Some more bugs and flash trials....

[Dearis]

Hi there,

these were from this morning, crawling around in the wet grass at 5.30-6.00am a bloke would have to be mad, but it was fun. I get some strange looks from those walking their dogs lol

I have been still trying with the MT24-EX the use of flash is really great for macro.

Would love some honest critique on the lighting of these shots for any improvement that can be done.

Regards Darren

1.


* Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
* Flash used: Yes (manual) FEC -2
* Canon 100.0mm macro F/2.8
* Exposure time: 0.077 s (1/13)
* Aperture: f/8.0
* ISO equiv.: 200
* Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


2.


* Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
* Flash used: Yes (manual)
* Canon 100.0mm macro F/2.8
* Exposure time: 0.050 s (1/20)
* Aperture: f/7.1
* ISO equiv.: 200
* Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

3.


* Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
* Flash used: Yes (manual)
* Canon 100.0mm macro f/2.8
* Exposure time: 0.033 s (1/30)
* Aperture: f/6.3
* ISO equiv.: 200
* Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

[Bruce Williams]

Unfortunately I'm a complete novice when it comes to flash so you're already way ahead of me. Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my take on the three images.

Pic1: Your flash set-up has done an excellent job with a difficult subject. A fairly wide dynamic range with a lot of important detail concentrated in the darker levels. Exposure is spot-on with no blown highlights and (peering closely) I can make out good detail on the head. Great antenae btw!

Pic2: Highlights maybe a little blown and some detail lost. Looking at the edge of the leaf dof is very shallow.

Pic3: Illumination is good although I think it might look more three dimensional with a little more directional lighting - are both guns at the same settings? It would have been interesting to see this same shot at maybe -0.3EV or -0.7EV (they would have needed a bit of pp of course). However having said that, there is good detail present on the head and thorax. What's that yellow blob under the abdomen - is it an egg?

Full of admiration at the work your doing with your home made set up.

Bruce

[Dearis]

Thanks Bruce

for the great critique, those antenae were awesome and like velvet as far as I could see. I am still learning the capabilitys of what this great flash can do and it's capabilitys are limited by my knowledge of flash, I have worked out my bracket but now need to work in ratios I think and where exactly to place both light sources, but with all the practice I am starting to see pleasing results (given I am super critical) however i think it pays all photographer when frustrate to look back at some of there first ever images to see just how far they have come, in my case i literally cringe

Regards Darren

[Adrian]

the 3rd is great imo, looks like your making progress.

[Dearis]

Thanks Adrian

[beetleman]

I love pic one. That looks like a very unusual cranefly. I have built in flash , so I do not use it that much.

[Dearis]

Hi Beetleman,

i think we call them hawking wasps

Regards Darren