With the prevailing weather SW still blowing rather than get stir crazy
I've been trying to improve my technique.
The moving grasses were a pain but these tiny butterflies are really so spectacular and just emerging their faces are a delight close up.
Canon 180mm macro with a 13mm extension tube (a new trial departure) 1/2000sec -0.3step f/6.3 ISO400 Canon 1D3 handheld a tripod would have been more of a problem than a help.
I rotated the full frame 180 I liked the natural light. RAW to Lt room the PS5 resized rotated saved to web.
Critique, Comments Advice most welcomed your opinions help a great deal.
Oh! Steve subject distance six inches or maybe nine.
Hi Barry, I don't own a macro lens and have never photographed an insect so my thoughts may not be the most helpful ..but ... Is it a big crop as BG looks too noisey for 400 and the detail is lacking a bit in the large? I find the BG very cluttered and the shadows over its wings an issue. But as i said i have never tried this sort of thing and can imagine (by the difficulty i find in the things i do try) that macro is not at all easy and you should be pleased with this effort, it really is a very attractive little chap and well worth photographing, most of the issues i see are to do with where it landed and you cannot really control that
Critique, Advice is just what I'm seeking perhaps I need to explain further, the wind conditions were constant erratic everything was moving in all directions the moths and butterflies were keeping low in the grass hence the cluttered BG.
No cropping was involved in this image it's full frame. I have checked the exif it was ISO400 so why have I got so much noise?
(I didn't hear a thing) The shadows were created by grass stems in the sunlight I was using a 13mm extension tube for the first time my thinking being I'd be able to fill the frame and avoid cropping.
I hand held in fact I think it would be almost impossible to have used a tripod in the conditions.
I have no shortage of subjects, the prevailing conditions are another issue to handle. The challenge continues. I am although I say it myself making progress with head on encounters at last.
Barry your macro is definitely getting good no doubt as i said you should be pleased. I do like the shot. Sometimes as you say you can not help the BG and you were right to take it. I agree about hand holding, as i said never tried macro but it seems the correct approach. Always a good idea to avoid cropping ... so noise? probably your budget range of canon equipment www.nikon.co.uk maybe worth a try
Posted by Nick Mckeown on July 30, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Hi Barry. You are always going to struggle with macro in windy conditions and even a slight breeze can cause huge problems as focus is super critical. To be honest I usually avoid true macro shots on days other than still or very slight breeze. The point of focus looks to be in the middle of the butterfly which seems to be sharpest and therfore the eyes and face of the butterfly are soft which detracts from the image and the f stop is also low at 6.3 giving little DOF. Shadows on butterflies in particular are to be avoided as they tend to spoil the wing pattern and as this has lines on its wings adds to the problem. I also feel that the butterfly is a little too large in frame and I suspect you did this to elimante some of the vegetation clutter. The noise at ISO 400 is a little concerning, not sure if the extension tube has anything to do with it. To sum up try to shoot macro on still cool days when the subject is less active, try and ensure the eyes/face of the butterfly is sharp particularly in a head on shot such as this and give the subject a little more room. This butterfly is a beauty and is well worth spending more time with. As I have said before macro is a very demanding past time and I think is probably the most frustrating of all the various disciplines in photography. Very often I will take dozens of images and get just one or two I am really happy with usually due to movements of the subject. Stick at it mate!
Barry that's a difficult subject you have taken up,the above sounds like sound advice.thanking of having a go myself will watch your progress with interest.
Discussion
6 repliesI've been trying to improve my technique.
The moving grasses were a pain but these tiny butterflies are really so spectacular and just emerging their faces are a delight close up.
Canon 180mm macro with a 13mm extension tube (a new trial departure) 1/2000sec -0.3step f/6.3 ISO400 Canon 1D3 handheld a tripod would have been more of a problem than a help.
I rotated the full frame 180 I liked the natural light. RAW to Lt room the PS5 resized rotated saved to web.
Critique, Comments Advice most welcomed your opinions help a great deal.
Oh! Steve subject distance six inches or maybe nine.
Thanks for looking.
Critique, Advice is just what I'm seeking perhaps I need to explain further, the wind conditions were constant erratic everything was moving in all directions the moths and butterflies were keeping low in the grass hence the cluttered BG.
No cropping was involved in this image it's full frame. I have checked the exif it was ISO400 so why have I got so much noise?
(I didn't hear a thing) The shadows were created by grass stems in the sunlight I was using a 13mm extension tube for the first time my thinking being I'd be able to fill the frame and avoid cropping.
I hand held in fact I think it would be almost impossible to have used a tripod in the conditions.
I have no shortage of subjects, the prevailing conditions are another issue to handle. The challenge continues. I am although I say it myself making progress with head on encounters at last.
Nick.
Keith.