DSLR Shots and Discussions

LunaZ

Thanks!
So in the shot above, would I have wanted to diffuse the light, or reflect more light onto the butterfly?
I do have a refelctor/diffuser already, but it's much too big for chasing insects around the garden LOL!

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didymus

Thanks for the compliments guys

Thats a pretty good shot. Butterflies are one of the hardest insects to shoot.
Looks like you didn't use a flash, right? Flash is the key to doing macro. You want to get the flash either on a bracket or handheld off the camera so you can control where the light comes from. And like mentioned you want a diffuse source. Some people use macro ring flashes but they tend to be very harsh/stark. I had good luck with an inflatable softbox like this
Amazon.com: Opteka Inflatable Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser for Canon EOS, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Sigma, & Other External Flash Units: Camera & Photo
The point of using a flash (aside from exposure) is also to help separate from the background, which is a bit distracting in your image. Also why using a longer zoom is helpful, to get a nice blurred bokeh

You'll love it, it's razor sharp. Should be an 'L' lens

And since we're talking macro, heres an old shot, note how the shallow DOF and long lens help isolate the subject

SailFree

Many of us already own some very useful reflectors--the sunshades in our windshields! Some come in silver on one side, gold on the other, the latter perfect for changing the Kelvin a bit more toward sunset. If you already own one, then it's free!

In these tough econ times, cheap stuff can be good. I made beanbags/sandbags by putting some rice into plastic bags and then putting those bags into old socks and sewing the ends shut. Still working fine after decades of use.

Rest the beanbags over your car windowsill if shooting from your car, or on top of a fence or rock or log or in the crotch of a tree if shooting in the field. Can be almost as steady as a tripod and lots handier to carry around.

LunaZ

Thanks for the tip. I'll try adding a flash next time.
My butterfly bushes have regular visitors, so I'm sure I'll get another opportunity.

Funny you should post that... one time I forgot my photography specific reflector, but I remembered that I had a sun shield in the car. The matte silver of the car sun shield was a little cooler than a white reflector, but it was an easy fix in Lightroom.

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