Spider Macros

[acherontia]

It's a re-post from the general photography area.

I was surprised ,at first, that no one passed comment until I realised I was posting in the wrong area.
Apparently no one there passes comments on images - it's hard work if one doesn't know the system that's taken for granted by so many.

So... here's my spider stuff that you can pass comment as you feel fit to do so.
I'm not bothered if you don't like the image as long as someone gives an informed critique.

The subject matter was taken against my white outbuilding door. The sun was in and out like a fiddler's elbow. I set to aperture priority and used the on board flash (grr I hate it) with a make do diffuser.As the sun went in and came out I flicked between f numbers and various flash compensation settings........... I eventually manged to work on f16 which I found gave a wide DOF that would include the fly and a few spider legs - but not all LOL LOL.

Being new to Macro I'm really enjoying the challenge.


Acher

Any advise and input will be gratefully accepted by me and hopefully others.







Cheers! Acher

[Oxford patient]

Originally Posted by acherontia

It's a re-post from the general photography area.

....







Cheers! Acher

I am also new for using close up filters on spider. This photo is my attempt to use a +4 close up filter.



Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon 18-200mm VR
Focal length: 200mm
ISO: 100
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/350s
Metering: Spot
Close up: Hama +4 52mm
Support: A monopod

I wonder that a micro lens v a close up filter would make any difference in the final photos, and why?

Cheers, Oxford patient

[Geoff F]

That is all fine. You have good blacks and have avoided overexposing the whites; which is difficult to achieve with this sort of subject.

[acherontia]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

That is all fine. You have good blacks and have avoided overexposing the whites; which is difficult to achieve with this sort of subject.

Is this about my images or the image that was posted by Oxford patient? I'm presuming it's about mine.

I didn't get it right first time. Thankfully the subject didn't fly off somewhere else as is often the case with other macro subjects.
Today I've been experimenting with using complete manual and no flash. Luckily the sun was out but I still couldn't get above f8 without the flash.
I need that lighting system!

Acher


Acher

[Lancashire Lad]

Only just spotted these. Nice crisp images Acher, with very good DOF for single (unstacked) images at f16.
I don't suppose it will suit everyone, but I like the clean "none background" effect. (Although it does give the impression that the spider is somehow floating, because the web strands are virtually invisible). - Still, unusual effect, and that's probably influencing my opinion.

Regards,
Mike.

[Bruce Williams]

Acher - Not an easy subject.

I was puzzled at first but I'm guessing from the lack of shadow that the web was some distance from the white wall. I noticed you used spot metering and this has resulted in near perfect exposure on the spider and prey, however the web has disappeared which does give it that floating look that Mike mentioned. I can't easily see how you could get round this problem (not a big one) short of a more elaborate lighting set-up or dispensing with flash altogether.

Your focussing is excellent - did you use manual or autofocus? IMO your choice of f/16 was a good one and your image has good detail and dof which supports this choice.

Personally I like to see the spider's eyes in a photograph - but with insects and spiders you "takes wot you get" and they rarely make it easy for you.

I agree that available light can produce a more natural and more pleasing result than flash. However in my experience conditions in the field are rarely right for non-flash insect/spider photography so I just work on improving my flash technique and try the occasional natural light shot when I think ambient conditions favour success.

Overall I think you've done a really good job with these photos. My only slight criticism would be the subject viewpoint. Having said that, I would think that your first, nicely detailed pic makes a useful ventral id shot.

Bruce

[acherontia]

Cheers both.
The web was about 2"-3" from the gloss painted door. I agree about the absence of web - I would have liked to have seen a bit more. Perhaps next time a bit of dew or rain mayn't go amiss? LOL
I only ever use a bit of fill flash and always with a make do diffuser but a nice twin light system would flatten the image less and is on my wish list.
I'll put a few of my 'non flash images' up later if I get time

Cheers again!

Acher

[Ian Gray]

some nice spider shots well done. I pretty much agree with what Bruce has posted, but would like to add, to show the web up more you could hold a dark bit of card or paper behind it. And for instant rain/dew a fine spray bottle filled with water and sprayed from a distance does the trick.

Ian

[Bruce Williams]

Hi Oxford patient - Welcome to WAB and to macro photography .

As I said to Acher - Spider-on-web is not an easy subject!

