How do people get so close to insects

[Alex Paul]

Very nice example walwyn.... Thanks for sharing these shots.....Alex

[Timedrifter]

I would like to say to all budding macro men and women, don't think you have to have a DSLR to achieve results like the ones shown in this thread. All of these pictures could equally have been taken with, for example, a Fuji F10 which can be picked up on eBay for about £50. You may well have to get closer and be a lot more skilful with your stalking, but it can be done. I know because I've done it.
Timedrifter

[Snowyowl]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

Insects will freeze when they, well... freeze!
So freeze 'm with one of them spray cans used to freeze/numb painful wounds. Get one at a drugstore. The insect will sit perfectly still for at least 20 or 30 seconds. As it 'defrosts' it will start moving again.

There should be a good discussion of ethics of that approach. I remember how the debate raged about refrigerating insects before taking pictures.

[walwyn]

20 or 30 seconds is not quite long enough. I can spend more than 10 minutes with a particular insect. This shot was taken about one minute into a session with the insect:
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...842&ppuser=472

this one was taken about six minutes later.
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...719&ppuser=472

One minute apart on these two shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/overton...57600340691937
http://www.flickr.com/photos/overton...57600340691937

technique, technique, technique

[Joe]

If only I'd heard of these tricks of the trade when I was a kid running around mums garden with my Spotmatic and 50mm lens getting nothing but blur.
Would like to think i have slightly more patience now, but probably not much.
Much in admiration of dedicated people goin g for these shots.

[walwyn]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

Aside from freezing them, you can also lure them with food and/or glue them to the spot... That ought to give you a couple hours to complete your shot, walwyn! But of course you'd have to kill it when you're done...

The alternative is to confine them between panes of glass.

[Snowyowl]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

You like 'raging debates'?

Beautiful images of insects is good P.R. for billions upon billions of them. So freezing one – temporarily, as it doesn't have lasting effects – is at most a mild inconvenience* to that one particular insect, but more than worth the 'sacrifice' for the entire species of gazillions...!

*insects don't have feelings like mammals do.

Don't be so defensive. The discussion of cooling insects for photography got quite heated on the Canon forums a while back. It also got heated about the use of live bait for photographing owls.

[xiaoli]

Hey the spray thing is a good idea - and yes there are billions of insects but don't you then get photos of insects covered in 'frost?

I am becoming passionate about macro work. Apart from anything else SPOTTING the insect is half the fun then the rest is working out how to get a good shot.