How I shoot MACRO - New Accessories and Lighting 2010 Jul

After trying Stephen lighting @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/9578475@N02/

i. light tent @ http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-i-shoot-macro-new-start.html
ii. concave + light tent @ http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-i-shoot-macro-new-accessories-and.html

I am happy with the results for few months, and managed to modify the light sources as below
i. concave & V
ii. concave, V & Light tent
iii. UV & Light tent


some result as below
i. concave, V & Light tent




ii. UV & Light tent


(will share more details and results after I back from MAL)

Even I am happy with the result above, but I still need to do something to avoid the light tent which may not suitable for some of the shy/sensitive bugs....so I am starting another version - BVCL version

all are same as "V" (secret V) with concave & Light tent but I add on a bracket to tent to move the light little backward so I can create bigger diffuser (so my ylight source is bigger and softer) until a point I can remove the Light tent.....

here is the picture of the setup, it look huge but light and result will be share later (stay tune)

sorry for the picture quality as using my HTC .. WB and quality all out ..

.... more result of the new lighting will be share ............................................


[updated 13 Jul 2010 after 1st try on the setup on field.... 

- light look great as other combination discuss above
- little bulky (still)
- while MP-E65 change magnification, it create in-convenient where I need to adjust both site for different angle and distance
- better shadow and highlight 


will share result later

How I shoot MACRO - Results of 2010 May Lighting

am busy these few days with works, family ... just want to share some quick result from the new lighting discuss in May 2010 Lighting
or


the light look amazing , it produce the softness and the natural look (flashless) which I think I will continue to use this minimum another better version is out

i. this little termite move non-stop and I found it will rest for 2-3 s every very move .. then this is my opportunity to use this reflective insect to test my new lighting


ii. a wasp just woke up


more will be coming ....

How I shoot MACRO - New Accessories and Lighting 2010 May

after 2 month stop sharing my MACRO setup .. even I change/test it after few version but this is another workable Macro lighting setup for Canon MP-E65 & MT-24

My previous Lighting Share
http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-i-shoot-macro-new-start.html

Some of the Accessories was bought and test on field few months back but I just not too sure it will be apply and busy to share it ... but now I am pretty sure these actually help me for macro shooting



1. gaffer tape
2. Wimberley Plamp
3. Kaiser flash Hot shoe
4. Vellum Paper
5. Japan flash hot shoe


and beside my above accessories below is my current light setup



more of my MACRO setup
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liewwk/sets/72157611341564765/

How I Shoot MACRO - Panorama ...

these are some old pictures ... (I am doing full archiving and re-PP some "good" pictures to share @ www.liewwkphoto.com

while I shoot this , my gang ask why you need to do panorama for macro ??? I thought MACRO should shoot as big as possible ???and if not then just zoom out to smaller magnification .. then put the bug in full frame ... y ??? those want to know why .. may be email me :D or I will share later :D

I found a Huntsman Spider catch a Hoverfly (ohhh my lovely hover) and I could just shoot close to see how it eat as I only bring my MP-E65... so the smallest magnification I had is 1:1 .....so how I put this moment into a full frame ??? very quick, I lay on wet river ground, and with very fast speed I shoot 4 pictures with different focus point (right side, left side and 2 x center [in case I miss the focus] )...and here are origins picture I shooted

left


right


center


then I use Photoshop "merge" function to merge 3 into 1 .. :D .. so I got a large resolution picture in final a 7979 x 3387 :D

and a final image


or a large view click http://www.liewwkphoto.com/image-viewer.htm?Fgallery2-32

How I Shoot MACRO - Reflector is important gear

have prepare this 2009 but not able to finish the pictures process and writing ..but just have to finish it as I have too many thing pending in my "working hadisc" ...

I use to brought a reflector and my gang or some friend will ask .. why you bring such big diffuser for macro outing .. and we are not shooting portrait .. but :D actually I need it for my "model" (MACRO bug, insect .....)

there are situations we can't solve the environment impact to our picture/video ... and we can't control the bug/insects and environment .. so how ?

one of the situation that I want to discuss here is "harsh light on the reflective bugs body". some bugs e.g. ladybird, ants, beetle... etc bodies tend to reflect easily no matter we use flash or not (even use Natural light/fill flash if any light fall on their body... the light will just reflect badly and show in our picture ...)

e.g. of this wasp, it stand on a place where light is strong hit on it's head and without using any additional gear ... this will be our output


how I resolve this ? if the environment and bug not allow me to get closer then I have no choice PP the reflective part will be the only solution for me and I share it before
MACRO PP - Clone Reflective Body

but if the wasp allow me to go closer with additional Reflector and put in front of the light source to the main object then I can easily get picture with same distance , same setting, ... without any PP



too bad no one with me .. I use tripod and release cable one hand and the other for reflector .... no one snap picture for me on actual field work .. but next time if I shoot with my gang ... then I will share some picture here


