Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

AeroSmith wrote in post #5715667
Here are a few.

1Ds3: f/16; 1/200; ISO 800.

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They are all nice, but this one in particular is sweet.

doomba wrote in post #5725470
Thank you, photobitz. If I understand correctly, off-shoe cord will let me move flash unit, right?

Exactly. I guess it might be a good idea to get a flash bracket too so you don't have to hold the flash yourself.

BluewookieJim wrote in post #5727936
They are all nice, but this one in particular is sweet.

Thanks! That's mighty nice of you to say.

I've had this lens for 3 full weeks now, and it's barely come off my 20D since then. Still getting used to, especially the DOF, but I'm certainly having fun with it.

Here are a few of my favorite shots (in no particular order) with it so far:

Awesome series...that fourth shot looks like it's out of a flower catalog.

AeroSmith wrote in post #5732039
Awesome series...that fourth shot looks like it's out of a flower catalog.

Thanks, you're much to kind.

Just took #4 around 5pm yesterday afternoon in my sunroom.

Sidelight coming in from the window, shot against a white mounting board background. Tripod mounted with a shutter release. I'm pretty sure the WB on this one was set with my ExpoDisc. I was doing some comparisons of custom WB methods yesterday, auto WB, vs camera set custom WB, vs ExpoDisc set WB...

I guess I have been fence sitting here for long enough time I wrote and said hi and things. I have had this lens for about 12 months now and have been fortunate enough to have a great mentor take me out and show me the finer things about macro photography.

I thought you would like a few points on taking macro, some may seem pretty obvious but I will list them anyway. In no particular order just as they come to mind.


1. Get yourself some gardening knee pads, as you will be on your knees more often than not.

2. You will find a cable release invaluable.

3. An angle viewfinder helps as well saves lying on the ground at times.

4. Using the "Mirror up" option when in real close helps in eliminating that minute chance of vibration from the shutter.

5. When in grassy wet areas a pair of rubber boots helps as well.

6. Keep an old pair of scissors in your camera bag for getting rid of any annoying grass stalks that may be in the background making it messy.

7. Concentrate as much on the background as the subject matter. A busy messy background will distract for the subject and will be difficult to remove later in PS. Keep the back ground as blurred as possible checking your DOF and aperture.

8. Be sure you are as parallel to the subject as possible. Shooting at an angle will result in too much out of focus due to shallow DOF. You may have to shoot up, you may have to shoot down the angle will depend on how the subject is positioned.

9. Get in as close as you can without frightening the subject away.

10. Use a tripod where ever you can Remember with the Velbum you can remove the bottom half of the support stalk to get even lower to the ground. A Ball head is very handy for those odd angles and adjustments.

11. Be aware of lighting. Shadows are easier to keep highlight from blowing out and using slow shutter speeds will give you exposure you need.

12. Practice shooting in RAW and the doing your initial edit in the PS RAW editor.

13. Use manual focus always

14. Shoot early in the morning while insects are cold and less likely to move. Best in the spring when days are warm to hatch the insects but cold enough mornings to have them nice and slow.

15. Take your time with every shot, shoot less and shoot better.

16. Enjoy the "Hunt" and learn to look down and see small things. Sometimes sitting still in a reedy area your eyes will become accustomed to the things around you and you will start to see smaller things you previously have missed.

17. Learn the habitat and habits of what you are likely to shoot. Times of year and times of day etc.

18. develop your skills in editing for even better results.

A couple of samples

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Very nice Aussieroo. More please In the macro photo sharing forum.

troypiggo wrote in post #5735946
Very nice Aussieroo. More please In the macro photo sharing forum.

Happy to now to find that thread

Those draggon fly shots are fabulous. Would you mind sharing the exif for them?

And many thanks for the list of shooting tips. Very good stuff.

Cheers.

Excellent advice and excellent examples

All the exif infos are available in my albums at my smugmug site this is a direct link to the dragonfly. http://ozphotos.smugmu​g.com/gallery/3324019_​RfXRD#P-3-15
The 2 mating are actually Damselflies. Feel free to browse the album and look at all the exif data there. Here is a screen shot of the dragonfly exif

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Aussieroo wrote in post #5741951
All the exif infos are available in my albums at my smugmug site this is a direct link to the dragonfly. http://ozphotos.smugmu​g.com/gallery/3324019_​RfXRD#P-3-15
The 2 mating are actually Damselflies. Feel free to browse the album and look at all the exif data there. Here is a screen shot of the dragonfly exif

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You have an AMAZING collection of macros...how much do you paid the models ? Can I get the bug model agency...

muzzap wrote in post #5724299
40D + 100mm macro, 1/180sec, f/3.2, 400 ISO...

Incredible shot.

Great shots everybody... it's making me feel better about my purchase of the 100mm macro and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.