Signed up a few days ago, but honestly am somewhat intimidated by the excellent quality of so many of the pictures posted. Was not even aware of "stacking" until I read about it on here a couple of weeks ago when I first found this forum.
My wife and I are hobby beekeepers with over 40 hives at present (and growing) and the real drive behind my macro and closeup work is taking pics of the bees, the hives, and the critters around them. Usually just try to document life in and around the hives. I'm not limited to that, but that's the main focus. Bought my first Pentax somewhere around '79 and just got my first digital last year. Haven't seen many Pentax users on here. Hope they're allowed. Bought my first macro lens about a year and a half ago, a Super Macro Takumar 50mm f/4 and a set of M42 bellows. Have since added more lenses including some Tamron SP's and a Lester A. Dine 105mm. All but one of my lenses are manual focus. Lighting has always been a real challenge to me and was surprised by the creativity in making diffusers by you folks.
Will try to get some pics ready to post soon. Looking forward to learning a lot.
Arvin
New Member from Illinois, USA
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
- rjlittlefield
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Arvin, welcome aboard!
We look forward to seeing some of those bees. Springtime coming on, I hear...
--Rik
I know you're joking, but equipment is a non-issue. If somebody can get an interesting image with a Brownie box camera and a magnifying glass, we'd love to see it -- and especially to hear how it was done!Haven't seen many Pentax users on here. Hope they're allowed.
We look forward to seeing some of those bees. Springtime coming on, I hear...
--Rik
Re: New Member from Illinois, USA
Welcome aboard.
I'm definitely looking forward to your bee photos.
I haven't tried stacking (yet)...
Me too!!acbees wrote: but honestly am somewhat intimidated by the excellent quality of so many of the pictures posted.
I'm definitely looking forward to your bee photos.
I haven't tried stacking (yet)...
Re: New Member from Illinois, USA
Welcome aboard Arvin. Friendly guys on here!
See now that's what I love about Pentax and why sometimes I wish I'd gone the Pentax route. All those lovely manual lenses,freely usable on any Pentax camera,new or old!acbees wrote:Bought my first macro lens about a year and a half ago, a Super Macro Takumar 50mm f/4 and a set of M42 bellows. Have since added more lenses including some Tamron SP's and a Lester A. Dine 105mm. All but one of my lenses are manual focus.
Canon 5D and 30D | Canon IXUS 265HS | Cosina 100mm f3.5 macro | EF 75-300 f4.5-5.6 USM III | EF 50 f1.8 II | Slik 88 tripod | Apex Practicioner monocular microscope
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Re: New Member from Illinois, USA
My reaction too when I joined. It's very friendly here. They even tolerate me!acbees wrote:Signed up a few days ago, but honestly am somewhat intimidated by the excellent quality of so many of the pictures posted. Was not even aware of "stacking" until I read about it on here a couple of weeks ago when I first found this forum.
acbees wrote:My wife and I are hobby beekeepers with over 40 hives at present (and growing) and the real drive behind my macro and closeup work is taking pics of the bees, the hives, and the critters around them. Usually just try to document life in and around the hives.
That was a major interest for me too when I worked with them as an ecotoxicologist. I even set up a colony in my garden for this purpose but gave them away when developers said they wanted to buy this land. We are still waiting, several years later.
Welcome.
Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.
Thanks to all for your welcome! After just a few days here and a couple of posts, Rik has already helped me twice with great info on Elements. You folks do realize that it was some of your pics that I was intimidated by? I'm not sure stacking is even in my future plans. Never know, but am certainly fascinated by your results. I feel one of my biggest battles right now is consistent lighting (among so many other battles). It seems from what I've seen here so far, depending on the situation and desired results, is that whatever works, use it! And I was feeling funny about using a yogurt cup for a diffuser. We'll see what happens. Will try to slip in a few different things so you won't get tired of seeing just bees!
Thanks again everyone,
Arvin
Thanks again everyone,
Arvin
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Re: New Member from Illinois, USA
I use the Olympus OM system, with OM4 manual focus film bodies and the full range of TTL flash, from rings to hammerhead, and OM bellows, telescopic extension rings, bellows and shift lenses (one bought last week). Otherwise it is Tamron SP MF lenses.acbees wrote:Have since added more lenses including some Tamron SP's and a Lester A. Dine 105mm. All but one of my lenses are manual focus. Lighting has always been a real challenge to me and was surprised by the creativity in making diffusers by you folks.
Like you, I don't contemplate stacking.
Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.
- rjlittlefield
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Ah hah! You've caught on quickly! There are many forms of magic*, and they're all fair game.acbees wrote:It seems from what I've seen here so far, depending on the situation and desired results, is that whatever works, use it! And I was feeling funny about using a yogurt cup for a diffuser.
For much of what I do, stacking is wonderful. It's not so great for live bees.
Yogurt cups, on the other hand, are useful in all situations.
--Rik
[*] Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)
- Cyberspider
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Welcome Arvin,
your first pictures I've seen in the forum... very nice...
your first pictures I've seen in the forum... very nice...
I think it is the best way to shoot macrosArvin wrote:All but one of my lenses are manual focus.
A neighbor of me too...that is very interesting... it is fun to put on a suite and looking over the shoulder of a beekeeper...Arvin wrote:My wife and I are hobby beekeepers
best regards
Markus
SONY a6000, Sigma 150mm 2,8 Makro HSM, Extention Tubes, Raynox DCR-250
visit me on flickr
Markus
SONY a6000, Sigma 150mm 2,8 Makro HSM, Extention Tubes, Raynox DCR-250
visit me on flickr
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Re: New Member from Illinois, USA
[quote="Harold Gough
I use the Olympus OM system, with ....... shift lenses (*one bought last week). [/quote]
*Maybe I shoudn't have done so. My bank is one of "The Big Four" in the country and the only one not to ask for £billions from the government to get them through the financial crisis.
True, the price of the lens is the highest I ever paid, but I was surprised
to learn, the day after I sent the payment, that the Bank had announced that it needed government help after all.
Harold
I use the Olympus OM system, with ....... shift lenses (*one bought last week). [/quote]
*Maybe I shoudn't have done so. My bank is one of "The Big Four" in the country and the only one not to ask for £billions from the government to get them through the financial crisis.
True, the price of the lens is the highest I ever paid, but I was surprised
to learn, the day after I sent the payment, that the Bank had announced that it needed government help after all.
Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.