DSLR Shots and Discussions

Alchemy · 07-08-2012, 01:12 PM

Great shot, Luna. I really want a macro lens myself.

HKYStormFront · 07-08-2012, 01:25 PM

very nice shot luna! you don't need a "macro" lens to shoot macro but it definitely helps. long zooms will typically get you what you want, especially on a crop body camera. to start off you might be better off spending money on some decent hand held reflectors and light diffusers. these help a TON when shooting macro

onzedge · 07-08-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

very nice shot luna! you don't need a "macro" lens to shoot macro but it definitely helps. long zooms will typically get you what you want, especially on a crop body camera. to start off you might be better off spending money on some decent hand held reflectors and light diffusers. these help a TON when shooting macro

That is good advice.

HKYStormFront · 07-08-2012, 01:44 PM

check here to see what i'm talking about:

collapsible diffuser | B&H Photo Video

for handheld, look for something in the 20-30" range i would imagine. they can fold up into a small pouch, easy to carry in a large (cargo) pocket or on a photo vest

LunaZ · 07-08-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

very nice shot luna! you don't need a "macro" lens to shoot macro but it definitely helps. long zooms will typically get you what you want, especially on a crop body camera. to start off you might be better off spending money on some decent hand held reflectors and light diffusers. these help a TON when shooting macro

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!

WARAT · 07-08-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

Those are really nice shots.
I find my car particularly hard to shoot because of it being white. Not sure what I'm doing wrong... pointers?

Personally, I shoot RAW that way I can fix my own exposure if I don't like how the camera blends the image. Most of the time I just use evaluative but there are times spot metering works. All depends on my surrounding and ambient lighting.

didymus · 07-08-2012, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the compliments guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

Cool shot -- even w/o a macro. I just ordered the 100mm 2.8L macro yesterday.

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 · 07-08-2012, 07:28 PM

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 · 07-08-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SailFree

Many of us already own some very useful reflectors--the sunshades in our windshields!

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.

WARAT · 07-09-2012, 09:32 AM

That's an awesome shot didymus

Alchemy · 07-09-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WARAT

That's an awesome shot didymus

I second that!!

onzedge · 07-09-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WARAT

That's an awesome shot didymus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I second that!!

k20z3 · 07-09-2012, 07:10 PM

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1341879015.232443.jpgThis is one of my favorites rest on www.clintearhart.com or www.facebook.com/clintearhartphotographer

ThePhotographer

onzedge · 07-09-2012, 11:06 PM

Uh oh... delivery day today. I was too lazy to shoot this with anything but my Droid.

WARAT · 07-10-2012, 12:54 AM

nice prime you got there sir..

07-08-2012, 01:12 PM	#1246 (permalink)
Alchemy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 4,855 Drives: to acquire tickets Rep Power: 3524	Great shot, Luna. I really want a macro lens myself. __________________ Ryan 314WHP \| 260LB-FT \| STILLEN \| KONI \| SWIFT \| STOPTECH \| Z1 \| PROJECT MU \| CNT \| UPREV \| FORGESTAR \| BRIDGESTONE \| PWJDM \| ENEOS \| MOTUL

07-08-2012, 01:25 PM	#1247 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 52	very nice shot luna! you don't need a "macro" lens to shoot macro but it definitely helps. long zooms will typically get you what you want, especially on a crop body camera. to start off you might be better off spending money on some decent hand held reflectors and light diffusers. these help a TON when shooting macro __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

07-08-2012, 01:44 PM	#1249 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 52	check here to see what i'm talking about: collapsible diffuser \| B&H Photo Video for handheld, look for something in the 20-30" range i would imagine. they can fold up into a small pouch, easy to carry in a large (cargo) pocket or on a photo vest __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

07-08-2012, 07:28 PM	#1253 (permalink)
SailFree Base Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 173 Drives: 12 370Z GM 7ATS NavS Rep Power: 13	Reflectors 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.

07-09-2012, 07:10 PM	#1258 (permalink)
k20z3 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver CO Age: 33 Posts: 2,146 Drives: 2006 Civic SI HFP Rep Power: 405	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1341879015.232443.jpgThis is one of my favorites rest on www.clintearhart.com or www.facebook.com/clintearhartphotographer ThePhotographer __________________ 2006 RALLYE RED HONDA CIVIC SI HFP Clint's Helpful Photoshop Hints!

07-09-2012, 09:32 AM	#1255 (permalink)
WARAT Base Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 23 Drives: 2008 G37 Rep Power: 13	That's an awesome shot didymus

07-10-2012, 12:54 AM	#1260 (permalink)
WARAT Base Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 23 Drives: 2008 G37 Rep Power: 13	nice prime you got there sir..

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