Need more help shooting bugs

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus, but my
problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm AI Micro
lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to the bugs that
if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug either myself or the
lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the light is coming from
behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug well lit, while the rest
of the bug is in heavy shadow.

I hate the idea of having to get a new micro lens and flash that will work
with it, so anybody have any ideas to help me out? Any web sites dedicated
to micro photography?

Thanks again.

Sheldon
sheldon@sopris.net

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Craig Marston" <binaries.newsgroup@craignospammarston.com> wrote in message
news:42b081b7$0$2411$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
> "Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
> news:tvqdnY2x2-ci4i3fRVn-qw@comcast.com...
>> I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus, but
>> my problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm AI
>> Micro lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to the
>> bugs that if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug either
>> myself or the lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the light is
>> coming from behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug well lit,
>> while the rest of the bug is in heavy shadow.
>>
>> I hate the idea of having to get a new micro lens and flash that will
>> work with it, so anybody have any ideas to help me out? Any web sites
>> dedicated to micro photography?
>>
>> Thanks again.
>>
>> Sheldon
>> sheldon@sopris.net
>
> Are you so close that you wouldn't be able to use a reflector easily..?

Maybe I could just wear a white shirt?

> Could you make a light-tent from some thin white material or fine net like
> they sell in sewing and knitting shops?
> Hmm, that's got me thinking now!

Any tips on the net about how to make one? I'll do a search.

> p.s. I have seen quite a few ringflash and macroflash units for sale on
> eBay recently for around Stlg100. I was looking because I love the effect
> they create in portairture, (if used in moderation!)

Not sure if they will work with a D70 and a non "chip" lens.

Thanks.
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

>>
>> Are you so close that you wouldn't be able to use a reflector easily..?
>
> Maybe I could just wear a white shirt?

LOL! Yeah that'd do it!


>> Could you make a light-tent from some thin white material or fine net
>> like they sell in sewing and knitting shops?
>> Hmm, that's got me thinking now!
>
> Any tips on the net about how to make one? I'll do a search.

Well, we had one in work the other day to photograph a trophy. I'm sure
they're not cheap to buy because they're a bit of photo kit...
However, the simplest mock-up that I've used is four sheets of expanded
polystyrene, although with this method there is no transmission through the
material it just diffuses any light shone into it. What sprung to my mind
though (you may laugh at this) have you seen the pyramid shaped plate covers
for keeping flies off of food such as cakes? If you haven't I'll have to do
some digging around for a weblink. Anyway, I thought about covering one of
those with suitabel material because it would be rigid and light and you
could cut out a hole to poke your lens through.
I wonder if you can get hold of the material that the front of the softboxes
for flash heads are made from - it's like very thin tent material.


>> p.s. I have seen quite a few ringflash and macroflash units for sale on
>> eBay recently for around Stlg100. I was looking because I love the effect
>> they create in portairture, (if used in moderation!)
>
> Not sure if they will work with a D70 and a non "chip" lens.
>
> Thanks.

You'd have to double check the trigger voltage too! The Royal Air Force
photogs are currently banned from using sync-leads with the Bowens flashes
because the voltage is over twice the maximum for the D1x - there must have
been an "incident" for a decision to have suddenly been made!

Craig.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
news:Sf-dnY6mX-84FC3fRVn-2w@comcast.com...
>
> "Alan Browne" <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote in message
> news8q0g0$2uh$1@inews.gazeta.pl...
>> Sheldon wrote:
>>
>>> I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus,
>>> but my problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm
>>> AI Micro lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to
>>> the bugs that if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug
>>> either myself or the lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the
>>> light is coming from behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug
>>> well lit, while the rest of the bug is in heavy shadow.
>>
>> Reflectors or ordinary flash behind a shoot through umbrella.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Alan.
>>
>
> Thanks, Alan. Photo umbrellas I have. Geez, I'm gonna need a truck
> everytime I leave the house with my camera. :-)
>

Its called an Assistant.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In article <tvqdnY2x2-ci4i3fRVn-qw@comcast.com>,
Sheldon <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote:
>I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus, but my
>problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm AI Micro
>lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to the bugs that
>if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug either myself or the
>lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the light is coming from
>behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug well lit, while the rest
>of the bug is in heavy shadow.
>
>I hate the idea of having to get a new micro lens and flash that will work
>with it, so anybody have any ideas to help me out? Any web sites dedicated
>to micro photography?

How about an *old* micro lens with built-in flash?

Look at the 200mm Medical Nikkor, which has a built-in ring
flash, (along with a set of four small incandescent lamps for focusing
aid). It uses screw-on close-up lenses -- a set of six of them come
with the lens. The only focusing adjustment is moving the camera/lens
combination towards and away from the subject.

You will need the PC contact adaptor (AS-15 IIRC) to use it on
the D70.

You will be stuck needing a long power cord, unless you luck
into one with the battery powered module -- in which case you will be
needing rather expensive photoflash batteries, unless you get or build a
DC-DC converter to work from some more common rechargeable batteries.

Enjoy,
DoN.
--
Email: <dnichols@d-and-d.com> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Harri Suomalainen wrote:
>
> For mobile bugs you need lots of natural light...

Or perhaps work in a cold-room to slow them down a bit?

Mike.
--
If reply address = connectfee, add an r because it is free not fee.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Craig Marston wrote:

> I wonder if you can get hold of the material that the front of the softboxes
> for flash heads are made from - it's like very thin tent material.

I've got some plastic material designed for putting over plants to
protect from frost and it's supposed to have a very high light
transmission and dispersion. I used it as a shade cloth to disperse
light for growing plants before & I'm playing with a coat hanger draped
in the stuff to make a soft box. It's quite cheap, comes in a roll at
the garden center.


--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
san francisco native plants

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote in message
news:tvqdnY2x2-ci4i3fRVn-qw@comcast.com...
> I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus, but
> my problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm AI
> Micro lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to the
> bugs that if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug either
> myself or the lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the light is
> coming from behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug well lit,
> while the rest of the bug is in heavy shadow.
>
> I hate the idea of having to get a new micro lens and flash that will work
> with it, so anybody have any ideas to help me out? Any web sites
> dedicated to micro photography?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Sheldon
> sheldon@sopris.net
>
>can you not use your sb-800 or 600 in remote mode off camera??

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In message <tvqdnY2x2-ci4i3fRVn-qw@comcast.com>,
"Sheldon" <sheldon@XXXXXXXXsopris.net> wrote:

>I've finally started using smaller apertures to get my bugs in focus, but my
>problems now seems to be lighting. I'm using a D70 with a 55mm AI Micro
>lens (non automatic) and an extension tube. I'm so close to the bugs that
>if I get the light source (the sun) directly on the bug either myself or the
>lens blocks the light. If I turn it around so the light is coming from
>behind or the side I wind up with part of the bug well lit, while the rest
>of the bug is in heavy shadow.
>
>I hate the idea of having to get a new micro lens and flash that will work
>with it, so anybody have any ideas to help me out? Any web sites dedicated
>to micro photography?

Have you tried using a teleconverter? A teleconverter will increase
magnification so that you don't have to get as close. There are losses
of light, in general, with TCs, but when you focus very close without
one, you are still losing some light, anyway.
--

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John P Sheehy <JPS@no.komm>
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