... it's always good to look close 14 - Lacewing ...

saw this bug @ Cibodas , Java , Indonesia where we are leaving (decide not to go for Bluetail Trogan .. it is too far and we (photographer) were just too slow ....)

1st time meet this bug and it never move, think it should be good model for us

the metallic green eye look amazing


full body view

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

planning for new MACRO lighting ... any idea to share ???

am planning to get better MACRO lighting ... and studying other's and going to test it out on next week long holiday ... but then ... should I temp ignore my mt24 ??? with the flash too close to the object actually I can't do much ...

hmmmmmmmmmmmm... any idea ?

... it's always good to look close 13 - Wasp ...

a dangerous bug to get close ... recently wasp keep few kids in Malaysia a blog talk about it@http://kampua4life.blogspot.com/2009/11/sarawak-killer-wasps.html .. but I am pretty sure not what I have here ... but then if it stink u .. mean you going to be hurt

not easy to get close but if can find it in the evening or early morning will be easy to get close as they are not really active this time

... it's always good to look close 12 - Cicadas ...

this known to be very noisy bug which normally attach on tree body :D ..

the closeup show this bug actually really beautiful



- is a shy bug and not really easy to get close ...


whole body view

Landscape Spot 3 - Pantai Jeram

a beach or fishing village not far from Kuala Lumpur (~1-1.5 hours drive from city), and this is good for sunset and it direct facing west... you may need to check on the tide level as it give different view and capture mood ...(pictures will share below)

Direction
- from Sungai Buloh toward Kuala Selangor
- after pass by Ijok
- arrive to a T junction
- turn right to Kuala Selangor, Sekinchan ...
- but we going to turn left toward klang
- keep ~5-6KM there is a signboard show Pantai Jeram with "Ikan Bakar" on your right

- a easy sunset spot where drive there and walk less than 10m
- but not much foreground ... while high tide

high tide
... losing my path ...


low tide
... Reflection ...


... stop here ...

... it's always good to look close 11 - Lantern Bug ...

this is a rare and beautiful bug ... and normally found on the tree body ... so far I only saw it 3 times and managed to capture 2 ...

It's long nose normally attract most of the viewer interest so close-up will be on it head -nose


the whole body view



and previous found of this rare bug