Problem: brown and white bug bright pink rose

[JBW]

One of my not so good solutions:

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Brian,

I think this is one for 'the round file' I'm afraid - unless you specifically wanted a shot of what looks like the rear end of the beetle for ID purposes, the angle is unappealing enough and then there is the matter of it apparently being vastly over exposed in the first (unprocessed?) image and too dim in the second.

This is a shame as you had good focus on the beetle.

I note from the EXIF data it seems you took my advice and tried the flash - of course that makes this all my fault!

EXIF Fuji S4200 at 4.3mm (FFE about 24mm I reckon); 1/400s, f/3.1 and iso 80, flash compulsorily fired in red-eye reduction mode, EC = -1.67 stops.

You needed to use more -EC, or perhaps some -FEC (assuming the S4200 can do that) - I suggest just practice shooting just the flower, work out the correct EC or FEC, dial that in and then wait for, or introduce, the beetle.

HTH,

[Stagecoach]

Brian,

Not really sure what the 'problem' is that you refer to. If it's the colour combination, well you can not always find the bugs where you would ideally like them.

If the 'problem' you perceive is the sharpness and definition of the bug here's an idea that may help with what appears to be your turn towards all things small photography. Firstly a warning, this can become addictive.

Your camera model has limitations with this type of work so it will be a help if you determine those limitations to start with by some experimentation. The object being to try and determine what you can achieve with it as a benchmark that you can then measure your future results against. Very simply, are problems due to camera limitations or your procedure?

Find yourself somewhere to sit at a table in decent lighting and choose a small subject (average bug size) of anything that has both fine and some shiny surface, e.g the end of a cigarette lighter or pen.

Set things up so that you can support the camera maybe on a book, this to help eliminate problems in the images such as handshake and taking a number of shots experiment to determine the results undertaking the following. Do not worry about composition but concentrate on one point that you want in maximum focus.

a) Try autofocus
b) Try controlling the focus point on the subject by half pressing the shutter and moving the camera in and out
c) Determine how close to your subject you can get and retain focus (figures are in the manual as a guide)
d) If the surface is shiny take some shots with the light diffused, an A4 piece of paper can be a good diffuser and reflector.

I'm not conversant with your camera but I believe it has two macro modes, try these as well.

Following these you should be able to assess the image quality that can be achieved by viewing on the computer and how close you can get. It's also useful to take notes whilst doing this unless you are conversant with checking settings used later on.

e) Put your camera in Aperture Priority mode and set to around f5.6 take some shots
f) Vary the aperture setting, increasing the f No upwards (smaller aperture) which will give you more DoF. The camera will compensate for this automatically by reducing the shutter speed or increasing the ISO. (refer to manual to determine)
g) Vary settings more and look at the results.

It may very well be that you have done this sort of thing already but it may help.

Grahame

[JBW]

Hi Brian,

I think this is one for 'the round file' I'm afraid - unless you specifically wanted a shot of what looks like the rear end of the beetle for ID purposes, the angle is unappealing enough and then there is the matter of it apparently being vastly over exposed in the first (unprocessed?) image and too dim in the second.

This is a shame as you had good focus on the beetle.

I note from the EXIF data it seems you took my advice and tried the flash - of course that makes this all my fault!

EXIF Fuji S4200 at 4.3mm (FFE about 24mm I reckon); 1/400s, f/3.1 and iso 80, flash compulsorily fired in red-eye reduction mode, EC = -1.67 stops.

You needed to use more -EC, or perhaps some -FEC (assuming the S4200 can do that) - I suggest just practice shooting just the flower, work out the correct EC or FEC, dial that in and then wait for, or introduce, the beetle.

HTH,

Hi Dave, of course it is your fault! Actually it is the eyes and mouth of this Beast. I have to agree it is headed for the round file. But and this is a crucial but, I did get the focus right. And the more I play with the settings the greater the enjoyment. Yesterday was shutter speed, today aperture. Thank G-d for digital so I don't go broke throwing away film.

[Dave Humphries]

Actually it is the eyes and mouth of this Beast.

Ah, I see it now, I think I was fooled by the close subject distance elongating the eyes so they looked to me like the wing casings.

Hi Dave, of course it is your fault!

See, I don't even know a bug's backside from its head

[Wavelength]

This is the back of the beetle, not the head and eyes i feel

[JBW]

D and W my wife is convinced that it is the hind end.

[Dave Humphries]

D and W my wife is convinced that it is the hind end.

That's 3:1 - are you sure you're right

[JBW]

That's 3:1 - are you sure you're right

nope