Assortment from Nassau

[Alex Paul]

Got out and did some shooting this weekend..... I hope you find some you like....Alex

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/Revinagain0141.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/Revinagain10202.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/Revinagain10621.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/180stackatubes007.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/180stackatubes0822.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/180stackatubes1282.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/revvin015.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/Revinagain0312.jpg

[Canonada]

Those images are super. Great detail, sharpness and colour. Well done.

Joe

[Canonada]

Also, very good dof at that magnification. Would you mine sharing the equipment used and your set-up?

Joe

[Alex Paul]

Thank you Joe... Glad you like the shots....Alex

[Alex Paul]

Shot 70-200 with reversed 50, and diffused flash on bracket for the ultra closeups.I was shooting at 200 and with the reversed 50 it gives a mag of 4x. The close ups were shot with 180 and Kenko tubes with diffused MT-24 flash.. These were all hand held. I have posted a "How to set up and shoot the reversed 50" on the share your techniques thread but with your MPE I guess there is no need to get into reversed 50 shooting. Next lens on my list :) ....Thanks again Joe. I appreciate it..

[racketman]

impressive detail.The little flies are gems.

[Alex Paul]

Thanks RM..... Glad you like them... It was nice to get out during the day for a change ;).
Take care....Alex

[Ferco]

wow the ant shots are outstanding! simply awesome well done!

[dpastern]

Another excellent series Alex, I especially like the Ant shots, amazing detail. Did a very good job with the smaller flies as well. The flower is very nice as well, nice pastel colours, nicely rendered. I'd run these images through Neat Image or Noise Ninja though, can see a bit of noise ;)

Dave

PS you need to clean the sensor, can see lil specks in some of the images!!!

[Alex Paul]

Dave: One of the drawbacks to shooting the reversed 50 is you do lose a bit of clean imaging to hit 4x. I have used noise reduction programs and it robs some of the fine detail of the subject so I'll take the detail along with the noise. A little noise doesn't bother me when I can count the individual cells of an eye on a fly just barely larger than a speck of dust;) ;) Speaking of dust.... Sorry I don't see any. The spots on the yellow leaf of the fly shot are just that...Spots on the yellow leaf;). Now maybe I should inspect every shot with a microscope to insure I don't post anything with a microscopic blemish but..... I think that since this is for fun, I won't worry about it.... I post to much to deal with every little microscopic speck. Now if someone buys one of my images I am certainly obliged to go over it with a fine tooth comb.....I guess I have made my point....1. I don't live or die by opinions about a spec of dust in an image being posted to view. 2. I don't care about a little noise when I get high mag detail shooting a set up hand held at 4x..Case in point. Here is a Midge, also known as a No See Um...The size of a speck of dust.. Notice the noise? Not me. I am to busy enjoying the detail in the bug.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/AlexPaul_2006/Macro/10%2006%20Macros/reverse50dustsizebugs10060292.jpg
Anything else you would like to add since you like my shots so much? ;).... Take care.....Alex

[Alex Paul]

Glad you like the shots Richard.... Take care....Alex

[d'mur]

These are beautiful, Alex. You have done a wonderful job catching all the details. I love seeing the individual eyes! (You know you are a macro photographer when you think ant eyes are beautiful...!)

[Alex Paul]

d'mur: Thank you very much.... I am glad you see them as I do.... I guess we are bug lovers more than just laborious image critiques. When an image has little to pick apart, go for noise and sensor dust ;)..If that is all someone can come up with including myself it is better to appreciate the post instead of feeling that we all want "Improvement" tips... I guess I can go as far as I care to without the "pros" giving me advice on the obvious. I openly challenge the critiques of my reversed 50 shots to get the reversing rings and shoot the set up hand held as I do After you have given it a try then tell me how bad my images suck . Shooting a macro lens with tubes is a cake walk in comparison.The shooters that use the reversed 50 hand held will confirm that statement... I really appreciate you looking and for appreciating what the images show..........Take care....Alex

[dpastern]

Dave: One of the drawbacks to shooting the reversed 50 is you do lose a bit of clean imaging to hit 4x. I have used noise reduction programs and it robs some of the fine detail of the subject so I'll take the detail along with the noise. A little noise doesn't bother me when I can count the individual cells of an eye on a fly just barely larger than a speck of dust;) ;) Speaking of dust.... Sorry I don't see any. The spots on the yellow leaf of the fly shot are just that...Spots on the yellow leaf;). Now maybe I should inspect every shot with a microscope to insure I don't post anything with a microscopic blemish but..... I think that since this is for fun, I won't worry about it.... I post to much to deal with every little microscopic speck. Now if someone buys one of my images I am certainly obliged to go over it with a fine tooth comb.....I guess I have made my point....1. I don't live or die by opinions about a spec of dust in an image being posted to view. 2. I don't care about a little noise when I get high mag detail shooting a set up hand held at 4x..Case in point. Here is a Midge, also known as a No See Um...The size of a speck of dust.. Notice the noise? Not me. I am to busy enjoying the detail in the bug.

