Macro Flight images "On finals"

Still working on the MP-E65mm but a long way still to go a few image results have been pleasing. In order to maintain a little sanity I have also been using the Canon 180mm as with this image.

Canon 1D3 Canon 180mm 1/1250 sec f/3.5 ISO 400 Hand Held (I think this is where I went wrong) Should have been on the tripod.

RAW to lightroom cropped and then resized to post.

Critique, Comment and Advice most welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks for looking.

Good effort, but like you said: this kind of photography can only be done from a tripod!
Rene de Heer

Good effort Barry look forward to more results.

Nick.

It is a very good effort... I would be interested in hearing why you went wrong? This sort of image is not at all easy, certainly I don't think that a tripod would have improved or made things easier simply down to the limits of the camera being essentially fixed in position... I would set the focus manually and because I am 'married' to camera support would use a monopod so that I could rock the focus back and forth...

Hope that makes sense..

Barry
Phil has taken the words out of my mouth. Good advice indeed. 1250th sec is fast enough for quite a lot with a better aperture oportunity too.
Cheers
JR
Cheers
JR

I would love to go wrong like that, it looks very good to me

Thanks chaps Phil I was in one of my photograph everything that moves modes, ill prepared when along came matey. I think the camera was even on auto-focus too. I'm using the tripod far more now so there is hope on the horizon. Camera settings could also be a large factor as I do fiddle with them then forget where I started from. They are my pleadings I'm sure there are other factors that compounded the errors that I'm oblivious too.

don't be too hard on yourself, it does look like you are on the right lines. I would imagine auto focus makes this shot harder

I could only say go to ISO800 and increase DOF maybe? Looks like a better in-flight than I ever managed ;)

Looks superb to me and better than anything I have produced. Look forward to more!!

Thanks for the comments, I seem to be my own worst critique which is just as well. I've been getting a bit stir crazy with the adverse weather and high winds.

I am no macro buff but it seems ok to me. Sharp eye and nice BG

Bob

Hi Barry, can't really add much to the above as macro is something I dabble at if the wind is in the right direction. Would like more DOF, but HH this is good, well done.

TFS
Steve

Excellent capture of the hoverfly, but I would much prefer to see the flower in focus. My favourite method is hand held, f 16/18 ISO 50/100, shutter speed 1/250th of a second with diffused flash, and predictive manual focus for these elusive fascinating/frustrating creatures.

Interesting variation in advice so I will try all combinations.

Very nice Barry. I'd try an increase the DOF as already mentioned. I'd be very happy with this one if it were mine!