Capturing Flying Insects Techniques

monotok · 07-04-2011, 04:07 PM

Hello all,
I have read several forums and discussions on the internet about the topic. However most people recommend:

Flash (1 above the sun light)
1/250 Exposure
f11 ish
ISO 100

I seem to be the only one who has spent many days not using flash but getting surprisingly ok shots!
I tend to set the exposure to 1/6000 and ISO Auto upto a maximum of 1600, I set the shooting mode to high speed. I hold the shutter button down and continuously shoot hoping they will fly off the flower etc.

I was wondering how other people seem to capture the insects in flight. My favorite is the bee because they will land and then fly off quickly so you can get a good shot!
The following are some examples:
They are taken with the kit lens 18-55mm without post processing except a few, some are also cropped.

Hope to hear of some new and interesting techniques!

hcc · 07-04-2011, 08:43 PM

Without being an expert of insect-in-flight, I think that you should choose what suits you best. Your shots demonstrates already a superb mastering.

Definitely you want to use maximum shutter speed (1/6,0000 to 1/8,000 s). Personally, and for similar shots, I would use Hi continuous shooting and MF. The first would ensure that I get a few good shots out of the burst. The second enable me to bypass the AF system and to shoot faster. I typically adjust the distance on the lens frist, before focusing manually for fine adjustements.

Food for thoughts...

monotok · 07-05-2011, 03:14 AM

So do you adjust the manual focus as the camera is shooting a burst?

hcc · 07-05-2011, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by monotok

So do you adjust the manual focus as the camera is shooting a burst?

Not necessariy. Once in focus and with continuous shooting, the camera shoots the burst until out of focus. This works also with Catch in focus.

mysticcowboy · 07-05-2011, 09:47 PM

From what I understand you've got the right technique, the shotgun, or in your case machine gun approach. Even still macro photography generates a high percentage of out of focus photos. I use the same idea in theater photography. It takes a lot of photos to get ones with everyone's eyes all open and with pleasant expressions on their faces, all in very low light.

Caddis · 07-06-2011, 02:03 AM

One option is to go for a long tele with short focus distance and some cropping (autofocus on).

Here is a shot with a DA*300 on a K-7.
( I find out for me this is a more easy setup to use for the flying bugs)

Trygve

monotok · 07-06-2011, 02:26 AM

yep, I think I went through many many rubbish or missed shots, some were mistakenly captured with ISO 100 and were very but dark but i recovered them. I think that proved to me some of the reasons to use RAW.

@Caddis I can imagine that would be easier as you can stand back without scaring the insect before you have taken a shot.
Did you take that with a tripod because I would have thought it could be unsteady at that tele?
The bee is in very good detail (:, what shutter speed did you use to freeze that wing?

Last edited by monotok; 07-06-2011 at 02:27 AM. Reason: More info

Caddis · 07-06-2011, 02:53 AM

@monotok. I shoot handheld with DA*300F4 lens. The lens is not big and heavy, and the autofocus motor on the lens are quit fast. The shutterspeed on the picture was 1/500 sec and the aperture f6.3.
Here is one picture with DA*300 on a K-5 (still handheld) on bug that was not in the flying mode

for showing how the lens perform.

1/800 sec, f8.0

Trygve

monotok · 07-06-2011, 03:32 AM

That is a very nice picture, did you use flash? There is a tiny bit of reflection on the wasp which makes it very clear!

Caddis · 07-06-2011, 03:57 AM - **1 Like**

No flash only the sun .

Here is on more from the same day

**Aristophanes** · 07-06-2011, 05:14 AM

Pre-focus,. Wait. Ring flash helps. Patience.

07-04-2011, 04:07 PM	#1
monotok Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Suffolk Photos: Albums Posts: 32	Capturing Flying Insects Techniques Hello all, I have read several forums and discussions on the internet about the topic. However most people recommend: Flash (1 above the sun light) 1/250 Exposure f11 ish ISO 100 I seem to be the only one who has spent many days not using flash but getting surprisingly ok shots! I tend to set the exposure to 1/6000 and ISO Auto upto a maximum of 1600, I set the shooting mode to high speed. I hold the shutter button down and continuously shoot hoping they will fly off the flower etc. I was wondering how other people seem to capture the insects in flight. My favorite is the bee because they will land and then fly off quickly so you can get a good shot! The following are some examples: They are taken with the kit lens 18-55mm without post processing except a few, some are also cropped. Hope to hear of some new and interesting techniques!

07-04-2011, 08:43 PM	#2
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,929	Without being an expert of insect-in-flight, I think that you should choose what suits you best. Your shots demonstrates already a superb mastering. Definitely you want to use maximum shutter speed (1/6,0000 to 1/8,000 s). Personally, and for similar shots, I would use Hi continuous shooting and MF. The first would ensure that I get a few good shots out of the burst. The second enable me to bypass the AF system and to shoot faster. I typically adjust the distance on the lens frist, before focusing manually for fine adjustements. Food for thoughts... Last edited by hcc; 07-04-2011 at 10:15 PM.

07-06-2011, 03:57 AM - 1 Like	#10
Caddis Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 68	No flash only the sun . Here is on more from the same day Last edited by Caddis; 07-06-2011 at 04:20 AM.

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07-05-2011, 03:14 AM	#3
monotok Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Suffolk Photos: Albums Posts: 32 Original Poster	So do you adjust the manual focus as the camera is shooting a burst?

07-05-2011, 12:27 PM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,929	Originally posted by monotok So do you adjust the manual focus as the camera is shooting a burst? Not necessariy. Once in focus and with continuous shooting, the camera shoots the burst until out of focus. This works also with Catch in focus.

07-05-2011, 09:47 PM	#5
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	From what I understand you've got the right technique, the shotgun, or in your case machine gun approach. Even still macro photography generates a high percentage of out of focus photos. I use the same idea in theater photography. It takes a lot of photos to get ones with everyone's eyes all open and with pleasant expressions on their faces, all in very low light.

07-06-2011, 02:03 AM	#6
Caddis Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 68	One option is to go for a long tele with short focus distance and some cropping (autofocus on). Here is a shot with a DA*300 on a K-7. ( I find out for me this is a more easy setup to use for the flying bugs) Trygve

07-06-2011, 02:26 AM	#7
monotok Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Suffolk Photos: Albums Posts: 32 Original Poster	yep, I think I went through many many rubbish or missed shots, some were mistakenly captured with ISO 100 and were very but dark but i recovered them. I think that proved to me some of the reasons to use RAW. @Caddis I can imagine that would be easier as you can stand back without scaring the insect before you have taken a shot. Did you take that with a tripod because I would have thought it could be unsteady at that tele? The bee is in very good detail (:, what shutter speed did you use to freeze that wing? Last edited by monotok; 07-06-2011 at 02:27 AM. Reason: More info

07-06-2011, 02:53 AM	#8
Caddis Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 68	@monotok. I shoot handheld with DA300F4 lens. The lens is not big and heavy, and the autofocus motor on the lens are quit fast. The shutterspeed on the picture was 1/500 sec and the aperture f6.3. Here is one picture with DA300 on a K-5 (still handheld) on bug that was not in the flying mode for showing how the lens perform. 1/800 sec, f8.0 Trygve

07-06-2011, 03:32 AM	#9
monotok Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Suffolk Photos: Albums Posts: 32 Original Poster	That is a very nice picture, did you use flash? There is a tiny bit of reflection on the wasp which makes it very clear!

07-06-2011, 05:14 AM	#11
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Pre-focus,. Wait. Ring flash helps. Patience.

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