Macro by any means necessary club

Nass · 10-30-2011, 09:23 AM

Now that the insect season is prettymuch at an end in England, I've been playing a little with cross polarisation macro shots. Cross polarisation is where you have polarising film over the lens and a polariser - it cuts out reflections and means you're photographing into the subject.

Quite fun - this was 5mm wide at its top but I angled it so that you're only seeing a 2mm width. On a shot with a polariser but no polarising film you're still seeing a huge light reflection, but none on this. The flash was pointed more or less directly towards the face you're seeing, I've made (yet another) new setup which is working out quite well for me.

Nass · 11-02-2011, 04:28 PM

This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection.

Damian · 11-03-2011, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by Nass

This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection.

Nice depth in the wing casings. They look translucent.

Nass · 11-03-2011, 09:32 AM

Thx!

Same bug without xpol, I think I prefer that actually

Last edited by Nass; 05-08-2017 at 08:20 AM.

repaap · 11-04-2011, 12:48 PM

I prefer latter too. More A live like. great shot.

yeatzee · 12-01-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by Nass

This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection.

Now this is cool

**crewl1** · 12-21-2011, 01:30 AM - **2 Likes**

Thomas Shahan has been mentioned in other posts about extreme macro photography here. He is featured in this weeks Flickr blog as he has been published in National Geographic magazine.
Thomas Shahan’s Spiders in National Geographic

He uses a K-x with reversed lenses on extension tubes to get his shots. Thomas, if you are a member here, congrats!

yeatzee · 12-25-2011, 12:11 AM

Originally posted by crewl1

Thomas Shahan has been mentioned in other posts about extreme macro photography here. He is featured in this weeks Flickr blog as he has been published in National Geographic magazine.
Thomas Shahan’s Spiders in National Geographic

He uses a K-x with reversed lenses on extension tubes to get his shots. Thomas, if you are a member here, congrats!

My dream right there.

FWIW Thomas is not a member unless he's joined amidst my absense. Also those images were taken with the lowly K200d, but he now uses a K-x

Nass · 12-29-2011, 08:29 AM

These are some variations I shot yesterday. The subject isn't the most interesting but that wasn't the point of the exercise, which was about playing with some different diffuser setups, light angles and backgrounds. I figure that if I can get control and satisfaction over those 3 during the months when there are no insects then that should set me up to be able to do ok once the bugs are around.

The light setup is a smallHD field monitor with PC output showing a photoshop gradient. This works ok although there are colour temperature problems especially when using the 3100K Jansjo lights. Getting light right to the very front is still a problem because the working distance lens <==> model doesn't give you the clearance to point a flash that way. I'm looking for various kitchen containers to make a diffuser that I think will solve it but so far no luck, they tend to be the wrong type of plastic or coloured. I tried a pingpong ball but that's making my stuff really yellow. In terms of PP, Topaz detail, NoiseNinja and CS3 seems to be giving me what I need. Topaz is especially useful.

The stacks are all of 30 or so, so not especially deep. I have a newport but the connection pieces to cam and tripod are custom creations and the guy I spoke to is trying to fleece me for a lot of money - so I'm looking for an alternate supplier.

Nass · 01-05-2012, 12:11 PM

This is the eye of a dead fruitfly with a dead cheap noname microscope lens off my son's microscope:

~15 SOOC shots stacked, sharpness set to zero and no PP.

repaap · 01-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Nass

This is with a microscope lens:

~15 SOOC shots stacked, sharpness set to zero and no PP.

WOW thats close and really sharp! Previous set is really nice too.

yeatzee · 01-05-2012, 05:39 PM

what kind of objective Nass?

I'd love to shoot with my objective again but the pentax M42-microscope adapter I've been borrowing is no longer in my possession:ugh:

Nass · 01-10-2012, 03:06 PM

A really cheap and nasty noname 10x... really just to test to see what it's like =). Tricky as hell without a micrometer stage. Got myself a little insect examination stage (a needle thing to mount it on), lord it makes things easier. This is a really crappy stack with just 7 shots. Yay!

yeatzee · 01-10-2012, 10:53 PM

I've always used styrofoam cups as my wrap around diffusers, cutting a slot in them for the vertical holder to slide in/out

repaap · 01-11-2012, 01:53 AM

Originally posted by Nass

A really cheap and nasty noname 10x... really just to test to see what it's like =). Tricky as hell without a micrometer stage. Got myself a little insect examination stage (a needle thing to mount it on), lord it makes things easier. This is a really crappy stack with just 7 shots. Yay!

Now! this looks awesome!