*** both picture shoot without crop, different F number, fill flash (same power) and while raw-->Jpeg only increase contrast, resize

How I shoot Macro - not so easy MACRO model - Robberfly !!!

normally robberfly always good model for macro shooter as

1. they stay still
2. can easily get closer
3. even they fly off, will come back to same spot or nearer
4. a lot of details

below are few e.g.









but last week, I met a robberfly shy, sensitive, and it's dark body make it be a tough model for me ... luckily it still like common robberfly ... it will even fly off but then it will be flying back to nearby .... so I can have few chances to test what is the best way to shoot this "giant robberfly" (it is ~30-35mm in size, so far it is bigger I met)

i. for 1st shot it .. I don;t to missed the chance to get a record shot where I handheld set the SS to max and using full flash ... and a harsh result is out ... expect



ii. then it flew off after my strong flash, then I know it allow me get closer so decide to use tripod .. and give a try of Natural Light (without flash) but result out is like terrible shadow on it's body (no details at all ... )
- the file was corrupted and not able to share this


iii. but then I give another try on very low fill flash (which I normally apply to reduce shadow of the object as discuss before http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2009/12/macro-natural-light-or-flash.html

- flash setting "Manual" 1/64-1/32
and the result just like the Natural light, it give bad shadow on it's body


iv. I am confuse and not sure how to overcome this so decide to use stronger fill flash (1/2-1/4) but the result still

- flash setting "Manual" 1/2-1/4



I would say, these are bad ... harsh, bad shadow (even I can recover it by using PP) but not really sure how .. and what is the best way to shoot this "best" MACRO model .....

so after rest for a while a Nescafe, roti Bakar... and spend few more minutes with the Wasp lay egg



v. so I want to try another new "fill flash" method
- I use TTL FEC -1
- then instead of faster shutter speed I use the slower shutter speed where it should give correct exposure (just like shooting with Natural Light)
- the output some how is best among all methods I tried ....




not sure is this a better method of fill flash or not using TTL instead Manual but it WORK on this monster ... and it proven (I have many shots after I know this method is working) .....

How I shoot Macro - Natural Light or Flash ???

I am using full flash, fill flash and natural light for my macro work. and how I differentiate and decide which one to use (some how this related how I get my BG as discuss in http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2009/02/macro-pp2-how-i-control-background.html...ok let discuss

always follow rules below

1. Natural Light is my 1st priority
- if environment light is good
- environment allow me to use monopod (for 1" - 1/30) and tripod (>1")
- wind (this is main killer for my NL)... I will discuss how I over come this in future post
- bug is not move or move slow

Why ?
- NL will bring more BG color compare to other
- will not scare the bugs away

sample of fill flash
i. sample one to compare


ii. this is how I get the clean BG





2. Fill Flash
- what this mean using manual flash (small normally I refer to 1/32-1/128) to fill in the minor under exp
- if environment light is good
- environment allow me to use monopod (for 1" - 1/30) and tripod (>1")
- wind (this is main killer for my NL)... I will discuss how I over come this in future post
- bug is not move or move slow
(same as above and why I need fill ?)
- there are occasion, I still use flash but all above requirements meet where I should use NL instead .. why ?
i. shadow ..a sample I got for this
- a sample of shadow I refer

with fill flash


NL



ii. some bug (dark color)tend to have too much shadow while shooting NL so I will fill the light onto it's body to resolve the shadow concern



this dark blue beetle is a good sample but too bad I failed to capture it without flash

iii. fill flash object tend to be more saturate in color. this is not really my good reason as I can easily add saturation @RAW-->Jpeg

a same sample across 3 methods I discuss



3. Full flash, some time I mean using TTL , eTTL ... and this don't matter what FEC [flash exposure compensation](hmmm this is CANON term and not really sure what other call ... ) ... as long as we let the body decide what do use mean it is call Full for me ...

- this is good to freeze the moment where include wind, handshake, bug move ...
- need small aperture for more DOF so slower Shutter speed
- tend to more sharp ? (not really but then as more DOF and avoid those movement so picture definite look sharper)
- lost BG , just like below


anything else ? may be I missed out something you want to know .. always drop me a message so I will reply you

How I shoot Macro - Different Approach

I am thinking to get different MACRO/Close-up shooting approach ... and here is one new - wide angle to shoot the object with it's environment... but this is only apply for big object ... so far I managed to get 2 types of suitable model (horned frog & Stick insect)


for standard macro


what I trying to get now




What do you see ? prefer standard macro or the new one ?

so now ... I need my 24mm in my beg while macro outing ...