Hello everyone. I recently picked up a macro lens for a STEAL on craigs list -- got the Sigma 105mm 2.8 EX Macro for only $200, and it seems to work perfectly. I went out and about in the yard today and shot mostly flowers. I also used a flash with a diffuser for all of these photos. Going to post my photos then ask some questions after.
Broke out this lens for some macro now that it is finally nice outside. I'm really new to macro. All of these are stacked except for the yellow-jacket on the flower.
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Questions!
1. I stacked most of these photos with at least 4 focus points. I kept my camera on a steady tripod, and slowly changed focus (which slightly changed field of view). Is this the conventional way to get focus for a stacked set of images, or should I move the whole camera rig instead of just the focus?
2. How in the heck do you all get so many good bug photos?!?! Any time I got close to any insect, they flew away instantly. I was lucky on the yellow jacket as he seemed to be too busy feeding to notice me.
3. I used a very high aperture on most of these (11 - 16), is this also common due to the extremely low DoF, or does it not matter too much when you are that close?
4. Is the use of flash common? It seems to have given my images a slightly harsh look, despite the use of a diffuser. I found I could not get enough light due to the high aperture without a flash.
Thanks for the tips and C+C!
. Ideally for bug photography you need to have the flash diffuser right up close to the front of the lens. Either a big softbox type from the hot shoe or more ideally, a bracket and off the hotshoe and on the bracket near the front of the lens.
, but slowly is the key, slow movements with the camera and they'll stay where they are.