Ok so your spider pic appears to be somewhat blurred - this is probably due more to subject movement rather than to camera shake (as you were using a monopod). Anyway I checked the EXIF data on your posted image and it records that the shot was taken with a shutter speed of 1/25s (not 1/350s) and an aperture of f/22 (not f/5.6). Photographing in available light (ie, not using flash) this very slow speed is pretty much guaranteed to result in subject blur with almost any close-up shot in the field.

I would strongly recommend that until you get more experience with macro you use the camera's pop-up flash on macro subjects. Set your camera on Manual and set the aperture at f/16 or f/18 to give a reasonable depth of field. Set your shutter speed to 1/250s (the D200 syncs at this speed). Set your pop-up flash to manual, 1/4 power (you might need to play with this setting). Do some test shots and use the Flash Compensation button to fine tune to actual subject conditions (start at 0 compensation). Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Bruce

[Oxford patient]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Hi Oxford patient - Welcome to WAB and to macro photography .

As I said to Acher - Spider-on-web is not an easy subject!

Ok so your spider pic appears to be somewhat blurred - this is probably due more to subject movement rather than to camera shake (as you were using a monopod). Anyway I checked the EXIF data on your posted image and it records that the shot was taken with a shutter speed of 1/25s (not 1/350s) and an aperture of f/22 (not f/5.6). Photographing in available light (ie, not using flash) this very slow speed is pretty much guaranteed to result in subject blur with almost any close-up shot in the field.

I would strongly recommend that until you get more experience with macro you use the camera's pop-up flash on macro subjects. Set your camera on Manual and set the aperture at f/16 or f/18 to give a reasonable depth of field. Set your shutter speed to 1/250s (the D200 syncs at this speed). Set your pop-up flash to manual, 1/4 power (you might need to play with this setting). Do some test shots and use the Flash Compensation button to fine tune to actual subject conditions (start at 0 compensation). Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce for your comments and suggestions. I have never used flash in a macro shot. What do you think the following two with natural light? Faster shutter speed (1/45s and 1/100s) and still small apertures (f13 and f16) to have slightly larger dof.





Cheers,
Oxford patient

[acherontia]

Originally Posted by Oxford patient

Thanks Bruce for your comments and suggestions. I have never used flash in a macro shot. What do you think the following two with natural light? Faster shutter speed (1/45s and 1/100s) and still small apertures (f13 and f16) to have slightly larger dof.





Cheers,
Oxford patient

Oxford Patient - it's a general rule that posting ones own images on a thread that has been started by someone else is bad manners and called 'Thread Hijacking'. It would be different if you had posted an image that was directly relevant to a point you were trying to make about mine by way of constructive criticism.

Idealistically, you should post your own thread for your own criticisms.

However, being an easy going sort of person I really don't mind you hijacking me a (I have other more serious matters on my mind at the moment ) and Bruce can feel free to comment. I can see you're a new member and probably are a novice at this sort of thing - it's hard work at first and I still find it difficult finding my way round sometimes!

I'm only pointing this out as some people may 'take the hump' if you did it to them and I don't want this to happen!

Acher

[matt_xyz]

Hi Acher,

Technique wise those images look pretty good to me. Good exposure, nice detail and DOF, no harsh flash highlights. I also quite like the almost studio look that the white background gives. Not to everyone's tastes but nice to see something a bit different from time to time. The only negative would be the lack of a visible web as already mentioned.

I'm not sure what flash system you're planning to get but a simple, well diffused, external flashgun on a side bracket takes some beating in my opinion. Some prefer the MT-24 but it takes some work to diffuse the light and it's also v. expensive as I'm sure you know. I've never been sufficiently convinced of its benefits to invest in it.

Oxford Patient - those last 2 look OK, but the first would benefit from a bit of fill flash in my opinion.

Matt

[acherontia]

Originally Posted by Ian Gray

some nice spider shots well done. I pretty much agree with what Bruce has posted, but would like to add, to show the web up more you could hold a dark bit of card or paper behind it. And for instant rain/dew a fine spray bottle filled with water and sprayed from a distance does the trick.

Ian

I've got to point out I jumped at the opportunity of getting a shot on white - good job I'd not long painted the door eh?
The water spray works a treat on empty webs but I think I'd've felt a bit tight spraying the poor thing while it was preoccupied - and it might have sent it scurrying for cover instead of posing with its 'friend'...

Bruce - well spotted on the exif. 'Not a lot of people know that' (Michael Cain voice) LOL LOL It certainly helps with advice if one can see why things are as they are.

Acher