Photography bug

[Geeman]

The 1006 thread on 10mm Firearms heading has touched a bit on photography, macro being part of it. 

One of my hobbies is crawling around on the ground taking pictures of little things.  Its fun till the neighbors call 911 sayong someone is behaving strangly and the guys in white show up with the jacket with super long sleeves

Thought I'd share some macro pics.

Fly in a dandilion bloom.



Dandilion seeds.



Bumblebee.



No description necessary!  Before.



After



Pardon my indulgence.

Greg

[Geeman]

I suppose I should tie it to firearms in some way.

Model designation from my SKB shotgun.



One side of the reciever.



The other



Checkering





Greg

[The_Shadow]

Some great pictures...I think some of my lenses don't go to macro settings.  Do use a ring flash or lighting?
Macro does allow a closer focal length to the subject.

I have to contend with these suckers down here almost all year long, being near the marshes and swamps.
I HATE THEM TOO!


P.S. one of my best shots was of a mosquito hawk / dragon fly that was in flight, I was zoomed in on my 70-210 lens and at the closes focal distance (about 57") and had to use manual focus, rocking slightly to maintain the focus, as it flew by, when I snapped the shot using the Canon EOS 650 (film camera) I got a perfect picture with it in focus, the wings out flat, background blurred.  It was used by the Louisiana Conservationist Magazine and netted me a $100, I need to digitize it from the negative.

[Intercooler]

Pretty amazing! I have to check my phone to see what 12.8MP things I can do.

[Geeman]

P.S. one of my best shots was of a mosquito hawk / dragon fly that was in flight, I was zoomed in on my 70-210 lens and at the closes focal distance (about 57") and had to use manual focus, rocking slightly to maintain the focus, as it flew by, when I snapped the shot using the Canon EOS 650 (film camera) I got a perfect picture with it in focus, the wings out flat, background blurred.  It was used by the Louisiana Conservationist Magazine and netted me a $100, I need to digitize it from the negative.

All I can say is I've tried and tried to get a dragonfly in flight and all I'll say is I'm glad its digital or I'd have gone broke!!!  Draggon flys and hummingbirds drive me nuts!!!

Best I've done so far.



Stationary is far easier.



That one was fresh out of the water larve stage so I figured I'd catch it for closer shooting, but we suffered damage



Greg

[Geeman]

Some great pictures...I think some of my lenses don't go to macro settings.  Do use a ring flash or lighting?
Macro does allow a closer focal length to the subject.

My macro setup for highest magnification.  The old Oly DSLRs used 2x crop sensor, the 35mm macro goes to 1 to 1, the EC-20 teleconverter doubles that, and I usually use a closeup lens in addition to that.

The Metz 15MS-1  flash ring is really a double flash.  The conglomeration inbetween is a home made adapter to set the lens deeper in the ring to make it work at very close working distances.  Its about as easy as flash setups get.






Greg

[The_Shadow]

I have to wonder what kind of outlook does that one with the dented eye have! 

Very nice setup you have Geeman, My camera I work with now id the EOS Rebel XT...have only a couple of lenses from the older EOS 650 and the new one that came with the camera

[yankee2500]

I have to wonder what kind of outlook does that one with the dented eye have! 

I wonder if Obummercare covers that ?

[The_Shadow]

I shoot over 3000 rolls of film in the older camera, and the Digital is better at eliminating the cost of film and processing.

[Geeman]

I shoot over 3000 rolls of film in the older camera, and the Digital is better at eliminating the cost of film and processing.

I've seen output that digital still can't duplicate.  Wish R&D moneycontinued to flow into film, along with digital.  Photoshop, cost, and improvements in digital technology have reaked havok with the investments.

I had a very extensive investment in Olympus, but that investment has shrank to two macros and a 50-200 zoom, one older body and the teleconverter.  The rest is served by a Nikon setup.

Greg

[schtoolee]

Here is a Micro and Macro of my Marlin 1881 45-70 made in 1882. The full sized was a composite picture, I took 4 pictures, and combined
them with Photoshop, to make one big one. Used my cell phone for the Micro and my Nikon D70 for the macro.

[Geeman]

Here is a Micro and Macro of my Marlin 1881 45-70 made in 1882. The full sized was a composite picture, I took 4 pictures, and combined
them with Photoshop, to make one big one. Used my cell phone for the Micro and my Nikon D70 for the macro.

That barrel shot is sweet.  How did you handle the lighting?

I'm not big on post processing.  Its one of the things I just hate about the hobby.  Stitching and stacking are something I've never gotten started with because I know I just won't enjoy, so I know I'll suck at it.  You did a dandy job with it though!

Greg

[Geeman]

The food chain extends way down the order.  Here's some insect on insect murder.





This one looks like two bumblebees, but it is a look alike robber fly feeding on a bee.  You can see a drop of venom on the stinger in a vain attempt to defend itself.



How about bird on bug violence



Greg

[schtoolee]

I just had a light shinning into the reciever, I had to ajust it so it wasn't to bright. And had my cell phone up to the muzzle.
I think it took a few shots.
On the full picture, l had a light behind the camera, that had to move with the camera. I also had to make sure that
the camera stayed the same distance away from the gun,  as I moved it from one end of the gun to the other.
I tried it since, and I couldn't get it to work right again. I ended up with to many shadows.

[DenStinett]

My Wife is Ooing and Awing GMan
She loves her Macro Lens too