RRS flash bracket test III (dragonfly)

Canon Xti + MPE-65 + MT-24EX on a Really Right Stuff flash bracket. The A flash head was elevated a little, but pointing straight at the subject. The B flash head was on a RRS extender and pointing straight down to act as fill.

Post processing: Imagenomic Noisware Professional to remove image noise. Auto levels adjustment, darken highlights and increase midtone contrast by 5 percent. Auto sharpen and remove dust spots with the healing brush (if necessary). I set the close stamp tool to "darken" with an opacity of 10 percent and used it to tone down any hot spots caused by glare. Some areas of a dragonfly are so reflective that it doesn't matter how I position the flash heads.

Life size:

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WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I AM SPEECHLESS!!!! THE BEST POSTING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!

Photogirl2007 wrote in post #3947962
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I AM SPEECHLESS!!!! THE BEST POSTING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!

Thanks for the props Joan

Awesome - absolutely awesome!!!!!!

I think I might unsubscribe from the Macro forum -- I can't afford it!!!!!

Riverlander wrote in post #3950812
Awesome - absolutely awesome!!!!!!

I think I might unsubscribe from the Macro forum -- I can't afford it!!!!!

Thanks

That set up definitely brings out the detail.

Very nice.

dreamline wrote in post #3953936
That set up definitely brings out the detail.

Very nice.

Thanks!

I'm really trying to work out a "catch 22": I'm trying to get as much detail as possible with the light so I have to have at least one light source pointed right at the subject. At the same time I want to reduce glare, which means not pointing any light source right at the subject

I've worked out similar issues for some of the abstract images that I've taken -just gotta play with the angles...

Dalantech wrote in post #3953946
Thanks!

I'm really trying to work out a "catch 22": I'm trying to get as much detail as possible with the light so I have to have at least one light source pointed right at the subject. At the same time I want to reduce glare, which means not pointing any light source right at the subject

I've worked out similar issues for some of the abstract images that I've taken -just gotta play with the angles...

Think you are correct about it being a catch22. getting detail to show requires high local contrast which in turn means a directional light source.
I suspect using a fill flash technique on a slightly cloudy day may give the best of both worlds depending on the magnification (ie enough light) or perhaps using the dual heads on your flash so that the more powerful light is highly diffused but using the other head at much lower power pointed at the bug without much diffusion.
Nice shot BTW

brian V.

LordV wrote in post #3953993
Think you are correct about it being a catch22. getting detail to show requires high local contrast which in turn means a directional light source.
I suspect using a fill flash technique on a slightly cloudy day may give the best of both worlds depending on the magnification (ie enough light) or perhaps using the dual heads on your flash so that the more powerful light is highly diffused but using the other head at much lower power pointed at the bug without much diffusion.
Nice shot BTW

brian V.

Thanks!

I may try setting the ratio between the flash heads to 1:2 so that the fill light is brighter than the directional light source. Sounds like I'll be doing test IV on the way home

Dalantech wrote in post #3954023
Thanks!

I may try setting the ratio between the flash heads to 1:2 so that the fill light is brighter than the directional light source. Sounds like I'll be doing test IV on the way home

Just given me an idea - will have to try putting a small hole in my diffuser

brian V.