Bugglies...

King4aDay

King4aDay

King4aDay

Soldato
Joined
4 Sep 2003
Posts
4,428
Location
Cornwall
Still getting to grips with my Sigma 150 and ringflash combo... had a play in a field yesterday with everything including the flash on full manual - I figure if I make everything as difficult as possible it'll cut down on leaning time :p

Far from perfect I know, but I'm slowly improving (I think!). C&C welcome.

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This guy had a bit of a stare...

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...eventually he decided he quite liked me so we shook hands! Thats my fat finger by the way.

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number 2 and number 5 are my faves :D

number 2 is staring you as if to say "excuse me but wtf are you doing?".
I actually laughed when I imagined that.

The detail in number one though is amazing, loving the little black spots on the green bug thing.
 
Thanks very much! I've only been taking photos for a few months, so I've still got a long way to go - far to many of my shots are mediocre ones rescued with photoshop!
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Can I ask where you find bugs like this? That may seem a stupid question but I really wouldn't know where to look.
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I found one of my most successfull hunting grounds to be in the shrubs and weeds alongside fields. Often where you get two eco systems meeting(edges of forrests, edges of fields, edges of medows etc) you get a lot of variety. As with all animals and creatures, places containing water are also a good mixing point. But if you slow right down(and then halve your speed) and get right down to ground level, you'll be amazed at what you can find even in your garden. :)
 
messiah khan said:
I found one of my most successfull hunting grounds to be in the shrubs and weeds alongside fields. Often where you get two eco systems meeting(edges of forrests, edges of fields, edges of medows etc) you get a lot of variety. As with all animals and creatures, places containing water are also a good mixing point. But if you slow right down(and then halve your speed) and get right down to ground level, you'll be amazed at what you can find even in your garden. :)
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I live in a top floor flat unfortunately :(

Thanks for the tip though, the only way I have of taking macro is using the macro mode on my Sigma 70-300 APO Macro which only gives 2:1 scale rather than 1:1.

Do you need a tripod for this kind of photography? I don't have very steady hands
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I live in a top floor flat unfortunately :(

Thanks for the tip though, the only way I have of taking macro is using the macro mode on my Sigma 70-300 APO Macro which only gives 2:1 scale rather than 1:1.

Do you need a tripod for this kind of photography? I don't have very steady hands
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Yeah, im planning on moving to a flat in the future which is not so good for nipping out in the garden. You could always try local parks if you don't mind being know as the weird one who hides in bushes. :D

1:2 (2:1 would be twice lifesize afaik) is still plenty enough to get decent macro shots. Im not sure what my old setup of 18-55mm lens+ closeup attachement did, but it couldn't be far off 1:2. Some macro stuff needs a tripod, but a lot, especially insect macro photography is nearly impossibly with a tripod as the subject moves too fast. All you need is decent light to keep the shutter speed up(This is where a decent flash will come in handy for gray days) and a steady hand to keep the subject in focus. :)
 
Thanks dude. Having only just got my camera and maxed out my credit card I am a little low on funds for any extra kit. I am going to go out next time it is sunny and try a bit of macro work but tbh I can see myself being pretty dissapointed with the results :(

I guess I just need to practice
 
These bugs were all found in the field closest to my house, which rather handily isn't being grazed this year so is full of flowers and insects. Go to anywhere green other than an urban park and sit down and you're likely to find all kinds of things crawling and jumping and flying!

The 70-300 should be pretty good for larger stuff like butterflies and dragonflies. These were all hand held - although tripods are generally useful for macro, they're pretty useless if you're bug hunting because everything moves around so much. Unless you've got loads of patience and are just staking out a particular plant/flower waiting for stuff to arrive.
 
I can imagine it is actually quite fun sitting on the edge of a field in the sun waiting for lots of little bugs to arrive....... :)

I have only messed around with the macro mode in Regents Park last time I was in London but I felt like a bit of an idiot taking pictures of the ground when loads of people were around me so I didn't get a chance to lie down and take pics of the bee's flying around.

In a field hopefully there won't be anyone else around :)
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I can imagine it is actually quite fun sitting on the edge of a field in the sun waiting for lots of little bugs to arrive....... :)

I have only messed around with the macro mode in Regents Park last time I was in London but I felt like a bit of an idiot taking pictures of the ground when loads of people were around me so I didn't get a chance to lie down and take pics of the bee's flying around.

In a field hopefully there won't be anyone else around :)
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It certainly is fun when its lovely weather. Although on Sunday I did question myself for a minute. I had found a spot where loads of ladybirds were hatching, so im sitting there, snapping away when I think to myself; "Im on my own, sitting in the middle of a pile of nettles talking to insects... wtf am I doing!" Then I thought "but im loving it, so who cares." :)
 
messiah khan said:
It certainly is fun when its lovely weather. Although on Sunday I did question myself for a minute. I had found a spot where loads of ladybirds were hatching, so im sitting there, snapping away when I think to myself; "Im on my own, sitting in the middle of a pile of nettles talking to insects... wtf am I doing!" Then I thought "but im loving it, so who cares." :)
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Haha, awesome. Enjoying it is the main thing, and your pics are stunning as well so it isn't just you that enjoys it :)
 
Aye, I still feel much happier taking photos when there's no one else around - its a general confidence thing which I intend to work on. Bug hunting is loads of fun though - always puts me in a really good mood despite the bleeding/nettled legs!
 
messiah khan said:
It certainly is fun when its lovely weather. Although on Sunday I did question myself for a minute. I had found a spot where loads of ladybirds were hatching, so im sitting there, snapping away when I think to myself; "Im on my own, sitting in the middle of a pile of nettles talking to insects... wtf am I doing!" Then I thought "but im loving it, so who cares." :)
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Heh, when I am on my own with the camera I talk to myself a lot! Is this common or just the first sign of madness?. I also swear a lot when the wind blows or when the subject moves! :D
 
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