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Common blue?

Discussion

12 replies
Posted by Neil Burton on July 5, 2012 at 5:04 AM
I think it is. Now, I got myself a Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, the cheap one. It is a pretty sharp lens. Of course the day I had aside to try it out was 35° in the shade, not a cloud... but lots of bugs. This fellow refused to land on a flower. He prefered the handlebars of my bike, presumably licking of the salt which was pouring out of me. In the end I stuck a leaf on the handlbars, rubbed in sweat, and waited for the only chance I got. :rolleyes:

7D, 100 2.8 @ f8
Posted by David Kjaer on July 5, 2012 at 6:55 AM
Very inventive Neil and a great result with a super BG. A smaller f stop for a better DOF would have been good but that said its sharp in all the right places.

David :toast:
Posted by PhilH on July 5, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Definately inventive... The 100/2.8 is a superb lens.... a touch more depth of field would perhaps be nice as it is not that easy getting exactly square to your subject... yes, a male Common Blue...

:toast: :wavey: :toast:
Posted by Neil Burton on July 5, 2012 at 8:32 AM
Thanks guys. Is it worth getting a diffusor to block the sun....how do you hold both that and the camera? :confused:
Posted by Matt Cole on July 5, 2012 at 8:49 AM
a nice pose and colours here Neil, a touch more DOF would finish it off nicely.

I sometimes use a diffuser, or more commonly a reflector as I try to avoid full sun, and tend to hand hold them but with the camera on a tripod. I very rarely shoot natural light macro hand held.

Matt :toast:
Posted by Neil Burton on July 5, 2012 at 9:07 AM
But everything flies off :rolleyes:
Posted by Matt Cole on July 5, 2012 at 9:14 AM
you have to shoot in cool conditions Neil which generally means setting the alarm clock or shooting at dusk. Even in the UK at this time of year it can be difficult to get insects to co-operate after 9:00 AM and I'm sure it's even warmer where you are. In spring or early summer (or Autumn) it can be easier if you choose a cool day but even with all the wind and rain we've had here recently I'm still finding that all the damsels and dragons are on the wing by 8:30 or 9:00.

Matt :toast:
Posted by PhilH on July 5, 2012 at 9:20 AM
Ah Early morning and late evening are your friends here, the light is softer and because the insects are cool they are less active... a reflector, lastolite type can be very useful to shade your subject from strong sun, I bodge together diffusers etc. out of plastic envelope stiffeners and even have a box that I place over low subjects to shield them from wind and to give a nice diffuse light... with a choice of backdrop...

Matt beat me :biggrin:
Posted by Neil Burton on July 5, 2012 at 9:50 AM
My mortal enemy, the alarm clock, and I never saw eye to eye ;) But yeh, I see the point. :biggrin: Thanks for the tips.
Posted by Phillip Tomkinson on July 5, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Hi Neil a nice image the DOF is fine for me.

Phil.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :wavey:
Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on July 6, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Very nice Neil :toast: :toast:

Oscar :wavey:
Posted by Paul Whippey on July 6, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Getting up early is my major problem with Macro too! Working morning shifts in the week doesn't help :biggrin:

Cracking photo, superb sharpness and clarity. The DOF is not an issue. :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Neil Burton on July 7, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Correction, I am told it is a Silver-studded blue.

Thanks all.