Hi david,#2 and #3 are very nice with the yellow BG and details.#1 is nice too but the BG is not very contrasty and very unfortunate of it that it has been uploaded together with #2 and #3 and that's why it has lost some credit already right at the beginning
All stunning. The 1st for the head-on position and the view of the critters face loaded with character. I like the background colours, and when I move it around I adore this image with just a little bit cropped off of the bottom - edge of the world feeling.
The 2nd for the amazing detail, and the 3rd for all the same reasons but I find it especially beautiful for the POV and gorgeous background of the yellow flower. I think it is really special that you captured the detail and the translucency of the wings - with a view of the intricate beauty beneath.
Your fly images are truly exquisite!
Sorry Binnur, but I like #1--the background bokeh is just right. I like head-on frontal shots I suppose...
Hi David,
All excellent, sharpness, contrast, colours, e.t.c .........................................
Is there something with this lens that somehow gives a greater DoF for a given aperture/magnification than a standard macro lens and are these cropped at all?
Yesterday I came across the most incredible fly here, emerald green with the most huge brown eyes more frontal than these. He had landed on my plate containing a ham sandwich outside the cafe and remained still for quite a while, if only I had the camera with me
Grahame
Cheers John
Cheers Binnur,I am glad you liked them,thanks for commenting bud,I will try and make sure my backgrounds are all good next time
David
Thank you Christina,the more I photograph these guys the more I am amazed by them,you think you have seen them all but there are so many variations and different colors!
Cheers for the kind comments and I'm glad you liked them!
David
Cheers Izzie,appreciated
David
Great shots David,
That Canon MPE-65, which you constantly put to such good use, is the only lens unmatched in the Nikon range.
Not that I'll swap brands for it, too much investment in Nikon glass.
Can you educate me (us) please?
How do we tell which sex these are from the shots?
If I were to hazard a guess, I might say #2 looks to be the odd one out with much larger 'snout' (for want of a better description) - is that the female?
Thanks in advance,
The first one is stunning! It's so sharp it can cut diamonds!
Hi Grahame,cheers bud, much appreciated
The lens is full manual with 1-5xmag,these images were shot at approx 2x,the higher the mag the more difficult it becomes as I'm sure you know only to well,I have tried it only a few times and apart from the extra shake,the view finder goes really dark so without a tripod you have to have a very steady hand and eyes like an owl
These images have been cropped very slightly,as you know with your tubes there's not much room for error!
To my knowledge there is no difference in d.o.f gain with it,just the same as my other lens,although the other one has I.s. this one does not
Your story about the fly is typical,if you had your camera it would have never come near you
Cheers David
Cheers Binnur
Cheers Dave,yes it is a super lens once you learn how to use it,which I am still trying to do!
I am by no means an expert on flies,but the females eyes are parted in the middle,and the males join at the top,if anyone knows differently,I stand to be corrected
David
Thanks Murat,just send your diamonds to my home
David
All fantastically great shots David but im with Izzie on this one, #1 is my favourite. Take nothing away from the otheres hey, i think i just really like #1 because of the great sharpness on head and eyes and i like the colours amd BG. For me personally, images like that have more character ( Although Macro is sorta portrait like) but images like #1 gives a little more interest, and also, my eye is still not used to having black BG in the image. I know this might be a preferred way of macro photography for many, i just cant quite get used to it.
This of coarse is just my opinion on this and im sure others will differ, which makes photography so great
All said though, your fly images are freaking awesome. Makes me wanna go back to taking some fly images again.
Cheers Claudio,really appreciated mate,I do like the head on shot myself and if you talk with any of the good macro shooters that's what you must have in focus is the head and eyes,it is nice though when you can get a bit more in focus for the viewer to see the subject like never before
I agree about the black b.g.but when we use flash it's sometimes not an option,and it always gives us lot something to disagree on
Never mind the flies bud,get these butterflies on!
David
You are really making those extension tubes work for you David. Really nice series.