Bugs Bugs and Bugs
 

Little canal walk the other day brought up these little fellas. C&C and IDs welcome.

#1
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1992530_n.jpg

#2
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2388216_n.jpg

#3
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3533456_n.jpg

#4
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5755277_n.jpg

Common blue
4 spot chaser
Strangalia maculata
Oedemera nobilis

There's no exif data on any of the shots so these comments are a bit "blind" but a few observations

• with the exception of the common blue where you've chopped its wing off the critters are well sized in the frame
• all of them appear a little bright on my screen - maybe ~ 1/2 to 1 stop over exposed but without the exif I don't know what program/metering/exposure you were using
• none of them seem as bitingly sharp as some of the macro work we've seen posted on here ... but again not sure what kit you are using or if they are hand held etc

Can you provide some more info on how they were taken etc?

As an aside general posting images as direct attachments to the thread rather than external links is likely to encourage more comment

It all depends on what you intend to achieve with the images if you are looking for detailed images then they don't work, however as images they are quite effective. The butterfly despite the wing crop stands as an image though I'd probably square it up by cropping the green expanse on the left. Could be quite effect as a large poster.

Similar with the beetles although the Strangalia is the weaker, the Oedemera I'd take the dark right hand side and clone it onto the left hand side so that the beetle was looking into it.

The Chaser try flipping it so that the expanse is on the right.

Cheers for the IDs and the comments, the lack of sharpness is due to my kit, I only have a kit lens and screw on close up lenses

There is nothing wrong with closeup lens,the photos I've posted all use this clip-on lens on my FZ30:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raynox-RADCR.../dp/B000A1SZ2Y

If you are looking for sharpness then its all down to practice, technique, and understanding that there is always another day.

I've been very pleased with the Raynox for several years, and I have no desire to replace it with anything else.

No I think you will find it is down to equipment, raynox is a very bit of kit compared with my £4 ebay purchase. I am looking to get a raynox instead, only bought these to see if I'd use them......... the answer was yes.

There are various ways to get close ups. I now have dedicated equipment, but a while back I purchased a vey cheap £5 Minolta lens off Ebay and taped it in the the reverse position on the end of my Minolta bridge camera.

This is the result.

Harry

There are some good macro cheats out there, seen on using a pringles tube sprayed black as extension tubes