2018 Project 52, 1st quarter by Rudi

[Shadowman]

Post 10, nice setup and sample images.

[rudi]

Post 10, nice setup and sample images.

Thanks John, but more changes need to be made...

[rudi]

Week 5 : When I found this spider (a Wolfspider I believe), paralized by the cold off the night, I thought this would make a good subject to try different lighting setups ('dramatic' lighting can perhaps create a more scary look...), different backgrounds....
But my 'model' decided to call it a day as soon as he/she was warmed up, and ran off in the middle off the shoot.
Well, next time better !!
Luckily, I had one reasonable stacks.. Chopping off two sidelegs was maybe not a good idea...

Canon 5DIII canon mpe at 5x f5,6 1/200 iso100, diffused flash, stepsize +/- 0,1 mm, 30 shots stacked in Zerene and retouched from PMax.

[skitterbug]

Hi Rudi - Regarding your wolf spider... I would not want to come face to face with this creature. It looks terrifying when you show him in macro style! Sharp, crisp and full of detail. Yep, the legs would have been nice to see to but what you have is perfectly done. By the way, where did it run to? Out the door I hope!

[Wavelength]

Stunning!!!

[Geoff F]

Yes Rudi, insect models can be very uncooperative.

Looks good. A male from what I can see of the relevant area. Just guessing but could it be a Pisaura mirabilis spider (Nursery Web Spider).

[rudi]

Hi Rudi - Regarding your wolf spider...By the way, where did it run to? Out the door I hope!

Thanks Sandy. Don't know where it went... perhaps hence the reason I am 'banned' with my setup to our most 'remote' storage room..

[rudi]

.... Just guessing but could it be a Pisaura mirabilis spider (Nursery Web Spider).

Thanks Geoff, I also thought it might be a Pisaura... It had the distinct stripes on the back for sure. But I have no close up pictures from the whole beasty, so proper ID will be for next time...

[joebranko]

Very impressive detail on these shots!

[skitterbug]

Thanks Sandy. Don't know where it went... perhaps hence the reason I am 'banned' with my setup to our most 'remote' storage room..

I must tell you that when I read your reply, I had to laugh... and then I had to explain what I was laughing about to my hubby! Thanks for the smiles!
ps: Keep up the excellent photo work!

[Shadowman]

Nice spider pic.

[rudi]

Nandakumar, Joe, Sandy and John thanks for leaving a comment.

[rudi]

Week 6: No scary creepy crawly this week, but a flower. Lamium purpureum ( Red Deadnettle)

1: a general view off the plant, with its soft looking flowers:


2: looking a bit closer:
5DIII, canon mpe at 2x f6,3 1/6 sec iso 200, two diffused continuous Jansjo led lights, 35 frames stepsize +/- 0,150mm , stacked in Zerene, retouched from PMax.



as always C&C welcomed.

[Wavelength]

This close up is superb!!! your effort paid!!!

[rudi]

This close up is superb!!! your effort paid!!!

Thanks Nandakumar, I am trying ....

[Geoff F]

Thanks Nandakumar, I am trying ....

That is what the teachers used to say to me over 50 years ago. 'You are very trying'!

Flower portraits are never easy but you have managed plenty of fine detail and perfect exposure with a good composition.

[rudi]

That is what the teachers used to say to me over 50 years ago. 'You are very trying'!

Flower portraits are never easy but you have managed plenty of fine detail and perfect exposure with a good composition.

Thanks Geoff.

And yes, I am trying...My biggest 'issues' right now are the stability off my set-up (for doing consistent, manual stepsizes),
background choices, lighting set ups..... apart from that, I like to think that I almost always know what I should be doing.
With this flower, I had a reasonably well defined picture in my head, but the excecution was not that straightforward (for me anyway). I needed 600+ frames with a lot of trial and error, different backgrounds, different compositions, different stepsizes, different lighting setups. I opted for the led lights, because it was easier for me to see where the lights did hit the subject. Due to the continuous light, I needed to be carefull
with vibrations.
I hope to achieve a higher hit rate in a few months time....
It will be a continuous search/learning, and there will always be room for improvements, but for now I like the endresult. YMMV, any ideas welcomed..

[skitterbug]

...... but for now I like the endresult. YMMV, any ideas welcomed..

Your end results are definitely worth your time and effort! Beautiful pics!

[rudi]

Your end results are definitely worth your time and effort! Beautiful pics!

Thanks Sandy.

[Shadowman]

Week #6, some lively looking specimens. Nicely done.