Syrphid fly

Julian Brooks · Post by **Julian Brooks** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:46 am

Hi all. I'm a new member here, but have often browsed the wonderful photography that's here. Thought I'd upload one of my own for criticism. THis is the syrphid fly Eupeodes luniger (I think), taken through a highly modified lomo microscope with a Zeiss Luminar 25mm and Nikon D300. Stacked using Zerene stacker. I love this objective. It's also my standard field lens for macro.

To light subjects like this I cut a hole in one of those plastic rear lens caps that come with Nikon lenses and slide it onto the objective. Then it's lit with at least three flashes. Bit like the ping-pong diffuser, same idea really.

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:54 am

Welcome Julian

Superb image!

Craig

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:49 am

Julian, welcome aboard!

I agree the image is excellent. Attractive pose, good detail retained in shadows and highlights (just a bit of blowout on the brightest reflection), everything separates from that luscious blue background.

The only clear-cut opportunity for improvement I can find is a bit of "transparent foreground" artifact on the lower side of the fly's right antenna, where a couple of the bright hairs shine through. A moment with the retouching brush would set that right. My eyes also keep drifting to the end of the arista on the fly's left antenna. It seems not as sharp and well defined as I would expect. Were you a frame or two short of catching it in perfect focus, or is something else happening?

I am not familiar with this fly. What magnification (field width) are we looking at here?

--Rik

ralfwagner · Post by **ralfwagner** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:26 am

Hello Julian,

really great!

Welcome.

Julian Brooks · Post by **Julian Brooks** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:03 am

Thanks guys. Good to be here.

Rik. I think the arista problem is exactly what you say. I might have to go back and shorten it in PS. That way it can tail off a little better. I hadn't spotted the hairs either. You guys are GOOD!

The field of view is about 3mm side to side. I machined a short tube for the microscope so I could use the luminar 25mm at exactly this magnification, it gives a slightly wider field than a Nikon 10x objective.

These are hoverflies, and very common in the UK. This is one of the smaller species, about 7-9mm in length. They fly motionless and then dart from side to side. For some reason all syrphids have extremely well developed eyes, and the the three ocelli are pronounced on that sort of hump. They are one of my favourite subjects because of the perfection of the face. Some have their eyes so close together they join in the middle. I'll post one of these soon.

Thanks again for the welcome

Jules