Alien Invasion

[Markvetnz]

Sorry - just a dirty old blowfly.

And a side on view.

[Donald]

Stupendous stuff, Mark. That's all really! Just stupendous.

...just a dirty old blowfly.

Don't discount the possibility that this could represent the ultimate in beauty in the blowfly world.

[jeeperman]

Very cool stuff Mark. Well done.

[botspur]

Very good Mark - fantastic detail, I think you've found your niche/style!!!

[wlou]

This is stunning. The sharpness and clarity is exceptionnal. Would you call it a 5:1 macro? Did you use a special lens/tube? Did you do "stacked" focus photography?

[Colin Southern]

Great work (as usual!) ... but I still think the darn things are ugly

[Markvetnz]

This is stunning. The sharpness and clarity is exceptionnal. Would you call it a 5:1 macro? Did you use a special lens/tube? Did you do "stacked" focus photography?

This was taken with a Canon MP-E65 macro lens and a MP24 EX flash unit. It is a totally manual focus magnification lens. This was a single image. F16 1/100th ISO100. Distance from subject 2.4cm. Magnitication approx 2X. Flash ratio 1:2 to rhs. The depth of field or lack of it makes this lens difficult to deal with. Everything is done manually and hand held. A tripod is ideal but impossible to use with live subjetcs. It takes too long to set up and get in place. The depth of field is in the 1-2mm range. Focus stacking would be an option but because the subjects often move (thereby altering composition) it isn't always practical. I wanted to get some ambient light in the background so we could see the fly's abdomen.

Thanks for the comments.

[Markvetnz]

Thanks Colin. I agree .... Fugly is the word I use. Hollywood doesn't have to look far for inspiration.

[thatguyfromvienna]

Yikes!

[Dave Humphries]

Quite the best I have seen for some time Mark.

Never would have guessed hand held.

Well done,

[Andrew1]

A great un-constructed shot. Usually ones this clear have been built up with multiple layer. Well done.

[FrankMi]

Amazing results for hand-held and a single image! Nobody can tell me that's the camera and not the photographer's skillful technique, Mark. Simply great!

[Arlen]

It's not at all ugly to me; just a different kind of beauty. Very well done. Keeping the highlights on the eyes from blowing out--so you can see the individual omatidia in that area--is no easy feat, and you managed it perfectly.

[Shadowman]

Those are creepy good images!

[WJT]

Incredible detail and sharpness. I imagine the the flash must make the difference. Well done Mark.

[Bobobird]

Excellent shots. Well done. Like them all.