Anything else you would like to add since you like my shots so much? ;).... Take care.....Alex

Whoah, hang on there a moment Alex. The image with the dust in it is the 2nd Ant shot, just above the mandibles. I mentioned it out of courtesy, in the end if you like dust on the image, that's fine by me! I like the images, and wanted to help make them better with some reasonable suggestions. I certainly wasn't saying your images were bad, they're not.

I also agree with your comments on noise reduction and high magnification shots - although since I haven't played with a reversed lens before, the only thing I have to play with in terms of high magnification is heavy cropping. And yes, it removes fine resolution from the image. The noise is relatively unobtrusive anyways. If you check some of my other posts, you'll see that I've said previously several times that sometimes noise is nice to have [for a variety of reasons].

I'm also not implying that shooting reversed shots is easy, it isn't. I've played with a tubes/50mm/1.4x tc/2x tc combo to get around 4:1 or so, maybe even higher and it's a nightmare, I didn't like it and I was using a tripod, so my hats definitely off to you if you're doing this handheld.

Anyways, chill out. If you're taken my previous post the wrong way, I apologise.

Dave

edit: BTW, my jaw dropped when I saw those Ant shots, and the first words out of my mouth were "WOW".

[Bob_A]

Fantastic images. Thanks for sharing them.

[Alex Paul]

Dave: I guess I did take it to a different level than your intent.... Sorry for my sensitive reaction. Sometimes collectively these things build to a level where I am just not in the mood to hear about the little things;)..... I appreciate you, your work, and views, other than those I babbled on about..... Friends..... Thanks man....Alex

[Alex Paul]

Thank you Bob:) :).... I am glad you like them.....Alex

[dpastern]

Dave: I guess I did take it to a different level than your intent.... Sorry for my sensitive reaction. Sometimes collectively these things build to a level where I am just not in the mood to hear about the little things;)..... I appreciate you, your work, and views, other than those I babbled on about..... Friends..... Thanks man....Alex

It's OK Alex, sometimes it's good to let out steam, I'm not offended, so don't worry about it. Water under the bridge as the saying goes :) We all get a bit touchy about our images from time to time!

Dave

[Alex Paul]

Take care brother.... I work very dilligently at the reversed 50 when I could bang out images much easier with the 180 and go for more artistic expression and when I shoot it I do just that.... I like the reversed 50 because of the challenge it offers and when you hit the sweet spot it has a wow factor of 10 based on detail..... As much concentration and dedication to get good results with the set up I am afraid the smaller things are inconsequential to me..... It is to much work to make master pieces out of each photo posted in regards to a speck of dust. I don't know about you but unless I am on a paying gig I don't mess with sensor cleaning every time I change a lens.... One of the drawbacks to successful rev 50 shooting is the main lens needs to be closed way down to get a DOF deeper than the thickness of a piece of paper and so specks that normally don't show up are abundant if there is the slightest amount on the sensor... I prefer to clone them out when it is crucial, otherwise I expect all of you to know that I am aware of these little things and that I could spend more time to mess with it but I don't feel the need sharing between friends..... Dave your stuff of late has been absolutely tremendous and I want you to know that you are in good company here. Some folks want and need constructive suggestions and others just want to share the days yield with an occasional atta boy for a particularly good shot.........I often times work with others by PM and email to avoid the public eye on the people who need help and the seeming grand standing by always publicly offering it when the shooter clearly needs it......My last words on this subject.....I hear some night bugs buzzing ..... Guess I'll go see what me gots to shoot.....Cya later pal :D.........Alex

[Omri Alon]

These are amazing!!! :D

[LordV]

Excellent series- love the ant shots and the last flower shot.
You should be able to de-noise them without losing noticeable detail at a low setting and a little cloning to get rid of dust spots.
Brian V.

[lcpete]

Fantastic shots lots of detail at high magnification.
the little flies are great
Pete

[Alex Paul]

Thank you Gentleman.... I appreciate it:)....Alex