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Thread: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

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    Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

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    Wavelength's Avatar
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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Move it on to a new fresh leaf and shoot without much reflection from its wing

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Working from this shot, I would crop slightly tighter and lose a little from the top and right.

    You have focused on the leaf, and the beetle's feet, with a shallow focus depth which has left the top of the beetle a little soft. Possibly the other way around may have been better and produced sharper antennae.

    You have some 'hotspot' problems; but this is frequently unavoidable when photographing shiny species in direct sunlight. Sometimes I find using flash actually helps but the only real alternative is to reduce the light intensity with some form of diffuser, even something like a hand or piece of card can help.

    But this sudden change in light often scares away a nervous model.

    Also, if there is too much shadow you can have exposure problems. A problem which you often just have to accept.

    When the hotspot is fairly small I do sometimes get away with cloning over the area using various options. Tricky to get that looking natural though. And probably too large an area in this case.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Wavelength, attempting to move him or her and she flies away. I could however cut down on the reflection.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    [QUOTE=Geoff F;348307]Working from this shot, I would crop slightly tighter and lose a little from the top and right.

    You have focused on the leaf, and the beetle's feet, with a shallow focus depth which has left the top of the beetle a little soft. Possibly the other way around may have been better and produced sharper antennae.

    with my camera I have yet to find a way to focus that precisely.

    But this sudden change in light often scares away a nervous model.

    which is why I get my best shots from the rear.

    B.

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    Stagecoach's Avatar
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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Manual focus, tripod ..........................

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Quote Originally Posted by Stagecoach View Post
    Manual focus, tripod ..........................
    I can work with finding support but i am such a coward when it comes to manual anything. But you could be right and the time to learn is now.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Brian,

    When shooting close up subjects in manual focus there are two ways to tackle it;

    a) Turn the focus barrel to where you want and shoot, good if can can keep the camera steady with hand or tripod.

    b) Turn the focus barrel to around where you want and then physically move the camera back and forth to acquire focus where you want.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Quote Originally Posted by Stagecoach View Post
    Brian,

    When shooting close up subjects in manual focus there are two ways to tackle it;

    a) Turn the focus barrel to where you want and shoot, good if can can keep the camera steady with hand or tripod.

    maybe I am missing it but if the Finepix S4200 has a manually adjustable focus barrel i can't find it

    b) Turn the focus barrel to around where you want and then physically move the camera back and forth to acquire focus where you want.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Brian,

    My brain is not functioning today, I have just realised that your camera does not allow manual focus.

    The only other way I can think of then is to take manual control and see if you can get a smaller aperture that will increase the DoF when you are going for subjects this small.


    Edited..........................

    'Focus Lock', the focus will lock with the half press of the shutter. You then move forward or back to select where you want focus to be.
    Last edited by Stagecoach; 23rd October 2013 at 05:12 AM.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Quote Originally Posted by Stagecoach View Post
    Brian,

    My brain is not functioning today, I have just realised that your camera does not allow manual focus.

    The only other way I can think of then is to take manual control and see if you can get a smaller aperture that will increase the DoF when you are going for subjects this small.


    Edited..........................

    'Focus Lock', the focus will lock with the half press of the shutter. You then move forward or back to select where you want focus to be.
    i am playing around with that idea.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    I originally went digital with an old Canon Powershot G2 and found macro shots were always a case of hit and miss, with miss being the most likely!

    But larger subjects did sometimes work OK; particularly when using a tripod. Even a monopod made a significant difference.

    However, I noticed a considerable improvement after getting a Canon 10D which I used with a 70-300 lens plus an extension tube and was able to manually focus.

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Brian,
    I'd try to get closer in and use a macro lens. Problem with critters is getting the sensor plane and the subject parallel to maximise whats in focus, so to help you have to line up, use a tripod, high f stop. If you think the critter is going to move fast you can hand hold but use diffused flash to allow a high shutter speed.
    Have a look at this guys work, I've spoken to him in another forum his methods are awesome, intelligent and don't cost a fortune, I wish I had his talent. http://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
    Hope this helps
    Ned

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Hi Ned,

    Thank you for sharing that link. Full of beautifully detailed and sharp macro photos with drop-dead gorgeous backgrounds. I've bookmarked it for future inspiration.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ned Ward View Post
    Brian,
    I'd try to get closer in and use a macro lens. Problem with critters is getting the sensor plane and the subject parallel to maximise whats in focus, so to help you have to line up, use a tripod, high f stop. If you think the critter is going to move fast you can hand hold but use diffused flash to allow a high shutter speed.
    Have a look at this guys work, I've spoken to him in another forum his methods are awesome, intelligent and don't cost a fortune, I wish I had his talent. http://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
    Hope this helps
    Ned

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ned Ward View Post
    Brian,
    I'd try to get closer in and use a macro lens. Problem with critters is getting the sensor plane and the subject parallel to maximise whats in focus, so to help you have to line up, use a tripod, high f stop. If you think the critter is going to move fast you can hand hold but use diffused flash to allow a high shutter speed.
    Have a look at this guys work, I've spoken to him in another forum his methods are awesome, intelligent and don't cost a fortune, I wish I had his talent. http://beingmark.com/macro-illustrated/
    Hope this helps
    Ned
    Ned, I took your advice and visited the site and then I took some of his advice. Here is the result. The best shot I have yet got with the golden beetle. I used my walking stick as a brace, set the shutter speed to 200 here is the result. You are right the man has talent and he has honed his skills.

    Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

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    Brownbear's Avatar
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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Very nice indeed! Wonderful composition, nice background and detail...

  17. #17

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    Re: Orange Beatle ~ How would you improve this shot?

    Quote Originally Posted by Christina S View Post
    Very nice indeed! Wonderful composition, nice background and detail...
    getting there

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