My first WAB Macro shot...

The Black Rabbit · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 08:59 PM

Taken with a Raynox DCR150 and an FZ20.
I've got a lot to learn, but am REALLY excited about this camera and lens!
Thanks Mark!

The photo is of a young, tiny, female Daddy Long-Legs spider on our kitchen ceiling this evening...

Doug

mh68 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:04 PM

Perfect focus on the eyes, perfect subdued lighting.....i`d say youve cracked it with this shot mate

Mark H

Brocker · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:12 PM

Nice shot Doug. Did you use a tripod. It is pin sharp. . . .

Ollie · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 09:14 PM

As Mark said the focus is spot on giving some great detail on the eyes especially. Just a pity about the shadows from the legs but I'm probably being a bit picky here and it's only a minor detail and would have been very difficult to eliminate without actually moving it to another location.

An excellent photo still though and I'm sure we will see many more great shots from you with this combination.
Roger

pressld2 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 11:40 PM

Good work - very nice indeed!

Dave P.

The Black Rabbit · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 05:10 AM

Thanks for all your comments.
I'll try and answer them...

Cheers Mark - I had nowt to do with the lighting though really - I just set the flash and exposure as you suggested (or nearly anyway).

No Brocker. I didn't use a tripod. (though I DO have one). I'm that sort of stubborn person who takes a camera and telescope out WITHOUT a tripod, I like to be very mobile!
To be honest, the situation didn't lend itself to a tripod anyway - I braced myself with my elbows in the corner of the kitchen.

Roger - I agree about the legs shadows - not much I could do about that really, without using a separate flash - something I may look into in the future! (Of course, I probably could have photoshopped those shadows out)?!

As for focusing on the eyes. Well, thats what find so amazing about this camera and lens set up. I'm ACTUALLY manually focusing on the eyes of a (very small for this species) Daddy Long-Legs Spider - eyes that I really can't even see without the camera (and my vision is 20-20)! I can't get over that.
I wish the depth of field was slightly larger (I had it on f8.0, the maximum I could give it), but it blows my mind that one can focus down to that much detail on such a tiny object!

Dave P. I have flicked through the Gallery looking for similar photographs of this wee spider - I must say, your pictures are truely, truely stunning.

Anyway - I'm going to practice and practice with this FZ20 and DCR150 and try and improve everything. Its all very exciting!

Cheers
Doug

colincurry · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:31 AM

Hallo Doug

I have an FZ30 and DCR150 that I use for macro and, like you, find some of the results amazing.

I take it with me walking when the insects start to appear, ready to use and carried on my belt. I also take my 30D + pump but currently find this option simpler than trying to change lenses on the hoof.

I like your picture.

Colin

The Black Rabbit · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colincurry

Hallo Doug

I have an FZ30 and DCR150 that I use for macro and, like you, find some of the results amazing.

I take it with me walking when the insects start to appear, ready to use and carried on my belt. I also take my 30D + pump but currently find this option simpler than trying to change lenses on the hoof.

I like your picture.

Colin

Hello Colin! Its a wonderful set-up eh? My eyes are opened even wider now to the wee beastie world around us. I'm just hoping that HUGE House spider returns to our house - so I can try to take a photo of its eyes. If the Daddy Long Legs spider is owt to go by - I'll be able to look into the Tegenaria's eyes and see what that beastie is actually thinking!!!

Great stuff!
Thanks for the comment by the way. I've a lot to learn, but blimey I'm gonnae enjoy it!

Cheers

Doug

mh68 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:56 AM

Morning Doug,
something worth trying when you get distracting shadows is a small white card reflector to one side of the subject (obviously not possible in this case though, given the position of the spider). This can help bounce some light back towards the subject and reduce shadows(make sure it doesnt bounce light back into the lens though).Always worth keeping a bit of white card in your kit for this purpose.

Mark H

The Black Rabbit · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh68

Morning Doug,
something worth trying when you get distracting shadows is a small white card reflector to one side of the subject (obviously not possible in this case though, given the position of the spider). This can help bounce some light back towards the subject and reduce shadows(make sure it doesnt bounce light back into the lens though).Always worth keeping a bit of white card in your kit for this purpose.

Mark H

Morning pal.
Nice! I'll give that a go!
Cheers
Doug