You guys are aware of this guy's K200 photos, right?

uccemebug · 12-16-2010, 03:00 AM

Originally posted by philbaum

Now this is a guy who should be signed up for Pentax as a rep for their cameras!!!

Great idea, Phil! Hand the man some WR gear and he can shoot in the rain, maybe even bringing out a whole new world....

Jonson PL · 12-17-2010, 08:14 AM

Very impressive, and a great video

pentax user · 12-17-2010, 08:41 AM

don't these bugs fly away when you get so close?

idkjai · 12-17-2010, 08:55 AM

He probably took many many many shots until he was satisfied. He did say something about patience. ;]

**david94903** · 12-17-2010, 01:55 PM

Amazingly stunning. And wonderfully inspirational. Thank you.

GoneToTheDogs · 12-17-2010, 04:35 PM

I'm interested in knowing how he got the macro videos before the stills were shown. They were pretty impressive as well.

-Matt

r00t_b33r · 12-17-2010, 07:46 PM

wow, those shots are crazy... i remember seeing some photos and he uses a *ist DL as well... amazing pics from this guy

Pablom · 12-17-2010, 08:01 PM

Great stuff. Indeed the camera model has very little to do with the outcome.
very inspiring photographs

Venturi · 12-18-2010, 01:09 AM - **1 Like**

Thomas gave a 2-hour presentation to our photo group here in Tulsa this past summer. He's quite an interesting character to say the least.

Interestingly enough, he doesn't give a hoot about what the gear is and has zero real interest in "photography" per se, nor is he an entomologist. His "serious art" is here: panbasket

He is honest to goodness a portraitist when it comes to his arthropod micro-photo work. He finds them incredibly beautiful and simply want to make the best pictures of them he can. He spends more time composing the frame, checking his background and ambient light for a single shot (usually over a dozen frames per image) of a jumping spider than most of us give to an entire people portrait session.

And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop. Other than the stacking he does very very little post processing. He feels it is imperative he present the arthropods as accurately as possible because many of his photos are used by the entomological community.

He buys Pentax because he can get lenses on the cheap. None of his lenses cost him more than $50 and he has DIY'd most of his extension tubes & flash setup. He doesn't talk gear, doesn't even talk photography; all he talks about are the arthropods.

His astrophotography skills are stellar as well (pardon the pun).

TaoMaas · 12-18-2010, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Venturi

Thomas gave a 2-hour presentation to our photo group here in Tulsa this past summer. He's quite an interesting character to say the least.

Interestingly enough, he doesn't give a hoot about what the gear is and has zero real interest in "photography" per se, nor is he an entomologist. His "serious art" is here: panbasket

He is honest to goodness a portraitist when it comes to his arthropod micro-photo work. He finds them incredibly beautiful and simply want to make the best pictures of them he can. He spends more time composing the frame, checking his background and ambient light for a single shot (usually over a dozen frames per image) of a jumping spider than most of us give to an entire people portrait session.

And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop. Other than the stacking he does very very little post processing. He feels it is imperative he present the arthropods as accurately as possible because many of his photos are used by the entomological community.

He buys Pentax because he can get lenses on the cheap. None of his lenses cost him more than $50 and he has DIY'd most of his extension tubes & flash setup. He doesn't talk gear, doesn't even talk photography; all he talks about are the arthropods.

His astrophotography skills are stellar as well (pardon the pun).

We're trying to sign him up to talk to our club here in OKC. Your description of him reminds me of someone from the Audubon Society who spoke to our club years ago. The guy was taking KILLER bird portraits, but he wasn't all that interested in the photography side of things. He was interested in making the best possible portraits of birds and had developed a system that let him do just that.

ewig · 12-20-2010, 04:05 AM

no..he isnt use K200D ... he use pentax *ist DS..

this has been my wallpaper since a year ..

r00t_b33r · 12-20-2010, 04:35 AM

now that's a serious rig!

yeatzee · 12-20-2010, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by ewig

no..he isnt use K200D ... he use pentax *ist DS..

this has been my wallpaper since a year ..

OOOOOOOLLLLLD pic

yeatzee · 12-20-2010, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by Venturi

And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop.

For the record, almost all serious macro photogs do this

he's just incredibly proficient at it

chalion · 12-20-2010, 02:57 PM

It's because of people who can shoot like this that you won't see my incredibly awful pictures in an online photo album........

Also, because I lack patience to get shots like that!

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12-16-2010, 03:00 AM	#31
uccemebug Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 962	Originally posted by philbaum Now this is a guy who should be signed up for Pentax as a rep for their cameras!!! Great idea, Phil! Hand the man some WR gear and he can shoot in the rain, maybe even bringing out a whole new world....

