Scottish springtail (with free centipede)!

[Mike Bell]

It may be February and this may be Scotland but I couldn't wait to try out my full handheld macro setup (EOS 350D with EF-S 60mm Macro, Jessops extension tubes, Speedlite 430EX with diffuser and Manfrotto 330 bracket). After ages rooting through leaves seeing fleeting glimpses of tiny bugs I finally got just this one shot of a springtail:

http://static.flickr.com/11/95853404_615227c1f4_o.jpg

It looks a bit like the one in LordV's thread "A different springtail" http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=135395
Anyone care to identify?

I also got this centipede to pause its race across the concrete patio:
http://static.flickr.com/42/95853395_4be6c778b5_o.jpg

It even posed for a face shot:

http://static.flickr.com/43/95853399_6fc3e320c6_o.jpg

Critique welcome - just a beginner really.

[LordV]

Good captures again Mike- You are one up on me- never captured a centipede :)
Brian V.

[Mike Bell]

I wouldn't have either if he hadn't inexplicably stopped in mid dash! It may never happen again! LOL!

[Omri Alon]

Nice............ :D
I realy like the last one but your sensor needs a cleaning ASAP! :D

[Mike Bell]

Nice............ :D
I realy like the last one but your sensor needs a cleaning ASAP! :D

Is that what those fuzzy spots (centre top and top left) are?

Cripes - I've never done that - only had the camera 6 weeks! I will seek out a very clean soft brush tomorrow.

[Omri Alon]

Is that what those fuzzy spots (centre top and top left) are?

Cripes - I've never done that - only had the camera 6 weeks! I will seek out a very clean soft brush tomorrow.

Not a brush, a blower. YOU NEED A BLOWER!!!
Read about it before you try it, and good luck :D

[nitsch]

Great shots Mike! I love the head on shot of the centipede, very cool! :D

I second Omri's suggestion of using a blower to clean the sensor, I use a Giotto's Rocket Blower, get's rid of 99.9% of the sensor dirt without having to touch it.

How are you finding the 430EX?

[Mike Bell]

I have a blower - the guy in Jessops insisted. He wouldn't let me out of the shop with my new 350D without it! I puff inside occasionally when I change lenses but I have never done the 'Sensor cleaning' thing in the menu so I suppose I've only been blowing stuff off the mirror. I'll give the brush a miss.

[Mike Bell]

Great shots Mike! I love the head on shot of the centipede, very cool! :D

I second Omri's suggestion of using a blower to clean the sensor, I use a Giotto's Rocket Blower, get's rid of 99.9% of the sensor dirt without having to touch it.

How are you finding the 430EX?

Thanks, Nitsch.

I will just use my blower.

My setup is more or less modelled on yours - thanks for all the advice and help BTW. The 430EX is plenty powerful enough - as you can see! I think I will experiment with different diffusers and distances. A Marks and Spencer milk carton fits quite well and gives softer light than the Stofen.

[nitsch]

My setup is more or less modelled on yours - thanks for all the advice and help BTW. The 430EX is plenty powerful enough - as you can see! I think I will experiment with different diffusers and distances. A Marks and Spencer milk carton fits quite well and gives softer light than the Stofen.

My pleasure Mike, I've learnt so much on these forums it's nice to think I might have given something small back.

M&S milk carton sounds interesting, cheers for the tip. I love trying out DIY setups! :D

[Bald Eagle]

Excellent job on the Springtail and the Centipede. Someday I will find one or both. I agree, use the Blower. just dont point it towards you, may blow out a contact lens.:D ;) :D

[chemicalbro]

nice shots mike... the head on centipede is really cool)....

regarding your dust bunnies
the problem with blowers is that when you do a sensor clean the camera is turned on........ therefore the sensor is charged...... (dust likes sticking to charged things)

a blower will get rid of some of it but any time i tried it just ended up blowing the stuff around
have a look on here Mike............. lots of useful info
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/cleaning.html
personally i use sensor swabs and eclipse fluid

A lot of people get all hyped up about touching the sensor.... but the actual CMOS sensor is covered by a glass filter..... nobody seams to freak out this much when they clean a lens (which has far higher quality glass) :confused:
get a decent product ...take your time and you can clean it like you would any other bit of glass.
i give mine a thourough clean usually about once a month... (even seeing 1 spec of dust is enough to make me do it..... thats how simple a job it is)

I also regularly clean my focus screen by taking it out of the camera (another taboo)

[Leorooster]

Great captures. These guys never cease to move!

[Mike Bell]

Thanks for the sensor cleaning link, Alan - another one for the Favourites!

[Mike Bell]

Great captures. These guys never cease to move!

Thanks, Leorooster. Luckily this one did! Otherwise I would have posted a macro of a tiny little sign reading "He went thataway!":lol: