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Go Back   World Photography Forum > Photography Technique > Macro Photography Technique


Macro Photography Technique Discussions on Macro Photography

How do people get so close to insects

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  #21  
Old 23-11-06, 21:20
Alex Paul Alex Paul is offline  
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Very nice example walwyn.... Thanks for sharing these shots.....Alex
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I know they are soft, I know they are out of focus, I know they lack contrast, I know my sensor needs to be cleaned, I know they are noisey, I know I should crop a little off the left side, I know I should find another hobby, but other than that how do you like them??..
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  #22  
Old 24-04-07, 18:48
Timedrifter Timedrifter is offline  
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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.
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  #23  
Old 27-10-08, 12:58
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Snowyowl Snowyowl is offline  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist View Post
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.
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  #24  
Old 27-10-08, 16:26
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walwyn walwyn is offline
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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
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  #25  
Old 27-10-08, 21:48
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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.
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  #26  
Old 27-10-08, 22:37
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walwyn walwyn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist View Post
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.
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  #27  
Old 28-10-08, 13:21
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Snowyowl Snowyowl is offline  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist View Post
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.
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  #28  
Old 09-11-08, 19:48
xiaoli xiaoli is offline  
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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.
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