12-17-2010, 08:14 AM	#32
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Very impressive, and a great video

12-17-2010, 08:41 AM	#33
pentax user Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 85	don't these bugs fly away when you get so close?

12-17-2010, 08:55 AM	#34
idkjai Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 104	He probably took many many many shots until he was satisfied. He did say something about patience. ;]

12-17-2010, 01:55 PM	#35
david94903 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 806	Amazingly stunning. And wonderfully inspirational. Thank you.

12-17-2010, 04:35 PM	#36
GoneToTheDogs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Reading, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 148	I'm interested in knowing how he got the macro videos before the stills were shown. They were pretty impressive as well. -Matt

12-17-2010, 07:46 PM	#37
r00t_b33r Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: nj Posts: 65	wow, those shots are crazy... i remember seeing some photos and he uses a *ist DL as well... amazing pics from this guy

12-17-2010, 08:01 PM	#38
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Great stuff. Indeed the camera model has very little to do with the outcome. very inspiring photographs

12-18-2010, 01:09 AM - 1 Like	#39
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Thomas gave a 2-hour presentation to our photo group here in Tulsa this past summer. He's quite an interesting character to say the least. Interestingly enough, he doesn't give a hoot about what the gear is and has zero real interest in "photography" per se, nor is he an entomologist. His "serious art" is here: panbasket He is honest to goodness a portraitist when it comes to his arthropod micro-photo work. He finds them incredibly beautiful and simply want to make the best pictures of them he can. He spends more time composing the frame, checking his background and ambient light for a single shot (usually over a dozen frames per image) of a jumping spider than most of us give to an entire people portrait session. And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop. Other than the stacking he does very very little post processing. He feels it is imperative he present the arthropods as accurately as possible because many of his photos are used by the entomological community. He buys Pentax because he can get lenses on the cheap. None of his lenses cost him more than $50 and he has DIY'd most of his extension tubes & flash setup. He doesn't talk gear, doesn't even talk photography; all he talks about are the arthropods. His astrophotography skills are stellar as well (pardon the pun).

12-18-2010, 09:34 AM	#40
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by Venturi Thomas gave a 2-hour presentation to our photo group here in Tulsa this past summer. He's quite an interesting character to say the least. Interestingly enough, he doesn't give a hoot about what the gear is and has zero real interest in "photography" per se, nor is he an entomologist. His "serious art" is here: panbasket He is honest to goodness a portraitist when it comes to his arthropod micro-photo work. He finds them incredibly beautiful and simply want to make the best pictures of them he can. He spends more time composing the frame, checking his background and ambient light for a single shot (usually over a dozen frames per image) of a jumping spider than most of us give to an entire people portrait session. And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop. Other than the stacking he does very very little post processing. He feels it is imperative he present the arthropods as accurately as possible because many of his photos are used by the entomological community. He buys Pentax because he can get lenses on the cheap. None of his lenses cost him more than $50 and he has DIY'd most of his extension tubes & flash setup. He doesn't talk gear, doesn't even talk photography; all he talks about are the arthropods. His astrophotography skills are stellar as well (pardon the pun). We're trying to sign him up to talk to our club here in OKC. Your description of him reminds me of someone from the Audubon Society who spoke to our club years ago. The guy was taking KILLER bird portraits, but he wasn't all that interested in the photography side of things. He was interested in making the best possible portraits of birds and had developed a system that let him do just that.

12-20-2010, 04:05 AM	#41
ewig Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 312	no..he isnt use K200D ... he use pentax *ist DS.. this has been my wallpaper since a year ..

12-20-2010, 04:35 AM	#42
r00t_b33r Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: nj Posts: 65	now that's a serious rig!

12-20-2010, 02:44 PM	#43
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by ewig no..he isnt use K200D ... he use pentax *ist DS.. this has been my wallpaper since a year .. OOOOOOOLLLLLD pic

12-20-2010, 02:45 PM	#44
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by Venturi And get this - he doesn't use a tripod; I don't think he even owns one. All of those photos are handheld, most of them made with him belly in the dirt/weeds, like a Marine sniper, patiently waiting for the bug/s to calm down and forget there's a 50mm lens a couple centimeters from their compound eyeballs. He fires off a couple dozen or more shots varying the focus point and then stacks the exposures in photoshop. For the record, almost all serious macro photogs do this he's just incredibly proficient at it

12-20-2010, 02:57 PM	#45
chalion Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Pennsylvania Photos: Albums Posts: 628	It's because of people who can shoot like this that you won't see my incredibly awful pictures in an online photo album........ Also, because I lack patience to get shots like that!