[swanlefitte]

Another couple of Paper Wasps, these were building a new nest in the backyard on a another lily plant.

that close up is really cool. I feel like the right antenna is sticking to my monitor.

[photolady95]

that close up is really cool. I feel like the right antenna is sticking to my monitor.

Thanks! They're easy to shoot if you catch them early in the morning, or late in the evening, when they slow down. I shot this with my 35-105mm macro @105 with the Raynox DCR-250.

[noelcmn]

And a Crane fly in the home allowed to attempt a few shots- rather difficult when its resting on the lace curtains.


So I moved it in a glass

[swanlefitte]

I just found out our insectarium is the only stand alone one in north America. Turning 10 this weekend.
Audubon Butterfly Garden And Insectarium - New Orleans - Audubon Nature Institute

[JensE]

What I do is pick a magnification using the focus ring, set the camera to Continuous High shooting, and then to attempt a focus stack, I brace as well as I can and fire a volley while moving the camera slowly backwards.

Even if it's been a while, thanks for describing the process. Now that it's getting cooler, I may have a chance to try it with my subjects. They may still move too much.

p.s.: If I could improve one thing, I would make a better diffuser: one that would "droop" down on each side of the lens. Fill those shadows just a bit more...

You'd weaken the depth cues, your fly doesn't look like it would need any less directed light and may become too flat, a delicate balance. I started to experiment with an asymmetric (adjustable) ring flash for the same reason, but need to build an additional diffuser for it. Another thought may be to use another light to fill in off-camera. I sometimes set up an umbrella next to or even over my entire 'target area', like this, which also helps to avoid too dark or even black backgrounds.

A sample shot, which has been lit using a single reflective umbrella, direct sunlight blocked by it, as the main light source. The diffuse daylight helps to 'fill-in' at maybe -2EV. Square crop from a 1:1 shot on a K-5.

[stihlmania]

I still do not know what type of fly this is!

[swanlefitte]

This one was all over my mint like a sucker fish on algae. Not sure what it was after..



Hanging on to a green onion after the rain. Strange pic from DOF.


Last, I was going for my camera because of a strange thing in the soil of my green onions. It was gone in the 30 seconds to grab my camera. Moved the pot and found these.

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Last edited by swanlefitte; 02-19-2019 at 10:58 AM.

[photolady95]

Lubbers came to visit this afternoon, got these two shots I've processed so far.

[dadipentak]

Given their bright colors and inclination to congregate with hungry birds feeding in the vicinity, I suspect these guys taste really bad.

[noelcmn]

Hanky panky - with the kit lens and screw on magnifying glass


And with the Tamron 70-300mm

[mohb]

Two brave insects out on a chilly autumn day, taken with Sigma 50-150

[swanlefitte]

Hanky panky - with the kit lens and screw on magnifying glass


And with the Tamron 70-300mm

Great shots. Reminds me of a joke. How many flies does it take to screw in a lens? Two but they can't fit in a 40mm XS.

[Bud]

I didn't even recognize the potential drama in the first shot, until I opened the file. The good news is that it was the first image in the series

Images captured with K-5IIs and DA*300

Giant Swallowtail on a zinnia... and a Carolina Mantis


Giant Swallowtail on tithonia rotundifolia 'Mexican Sunflower'


Giant Swallowtail on a zinnia bloom

[swanlefitte]

a moth came out of hiding after the thunderstorm.

[Bud]

California Mantis in Norwood, Colorado.... they've got this camouflage thing figured out

K-5IIs and Vivitar 105mm f/2.5 Series One Macro