Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Here is a poor shot of something I was not expecting to see. This honey bee was shot on 30/12/2016.

Honey bee in December by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Here is a poor shot of something I was not expecting to see. This honey bee was shot on 30/12/2016.

They will forage when the air is warm enough.

On 27 December I saw a queen bumble bee flying just above the ground. It was sunny but quite chilly.

Harold

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

They will forage when the air is warm enough.

On 27 December I saw a queen bumble bee flying just above the ground. It was sunny but quite chilly.

Harold

Harold
I had heard about it but not seen it. In fact I hardly saw a honey bee this year in summer.

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

I went out briefly on a springtail safari on the remains of a felled pine plantation. I was hoping to find some pools and some aquatic speceies but that did not work out.


Here is what I found.


looking into the abyss


Collembola-1 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


On the move


Collembola-2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr




Collembola-3 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Collembola-4 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Collembola-5 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Collembola-6 by Alf Branch, on Flickr



Collembola-7 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


All taken with my OMD E-M1 with a sigma 105 f2.8 a 25mm tube and Raynox 250. Niisin flah Di 466 with homemade diffuser

[Beagletorque]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Only just spotted those Alf, an excellent set. How much cropping is involved?

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Alf,

An excellent set.

The entomobryid is a Willowsia nigromaculata.

Yesterday I was trying out a new combination: my Oly 4/3 50mm f2, a matched x2 TC and the Raynox MSN-202 (25 diopters). It gives a FOV of 7mm at closest distance (ca 20mm). I had found some Mothflies but angle of view and angle of lighting was very problematic.

I got some reasonable images at f16 (effective) but it needs at least a half stop smaller. I will try again today. I may also locate some Dicyrtomina.

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Raynox MSN-202 on Olympus 4/3 50mm f2: Mothflies.

I very much like the results from my reversed Schneider HM40mm with a Kiron x 1.5 TC behind it. However, it has to be used stopped down which, at standard 16 (f22 effective) gives quite a dark image in the viewfinder. making it difficult to use in many field conditions. It gives a FOV 6mm wide.

I experimented with my 50mm f2 with the Raynox MSN-202 (25 diopters) on the front. This gives, at closest focus, a FOV 10mm wide and a working distance of ca 20mm. With a matched x1.4 or x2 TC behind the combo the field of view is 7 or 5mm at the same working distance.The MSN-202 is for lenses of FL 100mm or longer, such that the 50mm with a x2 TC behind it could be optimal.

I recently saw some moth flies in one of our compost bins and this seemed an opportunity to try this setup.as the topography of the bin, on the surface of which I tried to photograph the flies, severely limited the angle of view and the lighting.

Anyway, here are some images with the x2 TC and twin flash. (Most were rejects). They show different things to advantage, mainly the eyes but sometimes e.g. the antennae detail. A half stop or full stop smaller would be better. The frame with represents ca 4mm. Hand-held with some support.

These were at effective aperture f16, with f8 on the lens. The results are promising. Some cropping has been done for composition.

Harold

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Raynox MSN-202 on Olympus 4/3 50mm f2: Mothflies.

These were at effective aperture f16, with f8 on the lens. The results are promising. Some cropping has been done for composition.

Harold

Harold,

These are very promising.

I admire both Your and Alf's lovely macro work.

Peter

[David M]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

It's nice to see some colour rather than white and grey. White being the snow, grey being the sky when you can see it through the falling snow.

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Harold,

These are very promising.

I admire both Your and Alf's lovely macro work.

Peter

Thanks, Peter.

Harold

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Only just spotted those Alf, an excellent set. How much cropping is involved?

Thanks Andrew

Here is an uncropped version

Collembola uncropped by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A FOV shot handheld

Sigma 105 EX-25 and Ranox 250 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Alf,

An excellent set.

The entomobryid is a Willowsia nigromaculata.

Yesterday I was trying out a new combination: my Oly 4/3 50mm f2, a matched x2 TC and the Raynox MSN-202 (25 diopters). It gives a FOV of 7mm at closest distance (ca 20mm). I had found some Mothflies but angle of view and angle of lighting was very problematic.

I got some reasonable images at f16 (effective) but it needs at least a half stop smaller. I will try again today. I may also locate some Dicyrtomina.

Harold

Thanks Harold
I am informed by a good source that it is a Entomobrya nivalis

I am getting a FOV of about 8mm and extra 25mm of tube would have that at 6mm

Nice work on the Moth flies they are tough to shoot usually

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

There is a short-term discount offer here which might be of interest:

http://dmtrk.net/DGT-4OWOW-102MW1FU5A/cr.aspx

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Bugs in a Good Light

I wanted to improve on some recent shots of Mothflies which live in my compost bin. I was using my EM-1 with an Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 with the a matched x2TC behind it and a Raynox MSN-202 (25 diopters) on the front. The effective aperture was f18 (f9 on the lens). The FOV was 5mm wide. Hand-held with some support.

I like to use triple flash but I struggled to get a second one aimed well enough.

As I was about to lift the lid off the bin, I noticed what I though were two extra large, slightly dark Mothflies on top of it. It was only when I saw the first one in the viewfinder that I realised that they were Heteropteran bugs. And it was not until I saw the first flash-lit image that I saw the colours.

As with the Mothflies, I could not get the low angles I wanted because of the shape of the top of the bin. However, these seem to be one frame of each individual and they show how little DOF was available at f18.

Harold

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Bugs in a Good Light

I wanted to improve on some recent shots of Mothflies which live in my compost bin. I was using my EM-1 with an Olympus 4/3 50mm f2 with the a matched x2TC behind it and a Raynox MSN-202 (25 diopters) on the front. The effective aperture was f18 (f9 on the lens). The FOV was 5mm wide. Hand-held with some support.

I like to use triple flash but I struggled to get a second one aimed well enough.

As I was about to lift the lid off the bin, I noticed what I though were two extra large, slightly dark Mothflies on top of it. It was only when I saw the first one in the viewfinder that I realised that they were Heteropteran bugs. And it was not until I saw the first flash-lit image that I saw the colours.

As with the Mothflies, I could not get the low angles I wanted because of the shape of the top of the bin. However, these seem to be one frame of each individual and they show how little DOF was available at f18.

Harold

Nice surprise.

What is the working distance with that set up. I can understand the problems with angles mate.

Can you show a shot of that rig.