Macromania

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:23

Yet again I got caught out by the rain. I think I might just buy a waterproof camera casing, then I can stay out even in thunderstorms. But im quite happy I went out today, as im very happy with todays hunt, as a couple of the shots I consider to be my best work to date;

1.

2. (wtf are these things, every time I see them, they look more evil)

3.

4.

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:24

5.

6.

7.

8. (Pictures don't do this chaps wings justice)

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:24

9.

10. (Jack climbed up the beanshoot)

11. (Then jack realised he was infact a Ladybird and fell down, lol.)

ChroniC · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:28

amazing detail on these shots, thats a hell of a lens you have, and where do you live, or are there weird bug like this everywhere?

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:30

Cheers. I love my Sigma 150mm

<--- thats where I live. And yup, you will find stuff like this everywhere in the uk, and possibly even more exotic ones the further south you go.

alexisonfire · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:40

messiah khan said:
(wtf are these things, every time I see them, they look more evil)

Mecoptera.

Nice photos, enjoy your landscapes better though. Theres only so much insect macro a man can take in one month

Scam · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:42

Awesome work yet again. 6 and 9 are my favourites

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 16:43

alexisonfire said:
Mecoptera.

Nice photos, enjoy your landscapes better though. Theres only so much insect macro a man can take in one month

Yeah, but landscapes means going places. Insect macros can be done in the fields out back. And im going to be at least doing this for a whole year to document all the species throughout the year. Im already discovering new species hatching.

Topcat · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:05

Really nice photo's again..

A question regarding the lens, is it the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM ? I've been looking at that one. Secondly are you taking those shots handheld or with a tripod ? How much processing do you do on them afterwards, are they taken in RAW or as is JPG.

Keep up the good work.

Raikiri · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:09

messiah khan said:
2. (wtf are these things, every time I see them, they look more evil)
[/IMG]

Clearly some superior race of flying horse/scorpions :eek:

Great pics again

alexisonfire · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:11

Raikiri said:
Clearly some superior race of flying horse/scorpions

alexisonfire said:
Mecoptera.

Becca · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:12

Wow, i love all of your shots. I'm only new to the whole photography thing, and haven't posted any of my own yet, but i hope one day mine will be even half as good as yours!!

Would also be interested to know if you use a tripod?

Raikiri · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:12

Yes, I saw your post. However I wasn't being entirely serious.

Arsey · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:13

I love #11 just for the story, it's like you can hear him saying "noooooo".

All of them are excellent though and just makes me want to get a DSLR

Would it be possible to post the original of any of those just to see what post processing has been done? Cheers.

alexisonfire · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:15

Raikiri said:
Yes, I saw your post. However I wasn't being entirely serious.

I gathered you didn't really think it was a flying horse, but thought you were still unaware of what it was

NorthstaNder · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:39

No 6 for me. That would get 11 out of 10 from me. The rest a paltry 10 out of 10

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:39

Topcat said:
Really nice photo's again..

A question regarding the lens, is it the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM ? I've been looking at that one. Secondly are you taking those shots handheld or with a tripod ? How much processing do you do on them afterwards, are they taken in RAW or as is JPG.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers.

Yup, thats the lens. All these shots were taken handheld. Im too lazy to take the tripod with me all the time, and anyway chasing after bugs would be nearly impossible with a tripod. A monopod might possibly work though. All of them have had some processing done to them, as for how much, that varies with each shot. Normally its just tweaking the levels, increasing contrast and saturation a bit and sharpening. All my shots are in jpeg mode at the moment until Adobe releases RAW support in Lightroom for the D40x.

Raikiri said:
Clearly some superior race of flying horse/scorpions

Great pics again

Thank you. As alexisonfire has revealed its a Mecoptera.

Mecoptera are sometimes called scorpionflies after their largest non-flea family, Panorpidae, in which the males have enlarged genitals that look similar to the stinger of a scorpion

Delightfull. Quite an apt name though.

Becca said:
Wow, i love all of your shots. I'm only new to the whole photography thing, and haven't posted any of my own yet, but i hope one day mine will be even half as good as yours!! Would also be interested to know if you use a tripod?

Cheers. Nope, not used a tripod for these shots. I tend only to use my tripod when doing landscapes tbh.

Arsey said:
I love #11 just for the story, it's like you can hear him saying "noooooo".

All of them are excellent though and just makes me want to get a DSLR

Would it be possible to post the original of any of those just to see what post processing has been done? Cheers.

Hehe, yeah I think thats my favourite as well. He was alright in the end though, although maybe a little dizzy. Yeah, i'll post one or two up in a minute.

Messiah Khan · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:54

Origional;

Edited;

Origional;

Edited;

Hope that shows what I do a bit.

DailyGeek · 24 Jun 2007 at 17:58

Wow - I am so envious

Ranger · 24 Jun 2007 at 18:53

Some really great shots again Mr kahn. Nice one.

How long would you say you spend editing each shot on average?