Flowers Macro

[maloufn]

He tells you here http://thomasshahan.com/other He mentions stacking.

Thanks Rob. I still dont believe Thomas is telling us the full story. I just cant believe he can get those shots so close with such clarity and focus all the way handheld!!!!! I have difficulty doing it on a tripod. I must admit I have frozen one of my subjects for 20 minutes to slow it down only to see it fly off when it warmed up. I have since acquired the same equiptment as Thomas including a flash and diffuser and cant wait for the next bug to land on my doorsteps. Ill let you know how it goes.

Nasseem

[rob marshall]

Thanks Rob. I still dont believe Thomas is telling us the full story. I just cant believe he can get those shots so close with such clarity and focus all the way handheld!!!!!

I think he probably does. Don't forget that shooting bugs in macro isn't the same as shooting flowers. With flowers you have much greater depth to try and capture (and you can only do it by stacking). With bugs, they are usually very small and so the DOF to capture is much less. The key to shots like these is lighting. I see on Thomas' site the shot of him shooting shows what looks like a home-made flash diffuser on his flash gun. You really have to use artificial light for all macro shots to get decent results. If I shoot indoors I use my studio flash heads fitted with a diffuser. That's a very big relative light source for a small subject, but it gives the advantage of a very soft light - the closer and larger the light source the softer the light.

For outdoor macro/close-ups I use a remote flash gun. I got myself a new Nissin Di866 last week with a remote (up to 5ft) cable. Previously I used a Canon 430EX with an STE2 remote trigger (Donald has it now). Having light like that (provided it's diffused) makes an incredible difference to your shots. It gives you good light, and enables you to often shoot at faster shutter speeds.

You might want to look at Brian Valentines site for macro work. His work is superb. He's a retired Microbiologist in the UK. He uses a 5D Mk2, and his flash setup is very much home made, but some of his shots take your breath away. And most of them are hand held. http://lordv.smugmug.com/ also on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/

[MiniChris]

LordV's work is incredible. Looking at his work is much like comparing Ansel Adams to other very-very-very good Yosemite wannabe's. No offense, Dr. Malouf and all the other macro shooters out there...but it takes an incredible amount of dedicated time to get the subtle differences others don't or aren't getting. He is doing something he has developed an acquired skill for, that you have yet to "figure" out. I could sit next to my ceramics teacher in college, and throw pot for pot with him all day. Size, shape, color, whatever...yet, at every show, his work sold better than mine. There was always some particular fingermark, treatment of a lip, a decoration nuance...something that made his work more attractive to buyers. I have to tell you, it was maddening and even though I did well in pottery making, and I was pretty much on par, he had a slight edge in how he did something that I never came to a full understanding of the what. I quit trying to be like him and did my own style.

I think you will make that leap, if nothing else because of your tenaciousness toward having that perfect photograph. I think Rob Marshall has that same kind of drive. I think maybe it has rubbed off on a lot of us. I marvel at both your work and Martyn's...goodness, there are a lot of photographers out there trying to get to the same place and all of them are struggling with some, one thing which makes them nuts.

Your work is quite stunning and I am sure, in your own way you will make these discoveries that will enhance that sharpness factor or lighting nuance...patience, man, patience. (Of course, I tell myself that same thing and go back to the old joke of the two buzzards sitting high above a plain full of rabbits - "Patience hell," one of them says, "I'm going to go kill something.")

Good shooting!

[Dave Humphries]

He tells you here http://thomasshahan.com/other He mentions stacking.

Thanks Rob,

Has anyone else seen the videos?

I started with the little red spider on his hand (centre, almost at bottom)

[maloufn]

I think he probably does. Don't forget that shooting bugs in macro isn't the same as shooting flowers. With flowers you have much greater depth to try and capture (and you can only do it by stacking). With bugs, they are usually very small and so the DOF to capture is much less. The key to shots like these is lighting. I see on Thomas' site the shot of him shooting shows what looks like a home-made flash diffuser on his flash gun. You really have to use artificial light for all macro shots to get decent results. If I shoot indoors I use my studio flash heads fitted with a diffuser. That's a very big relative light source for a small subject, but it gives the advantage of a very soft light - the closer and larger the light source the softer the light.