01-05-2012, 12:11 PM	#235
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	This is the eye of a dead fruitfly with a dead cheap noname microscope lens off my son's microscope: ~15 SOOC shots stacked, sharpness set to zero and no PP. Last edited by Nass; 01-06-2012 at 03:41 AM.

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10-30-2011, 09:23 AM	#226
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Now that the insect season is prettymuch at an end in England, I've been playing a little with cross polarisation macro shots. Cross polarisation is where you have polarising film over the lens and a polariser - it cuts out reflections and means you're photographing into the subject. Quite fun - this was 5mm wide at its top but I angled it so that you're only seeing a 2mm width. On a shot with a polariser but no polarising film you're still seeing a huge light reflection, but none on this. The flash was pointed more or less directly towards the face you're seeing, I've made (yet another) new setup which is working out quite well for me.

11-02-2011, 04:28 PM	#227
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection.

11-03-2011, 09:21 AM	#228
Damian Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 278	Originally posted by Nass This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection. Nice depth in the wing casings. They look translucent.

11-03-2011, 09:32 AM	#229
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Thx! Same bug without xpol, I think I prefer that actually Last edited by Nass; 05-08-2017 at 08:20 AM.

11-04-2011, 12:48 PM	#230
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	I prefer latter too. More A live like. great shot.

12-01-2011, 11:23 AM	#231
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by Nass This worked ok. hardest bug I could think of in terms of flash reflection. Now this is cool

12-21-2011, 01:30 AM - 2 Likes	#232
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Thomas Shahan has been mentioned in other posts about extreme macro photography here. He is featured in this weeks Flickr blog as he has been published in National Geographic magazine. Thomas Shahan’s Spiders in National Geographic He uses a K-x with reversed lenses on extension tubes to get his shots. Thomas, if you are a member here, congrats!

12-25-2011, 12:11 AM	#233
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by crewl1 Thomas Shahan has been mentioned in other posts about extreme macro photography here. He is featured in this weeks Flickr blog as he has been published in National Geographic magazine. Thomas Shahan’s Spiders in National Geographic He uses a K-x with reversed lenses on extension tubes to get his shots. Thomas, if you are a member here, congrats! My dream right there. FWIW Thomas is not a member unless he's joined amidst my absense. Also those images were taken with the lowly K200d, but he now uses a K-x

12-29-2011, 08:29 AM	#234
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	These are some variations I shot yesterday. The subject isn't the most interesting but that wasn't the point of the exercise, which was about playing with some different diffuser setups, light angles and backgrounds. I figure that if I can get control and satisfaction over those 3 during the months when there are no insects then that should set me up to be able to do ok once the bugs are around. The light setup is a smallHD field monitor with PC output showing a photoshop gradient. This works ok although there are colour temperature problems especially when using the 3100K Jansjo lights. Getting light right to the very front is still a problem because the working distance lens <==> model doesn't give you the clearance to point a flash that way. I'm looking for various kitchen containers to make a diffuser that I think will solve it but so far no luck, they tend to be the wrong type of plastic or coloured. I tried a pingpong ball but that's making my stuff really yellow. In terms of PP, Topaz detail, NoiseNinja and CS3 seems to be giving me what I need. Topaz is especially useful. The stacks are all of 30 or so, so not especially deep. I have a newport but the connection pieces to cam and tripod are custom creations and the guy I spoke to is trying to fleece me for a lot of money - so I'm looking for an alternate supplier.

01-05-2012, 12:49 PM	#236
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by Nass This is with a microscope lens: ~15 SOOC shots stacked, sharpness set to zero and no PP. WOW thats close and really sharp! Previous set is really nice too.

01-05-2012, 05:39 PM	#237
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	what kind of objective Nass? I'd love to shoot with my objective again but the pentax M42-microscope adapter I've been borrowing is no longer in my possession:ugh:

01-10-2012, 03:06 PM	#238
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	A really cheap and nasty noname 10x... really just to test to see what it's like =). Tricky as hell without a micrometer stage. Got myself a little insect examination stage (a needle thing to mount it on), lord it makes things easier. This is a really crappy stack with just 7 shots. Yay!

01-10-2012, 10:53 PM	#239
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	I've always used styrofoam cups as my wrap around diffusers, cutting a slot in them for the vertical holder to slide in/out

01-11-2012, 01:53 AM	#240
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Originally posted by Nass A really cheap and nasty noname 10x... really just to test to see what it's like =). Tricky as hell without a micrometer stage. Got myself a little insect examination stage (a needle thing to mount it on), lord it makes things easier. This is a really crappy stack with just 7 shots. Yay! Now! this looks awesome!