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Stinking up a storm


Stinking up a storm
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1936 W: 244 N: 4106] (11620)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-24
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron AF70-300mm LD, Digital ISO 100, Kenko Extension tubes (68mm)
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/1.25 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Things in and around my house., Beetles and Bugs of the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-10-25 3:53
Viewed: 4421
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Stink bug (Coenomorpha Sp.)

I could not ID this one 100%, there are about 300 species in our region. I decided to make my note today on photography equipment instead of learning about nature.

I'm a new Canon EOS 300D owner using kit 18-55mm lens and a Tamron 70-300mm lens. I'm not ready to invest in a big-time macro lens yet, so I thought I'd try the Kenko Extension Tube Set, which I'd read about in various forums and got some excellent advice from Callie.

This is my first real attempt at shooting macro with the DSLR. I'm happy with the outcome, but it's a start and I have the feeling that I can do more.

It was difficult shooting conditions... leaning over my raised flowerbed, shooting freehand at times, doing my best not to upset the critter. As you can see, focus was extremely difficult. The one I actually had in full focus I ended up way overexposed.

I picked the best one out of five and have posted it here. I would like to have tried more settings before the critter ran away. I still don't have the experience to know the best settings for the situation. Next time I'll have to try with something more stationary.

The two things I noticed as an amateur and beginner was that this is a world of minimal DOF. 1-2mm makes a difference when using this tubes. I shot a moth from the side with AF working 100% (It does not all the time) and the head was out of DOF at F16. Do not try this in a light breeze or without a tripod.

I would appreciate certain pointers and advice from people that have used these tubes with macro shooting conditions. Could any one inform me on wich of my two lenses would be the best to use with the tubes and shooting macro?

Please check out the workshop for another close up I tried.

It's fascinating stuff for me.
Robbrown, PDP, Lesley, marhowie, Luc, willie, pione, Kirsten, miqra, AndyB, mogens-j, japie, Lourens has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To hvr_oosterzele: PiPgerhardt 1 10-25 16:44
To Arjuna: The answer my friend...gerhardt 1 10-25 09:57
To PDP: Missing stuff....gerhardt 1 10-25 05:55
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Critiques [Translate]

Well Gerhard if this is one of your 1st with this set up all I can say is we are in for a real treat when you settle in with it. This one is not as bad as you make out.It is only the tips of the feet and the antenae which are soft in focus, you could harden them up using burn tool to darken them.
The over exposed one , I have found that when working in macro I have to use single spot to metre the subject for 2 reasons 1/ as you found it is easy to over expose the subject especially the ones with shinney shells, 2/ I find that for some reason that it helps the camera decide where to focus. The person to speak to would be Bente who uses one, and I seem to rember you can select the number of places the camera looks for a place to focus right down to a single point also.
keep them comming like this one it realy is good.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-10-25 4:43]
  • [2] [+]

Very nice work Gerhard, you sure are racking up that equipment, and good for you it's going oo good use already. Excellent picture and good note. Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Lesley Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
  • [2004-10-25 7:06]
  • [2]

The detail is superb on this image, Gerhard! It looks like I can reach out and touch what looks to be a rough texture shell. Wonderful work... can't wait to see what else you will do with this camera. Best to you and your new shooter...being a Canon girl myself I am quite partial to their DSLRs.

This shot is so good I can smell the thing. it really stinks, not the picture, the fact that I can't get such good shots.
Well Done

Gerhard, Very good work here. I look forward to the all your future posts in the land of the small..Great job!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2004-10-25 9:22]
  • [+]

Nice picture taken in not easy conditions but you manage very well.
Your note is very interesting. I am a Canon owner too (PowerShot S1-IS). It is not a big one like yours but sufficient for a beginner like me. I begin to tame it. TFS Gerhard

  • Great 
  • pione Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 94 W: 0 N: 113] (542)
  • [2004-10-25 12:06]

Macro eccezionale, tecnicamente super, ottima caratterizzazione della cimice!

creepy bugs...fascinating thoug..
good shot! very sharp and clear, details are good to, so are the colours.what did i say, details are good? no they are excelent!

VEry well done, especially considering the set-up. I'm not such a big fan of PIP though, but that's personal of course.

  • Great 
  • miqra Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 140 W: 3 N: 23] (151)
  • [2004-10-25 14:24]

Very interesting shot, never saw one of those close up before (yah, I'm female and scarred of bugz...smile) Good shot, thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2004-10-25 15:15]

Nice one!
Good diagonal composition and nice sharp detail.
A good note too.
Well done.

Great set of extention tubes you got there Gerhard - this capture is really good and shows a lot of details. Colours and composition are great and you really got the right dof here, which is hard to get with these tubes as well as the front lenses I use (same problem dof within 2-5 mm).

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-10-25 17:27]

WOW!! Waar is my ringe! You did an excellent job with this. The detail is superb and the exposure great.

Fantastic macro work and thanks for posting

Very good Gerhard.
Your ext.tubes works very fine.
I used to use a 36 mm ring and set the zoom to about 200 mm.
Well done my friend.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2004-10-26 7:50]

How i see the situation, the camera is in right arms. The best shots is in the future (near). Because the one of first is avesome. Congratulations. I have no possibility yet to get one. But i have the plans to enlarge the possibility of my camera with Wide Conversion Lens, Macro Extension Lens, Telephoto Conversion Lens. I hope that will increase the value of taken photos. Sorry for that long comment.

Excellent macro, Gerhard!!! Pragtige detail en baie mooi skerp. Thanks for posting. Good notes as usual.

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