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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 14:24:08 GMT 1
My camera arrived at my Mum's yesterday and I've just collected it. Not read the instructions or anything just turned on and pointed at ants so excuse the quality, I need much more practice and hopefully a macro lens in the not too distant future. My Formica fusca Queen and single worker: I was doing this one handed by the way because I had to hold a lamp for light :/
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 14:31:28 GMT 1
Not bad!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 15:03:00 GMT 1
You can use the inbuilt flash if you reflect it onto the subject with a piece of paper. This means that the lens won't shadow the flash, but I don't know if it's a problem with your lens.
I notice the depth of field is very thin. If your flash can reach the subject, close the aperture as much as you can, that is, turn up the "F number" as high as it will go. If there is motion blur, turn the shutter speed up, little by little, until it's gone. If this makes it too dark, turn up the ISO. This will give you a bit of "noise," but I think it's worth it. Keep the ISO as low as you can without it going dark, though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 15:04:37 GMT 1
Doesn't look too bad! Have you tried the inbuilt flash yet?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 15:29:39 GMT 1
I've taken some pictures with my camera to show you what you can do by tweaking the settings on manual. This photo was taken on auto, no flash, auto ISO. Uploaded with ImageShack.usThis photo was taken on manual, reflecting the flash onto the subject with a piece of paper, 400 ISO, F64, 1/160th of a second exposure. Uploaded with ImageShack.usNeither have been edited.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 18:38:42 GMT 1
Thanks. No not tried anything further Drew since I had to give my Mum and Sister a lift to a Christening after taking these, then a friend came to watch a dvd and soon I'll be going to pick my Mum and Sister up! Thanks Billy, I can't say I fully understand what you're saying at present but when I get time to sit down and read the manual on how to change setting etc I will re-read your post and give it a try
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2011 21:44:23 GMT 1
Hi, I got some extension tubes and I've had a few more goes, it's better when it is in focus but it is so hard to get it in focus haha! Then when I do it's too dark and things like that so I need a lot of practice but here are a few first try shots! None are good, but most are ok. Formica fusca worker, didn't come out how I wanted but I like this picture --------------------- Formica fusca Queen, terrible but I think she's smiling?? --------------------- Formica fusca Queen and Worker, probably my best shot, you can see the "teeth" on her mandibles!! ;D --------------------- Lasius niger worker in brood chamber, not that great but best of the Lasius shots, they are too hard to see well to photograph --------------------- Lasius niger brood, you can hardly see it but it's only a small fraction
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 0:17:28 GMT 1
Those are quite nice. ;D Do keep trying as I think that once you learn your camera it will be great. Exalt+3 Flavus
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 18:26:01 GMT 1
Nice!!!! <Exalt>
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 20:12:39 GMT 1
Very good. If you set your camera correctly and use my tips, those would be perfect. I can see that the depth of field is so thin, it would be impossible to get it in focus. Changing the aperture would fix that. Also, when doing macro photography of very small things like ants, switch to MF and set the focus to the closest your lens will allow. You can then bring the ant into focus by moving the lens back/forward until it looks right. If you reflect the flash onto the subject with some paper, you shouldn't have any lighting problems and the light will be nice and soft.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 21:34:34 GMT 1
they looks amazing! I love the one where it's an ants outline on the soil ;D
Exalt +1
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 23:35:09 GMT 1
Thanks all Yeah thanks Billy I am planning to use your tips but I'm strugging for time atm, got some ponds and a waterfall to refurbish for my Mum and with my Bro being back from Oz for a couple of weeks I am very busy haha! Yes Fraggs that is probably my fave too, it's actually the one that came out most wrong to how I wanted but has a cool sort of feeling to it, can't describe really. It's not actually soil though, the dark forground and light background are both the ytong! Just because the angle I was at the flash completely missed the ant and lower bit making it darker but hit the backwall of the chamber making it light and the ant look like a partial silhouette, couldn't do it again if I tried hhaha
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 0:12:43 GMT 1
I'm strugging for time atm, got some ponds and a waterfall to refurbish for my Mum Tell me about it, I'm currently building my own pond. Nice little project I though I could take my time with y'know? But mum, nag nag nag. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 0:27:16 GMT 1
Haha the things we do for our Mum's eh I do think her ponds look great when clean and I used to love the noise of the waterfall when trying to get to sleep as a kid, even though friends of mine could never sleep at my house because of it! I grew up with the noise and liked it Might post a few pics when I'm done
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 11:44:51 GMT 1
I've been applying your tips Billy and got the DoF much better, the whole Queen in focus (she was at a silly angle though so the pics are not worth posting)
I had a bit of trouble "bouncing" the flash because I had to balance a sheet of paper from the top of the cameras flash to the top of the formicarium and then line up the shot etc, it worked well when it did work but I only managed to line everything up for 1 shot in 10 without losing the subject or the paper falling off haha
How do you normally use the sheet of paper? Above or at the side etc?
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