Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[bill edwards]

Pyrrhocoris apterus or European Firebug

EM1 with 7 artisans 60mm macro and diffused flash

[art frames]

Bill, I have looked at several of your recent images and like the natural quality you have with flash.

[bill edwards]

Thank you Peter,
I use a very simple home made diffuser on a Meike MK320.
Can post an image of my set up if you are interested.

[art frames]

Thanks Bill. Yes Alf has shown me a similar set-up. I tend to be a less organised photographer and just get carried along with the excitement of being there and seeing nature in action, but I do appreciate the talents that many of you have to produce your shots. Whenever I add complexity to a trip (monopod, tripod, flash, extension tubes etc) I end up making errors. But maybe in the garden?

[art frames]

First picture for me in some time. I noticed some unusual activity in the garden, and recorded it as I'd never seen ladybird copulation before. If the sun returns I will try with a better macro lens as the 60mm is not my usual choice.

[art frames]

You ask about 'sheen on the wing cases'. All I can suggest is that I don't use flash so this was just natural light reflected from a yellow leafed plant. I had dialled in exposure compensation to brighten the insect...thats it really.

[art frames]

alfbranch :-) I asked a naturalist friend and he said he didn't think he had taken any pictures either.

[ronidog]

thanks for your reply Peter

[bill edwards]

A very nice set of images Peter.

[art frames]

Many thanks

[alfbranch]

Well I managed to photograph a centipede today a first for me I found it when I turned over a piece wood while out for a stroll. It is quite small but I am happy

Centipede by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Centipede 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

This may seem like a failed shot of a woodlouse and that is what it is but have you seen the Collembola and mite?

Can you see it by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A shot of a woodlouse

woodlouse by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[art frames]

Alf, pleased for you on getting a new species. For me the joy of macro is seeing things like the legs, and antennae on that centipede and woodlouse. Such perfect design, invisible unless you take the time and have the magnification. I was fascinated by the legs on my ladybird and will be trying to get even closer...

[ronidog]

The hidden world in the rotting vegeatation is fascinating. especially when brought out in macro photography

[alfbranch]

Thanks Peter
Me too I love capturing the details of these little creatures it especially amazing finding subjects through the lens I could not see otherwise
Thanks Ronidog

[MJ224]

Jumping Spider

by Mark Johnson, on Flickr

[alfbranch]

Nice one Mark

[moggi1964]

Butterfly - captured using my EM1 MkII and the Tamron SP90mm F/2.5. It's native 1:2 but I got the teleconverter for the lens this afternoon so time to try some 1:1.

I think I shot this at F4 or maybe F/5.6 as I wanted to make sure I actually stood a decent chance of getting it in focus. The DOF is so narrow at F/2.5 and even with magnification and peaking on I struggle to get it sharp. More practice needed.

First image is simply a raw to JPG conversion in Luminar 4 - no PP other than cropped

Second image has some small detail sharpening, exposure and contrast changes and of course the crop.

[MJ224]

Wolf Spider enjoying the sun

:-)

[alfbranch]

Nice shot Mark

[bill edwards]

Pyrrhocoris apterus or European Firebug

EM1 with 7 artisans 60mm macro @ f8 Plus home made flash diffuser

https://500px.com/p/kwitch?view=photos

[FenDrifter]

What a fantastic shot, brilliant!

[bill edwards]

Shield bug hiding in a tulip.
EM1 with 7 artisans 60mm macro

[alfbranch]

I think this is a thrip

insect by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A Katiannidae

Katiannidae by Alf Branch, on Flickr

This is an uncropped 2:1 shot at about 9mm across of a Sminthurinus aereus

Out for a climb by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Another Katiannidae

Katiannidae by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[Ian]

Can anyone ID these please? Taken last weekend near the market square in Melle (France)

Thanks,

Ian

[Walti]

Randy little bugs?

[Jax]

Can anyone ID these please? Taken last weekend near the market square in Melle (France)

Thanks,

Ian

See 3368 4 days ago in a post by Bill Edwards

Jax

[bill edwards]

Ian,
They are european firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus).
Also known in France as Gendarmes due to having the same colours as the old gendarme uniform.

[MJ224]

Unidentified small spider on my red car

It was only 2-3mm across

[moggi1964]

My first ever 1:1 macro shot. Not anything like the quality of images in this thread and I wouldn't post it if it wasn't my first ever effort.

I was handholding the EM1 MkII with the Tamron SP90mm and the Tamron SP 2X converter and trying to manual focus the beast. Luckily the fly was dead so it was a willing participant. I shot this at 1/80sec and at F/5. The converter has some minor specks in the rear glass so I'm not yet sure if it will impact on image quality but I'll try and get outside in the sun and do some more close-up work so I can decide if I need a replacement.

Anyway, I want to persevere with the manual setup for now so I can see if macro catches my interest. If so I'll be inclined to add the 60mm Macro Oly to my long list of wants 😁

Lessons learned:

Use a tripod where possible
Use a faster shutter speed where possible
Use an aperture that gives more DOF.
To achieve the last two I'll need more light.
Magnify and focus peaking are incredibly helpful.

[moggi1964]

Thank you for the direction and advice. I do get 1:2 without the converter on my SP90mm so it might be better to practice with that as well as my 12-40mm Pro.

[alfbranch]

Have a look here for some set up ideas

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/cameras-lenses-and-system-accessories/lens-focus/macro/48645-show-us-your-macro-rigg

[moggi1964]

Thank you. Some inventive stuff there, I'll see what ideas I can take from it.