For outdoor macro/close-ups I use a remote flash gun. I got myself a new Nissin Di866 last week with a remote (up to 5ft) cable. Previously I used a Canon 430EX with an STE2 remote trigger (Donald has it now). Having light like that (provided it's diffused) makes an incredible difference to your shots. It gives you good light, and enables you to often shoot at faster shutter speeds.

You might want to look at Brian Valentines site for macro work. His work is superb. He's a retired Microbiologist in the UK. He uses a 5D Mk2, and his flash setup is very much home made, but some of his shots take your breath away. And most of them are hand held. http://lordv.smugmug.com/ also on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/

Deare Rob,

I take your point about a shallower depth of field with macro bugs. I am sure my 580EX2 with a diffuser even though on camera is going to make a big difference. I have looked at some of Brian Valentines work. He is brilliant. The day I can do anything close to that Id be happy. Have you got any idea what his setup is with those water drops/reflections?? I love them.

Nasseem

[maloufn]

LordV's work is incredible. Looking at his work is much like comparing Ansel Adams to other very-very-very good Yosemite wannabe's. No offense, Dr. Malouf and all the other macro shooters out there...but it takes an incredible amount of dedicated time to get the subtle differences others don't or aren't getting. He is doing something he has developed an acquired skill for, that you have yet to "figure" out. I could sit next to my ceramics teacher in college, and throw pot for pot with him all day. Size, shape, color, whatever...yet, at every show, his work sold better than mine. There was always some particular fingermark, treatment of a lip, a decoration nuance...something that made his work more attractive to buyers. I have to tell you, it was maddening and even though I did well in pottery making, and I was pretty much on par, he had a slight edge in how he did something that I never came to a full understanding of the what. I quit trying to be like him and did my own style.

I think you will make that leap, if nothing else because of your tenaciousness toward having that perfect photograph. I think Rob Marshall has that same kind of drive. I think maybe it has rubbed off on a lot of us. I marvel at both your work and Martyn's...goodness, there are a lot of photographers out there trying to get to the same place and all of them are struggling with some, one thing which makes them nuts.

Your work is quite stunning and I am sure, in your own way you will make these discoveries that will enhance that sharpness factor or lighting nuance...patience, man, patience. (Of course, I tell myself that same thing and go back to the old joke of the two buzzards sitting high above a plain full of rabbits - "Patience hell," one of them says, "I'm going to go kill something.")

Good shooting!

Thank you Chris for your words of encouragement. Love the 2 buzzards joke!! Sometimes I feel like doing the same out of frustration. For you to say my work is already acceptable is enough to drive me even harder. Its hard being a perfectionist.

Nasseem

[maloufn]

Thanks Rob,

Has anyone else seen the videos?

I started with the little red spider on his hand (centre, almost at bottom)

Dave,

They are just brilliant. I wonder what setup he uses to video them??

Nasseem

[rob marshall]

Have you got any idea what his setup is with those water drops/reflections?? I love them.

This details how he actually sets up the shots http://www.flickr.com/groups/macrovi...7594313729574/

And this one on flash-diffuser made from a coke can http://www.flickr.com/groups/macrovi...7594312315664/

And focus stacking http://www.flickr.com/groups/macrovi...iscuss/163367/

There are several other items on the pages that might interest you (left hand side of page)

[Katy Noelle]

You might want to look at Brian Valentines site for macro work. His work is superb. He's a retired Microbiologist in the UK. He uses a 5D Mk2, and his flash setup is very much home made, but some of his shots take your breath away. And most of them are hand held. http://lordv.smugmug.com/ also on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/

I looked at these, last night. They're incredibly inspiring. Garsh! I can't wait for green grass, summer and growing things, again!