More Macro work - Still knocking the rust off....

[Canon_Bob]

I definitely feel the "rust" on my macro skills, as I hadn't hardly shot any macro since last summer! Anyway, trying to really focus on it for the next couple months before birding season really picks up again. These were really just some more practice from my backyard. I did a lot of night macro work last year, and expect I'll keep trying it, as there are some very interesting subjects out there as the night falls! Enjoy..

[paulnj]

Very nice. I especially like that lighting on the snail image.

[Canon_Bob]

Thanks Paul. This is something I started working on last summer. All manual setup, using a very small aperture and an extreme flash fire. This was shot at f/25, and 1/250th at ISO 200 using the Canon Twin Maco light at -2 EV. I should've shot this at 1/60 and -1 EV, and maybe slaved the 580 and hand-held it just off to the left. This is really fun stuff, and the night critters are very unique.

[Loupey]

Love the sharpness along the entire length of the damselfly (not easy to do).

I like the snail shot. Would have been absolutely perfect if you could have backlit both the shell end and head end. But you would have needed 4 lights, 2 assistants, and 1 heck of a determination

[AgingEyes]

Don't know how you guys do it, but shots like that just amaze me.

[Cassie1]

Great images. I love the colors in the snail shot.

Cassie.

[Sushigaijin]

Love the sharpness along the entire length of the damselfly (not easy to do).

I like the snail shot. Would have been absolutely perfect if you could have backlit both the shell end and head end. But you would have needed 4 lights, 2 assistants, and 1 heck of a determination

Great shots, and totally agree with Loupey.

As far as multiple flashes go, have any of you fooled around with multiple wireless in the field? It would amount to flashes on tripods...I'd like to hear your experiences if you have.

[Canon_Bob]

I've slaved flashes in the field before. Works quite well, but limits your mobility. I like it for certain "feeder" setups. Artie Morris did a great write-up recently on a five flash hummingbird setup they used in Ecuador. Was VERY interesting, and the images were off the charts. Completely froze the Hummingbird wings. Here's a link to the newsletter highlighting the technique: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn246.htm . BTW - I highly recommend subscribing to Artie's newsletter if birding is your genre. He's one of the best there is at it. I've learned tons from him, and consider him a good friend.

Anyway, I'm convinced I can better pull of that snail shot with just 2 flashes set a bit further apart. An adjustment in the flash power and shutter speed will help too. Will try to re-create this sometime this week and repost results to this thread.

-CB