Aphid Stack

[rudi]

I shot some aphids in the summer, didn't pay too much attention to them as there were a lot of other interesting buzzers around.
Now that autumn is setting in, and most bugs are gone I came across some aphids and thought they might be good as a stacking exercise, as they seemed very steady. When checking on my computer I was surprised they moved quiet a bit..... I selected 11 frames, stacked in CS6 and retouched in Zerene.
I just cropped off the edges after stacking.

Shot outside. Using a stick as a support.
Exif: 7D, mpe at 2x, f11, 1/250, iso 100, diffused flash.

C&C welcomed as Always.

[Kodiak]

C&C welcomed as Always.

This is very cool Rudi!

• I did not know these were changing colours in the fall as well! ;-)
• …never noticed the red eyes before

You're going somewhere with this work… very fine!

[Stagecoach]

Great work Rudi

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[deetheturk]

Wonderful image Rudi, this is the first stack I've seen of Aphids, love it!

How do you stack hand held with an MP-E? do you take one frame then move in a tad or what?

Cheers David

[rudi]

This is very cool Rudi!

• I did not know these were changing colours in the fall as well! ;-)
• …never noticed the red eyes before

You're going somewhere with this work… very fine!

Thanks for comments Kodiak.
As far as I know there are green, white, black, yellow, red, purple.. (maybe more colors???) aphids.

"red eyes" : maybe they are bewitched...

[rudi]

Thanks Grahame, John and David for comments.

Wonderful image Rudi, this is the first stack I've seen of Aphids, love it!

How do you stack hand held with an MP-E? do you take one frame then move in a tad or what?

Cheers David

A LOT, and I mean A LOT of practice and luck....As said in the OP, support by a stick, not really handheld. Sitting on the ground, left hand/lens supported by a stick, I was more or less acting as a tripod. The only way (more or less) the camera could go was forwards or backwards...Take the first shot and than really slowly move to the back while shooting, and from back to front.

[John 2]

Very nicely done. The comp on the intersection of the leaf and the stalk is just right.

[DanK]

Thanks Grahame, John and David for comments.



A LOT, and I mean A LOT of practice and luck....As said in the OP, support by a stick, not really handheld. Sitting on the ground, left hand/lens supported by a stick, I was more or less acting as a tripod. The only way (more or less) the camera could go was forwards or backwards...Take the first shot and than really slowly move to the back while shooting, and from back to front.

Great capture.

Your method is also used by some of the top macro photographers I know. I just can't make it work. Rather than a stick, I have a monopod with a tilt head set to rotate top to bottom. However, I find that I can't make small movements front to back without making some side to side as well. And this is with less magnification--usually, a 100mm with a 36 mm tube. My hat is off to those of you who can make this work.

[deetheturk]

Thanks Rudi, like Dan I have tried this method with a stick, without success, but only for single shot macros, will have a go at stacking one of these days

Cheers David

[bnnrcn]

Very nice

[rudi]

Thanks John, Dan and Binnur for the comments.

[rudi]

Thanks Rudi, like Dan I have tried this method with a stick, without success, but only for single shot macros, will have a go at stacking one of these days

Cheers David

Shooting the mm on a ruler was a very good excercise to me.....

[IzzieK]

Great work, Rudi....I just don't like aphids on my roses...just in your shots. Keep it there.

[rudi]

......without making some side to side as well. And this is with less magnification--usually, a 100mm with a 36 mm tube. .

About handholdability at 2x magn, I find shooting the mpe 'easier' than the 100mm+tubes. The weight is about the same, but the mpe is +/-12 cm long and the 100mm+tubes is +/- 20 cm long. An MT-24EX to the front adds more to the difference, at least in my opinion.

[rudi]

Great work, Rudi....I just don't like aphids on my roses...just in your shots. Keep it there.

Thanks Izzie, will do....