These Dang Little Flies!

Hey there Macro gang!

I do like shooting macro, but I just don't take the time to look for subjects and get it done!

But on a couple sunny summer afternoons last month I noticed some flies hopping around out on my deck so I started shooting. The first time I was rushing and shooting with different bodies and lenses so I got mixed results (and very little with my macro lens):

http://www.pbase.com …_camera_deck_bu​g_shootout

And then, later in the month, I had been in the middle of another project "shooting the moon", but I had the tripod handy and my trusty old 30D nearby, and the 100mm Macro (the old one) and saw one or two flies out on the deck rail in the sun, so I decided to try some up-close macro shots.

Unfortunately the critters were quite small, and they would tend to flit away when I got too close, so all my shots had to be cropped 100% just to get the framing I wanted, but hey it was fun!

I did warm up the White Balance on these, for better or worse -- I'm not sure whether it's better or worse myself!

Here are a few, let me know what you think, load on the C&C!:

Nothing wrong with these. He seems to be a pretty good model, for a fly. #4 looks like he's walking on ice.

They all work for me.

Great work.

Thanks, guys, for the compliments! They did't turn out bad, especially since I had to resort to the 100% crops!

canonloader wrote in post #13046178
Nothing wrong with these. He seems to be a pretty good model, for a fly. #4 looks like he's walking on ice.

Heh! I see what you mean, Mitch! Kind of a "cool" look!

I think the only problem you are getting here Tony is maybe the age of the sensor technology on the 30D is possibly affecting the overall clarity of the shots.

Might be good if you could get your hands on a new model EOS and see if you find a leap in quality? Maybe a loan from a nearby user perhaps?


Paul.

Paul Iddon wrote in post #13046760
I think the only problem you are getting here Tony is maybe the age of the sensor technology on the 30D is possibly affecting the overall clarity of the shots.

Might be good if you could get your hands on a new model EOS and see if you find a leap in quality? Maybe a loan from a nearby user perhaps?

Paul.

That certainly could be, Paul, thanks for the input. I did a bit of post-processing on them, but as I mentioned even at ISO 400 it shows a bit too much noise at these close 100% crops so I'm sure the noise reduction that I needed to apply didn't help!

But, also sitting here and ready for service is my 1D Mk III, and I was thinking after processing these today that the next effort would be to use that body.

Even though, interestingly, the 30D does have the "more pixels on target" over both the 1D3 and my 5D Classic, I could imagine that the IQ increase of the 1D3 would hopefully even things out...I'd just like a bigger critter or be able to get closer so the 100% crop wasn't needed!

Noise reduction software could be of some help - it can reduce sharpness, but will remove some of the noise effectively...


Compare:

Hey, thanks Paul!

Yeah I did apply some NR, I'm just in the habit of minimizing it as much as possible, maybe letting a bit stay visible, but also allowing a bit of sharpening as well. Oh well!

Again, thanks for contributing!

Nice shots Tony
Having dogs in the yard helps to bring in the bigger more colourful flies
I tread carefully

Desertraptor wrote in post #13047370
Nice shots Tony

Hey, thanks, Peter!

Having dogs in the yard helps to bring in the bigger more colourful flies
I tread carefully

Heh! That's a funny thought! I really dislike flies that get into the house, so it can be a hassle when a family member is visiting and leaves the screen door open as well as the sliding door (or even the front door)!

Well, I just got through a major new part of this project. I used the local adjustment brushes in Lightroom to brush sharpening over the flies and Softening over the background. I did all this with low levels of sharpening and noise reduction. When I figure out a way of organizing things and posting them in PBase and here, I'll invite you all for C&C!

Good series !- look like flesh flies
Brian v.

LordV wrote in post #13048100
Good series !- look like flesh flies
Brian v.

Flesh flies? Hell, I thought I had my hands full IDing birds, now we are IDing bugs?

Just kidding, of course we are! I just dont have a bug book yet!

Flesh flies sounds creepy. I'm afraid to ask what they eat.

Heh! I don't want 'em any closer that I got!