magicdrainpipe
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2018
- Messages
- 3
Background:
I am new to the boards, so I apologize if this is in the wrong spot. Just looking through a lot of the posts I saw that many had questions on good lenses for macro. For some background on me, I have been shooting macro for well over ten years. I started with a Canon SD1000 point and shoot, and eventually worked my way up to my current setup of a 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm 1x-5x. In between I had an APS-C body and the 100mm f/2.8 USM macro lens. I love shooting primarily spiders, but any arthropod will do. I have been known to take some photos of other things, but arachnids are my favorite.
My Gear:
So like I said above, I am currently shooting with the 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm, with the MT-24EX for light. Here's a photo of that setup:
Currently I do not use the 1.4x teleconverter (the white piece between the body and the lens), and technically this was when I had my 5D Mk II, but same difference. The important part is the diffusion element on the front:
The diffusion element is to soften the light from the MT-24EX. It's made of Lee filter gels that I cut. Something like 2x lux and a couple frost gels. I used to use paper towels, which worked, but gels work much better. The GoPro was pretty fun for a while, but just got in the way. I got some great videos of me trying to get some of the jumpers.
I only shoot in RAW (and as should you!), with my settings being pretty consistent. I've found that I'm almost always shooting at 1/200s, ISO400, and f/9-f/13. The light from the MT-24EX is always at 1/4 on each head unless it's dark out, then I back down to 1/8.
Results:
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we see you have the gear, but do you take good photos?"
I'm pretty proud of where I have come with my photography, and I think the results are decent. I recently acquired a pet P. audax, who had served as a great model. Here's some photos of him:
This was pre-molt, when I still thought he was a "she"
Right after molting. You can still see residue on his eyes.
Colors started to come in nicely.
Very curious little guy.
A more recent one.
And this one is from a couple days ago.
And to round the results section out, one of my more popular photos on Instagram, a fly that was overcame by fly death fungus, Entomophthora muscae. This was also before I got my nifty watermark and was just using plain type.
I hope you like my photos, and if you have any questions be sure to ask. I love talking about photography as much as I do taking the photos. I'd also be interested in your gear and photos too!
I am new to the boards, so I apologize if this is in the wrong spot. Just looking through a lot of the posts I saw that many had questions on good lenses for macro. For some background on me, I have been shooting macro for well over ten years. I started with a Canon SD1000 point and shoot, and eventually worked my way up to my current setup of a 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm 1x-5x. In between I had an APS-C body and the 100mm f/2.8 USM macro lens. I love shooting primarily spiders, but any arthropod will do. I have been known to take some photos of other things, but arachnids are my favorite.
My Gear:
So like I said above, I am currently shooting with the 5D Mk IV and the MP-E 65mm, with the MT-24EX for light. Here's a photo of that setup:
Currently I do not use the 1.4x teleconverter (the white piece between the body and the lens), and technically this was when I had my 5D Mk II, but same difference. The important part is the diffusion element on the front:
The diffusion element is to soften the light from the MT-24EX. It's made of Lee filter gels that I cut. Something like 2x lux and a couple frost gels. I used to use paper towels, which worked, but gels work much better. The GoPro was pretty fun for a while, but just got in the way. I got some great videos of me trying to get some of the jumpers.
I only shoot in RAW (and as should you!), with my settings being pretty consistent. I've found that I'm almost always shooting at 1/200s, ISO400, and f/9-f/13. The light from the MT-24EX is always at 1/4 on each head unless it's dark out, then I back down to 1/8.
Results:
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we see you have the gear, but do you take good photos?"
I'm pretty proud of where I have come with my photography, and I think the results are decent. I recently acquired a pet P. audax, who had served as a great model. Here's some photos of him:
This was pre-molt, when I still thought he was a "she"
Right after molting. You can still see residue on his eyes.
Colors started to come in nicely.
Very curious little guy.
A more recent one.
And this one is from a couple days ago.
And to round the results section out, one of my more popular photos on Instagram, a fly that was overcame by fly death fungus, Entomophthora muscae. This was also before I got my nifty watermark and was just using plain type.
I hope you like my photos, and if you have any questions be sure to ask. I love talking about photography as much as I do taking the photos. I'd also be interested in your gear and photos too!