soon warmed up and started to get really active so i opened the windows and let it go. Thats about it really. Not sure whether you can put them in the fridge or not, like you can with moths etc. Didnt really want to try it. Hope that helps.