playing around with macro

[rdking647]

just a quicky
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdking647/7777009398/][img][/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdking647/7777009398/]DSC_3826[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/rdking647/]rdking647[/url], on Flickr

[MichaelSoE]

1. Not too shabby for 'playing around'

When I got by first lens capable of macro it was objects that couldn't move I practiced on. I still have trouble with things that move.
Is it hand held?

[Major Nikon]

4. I love doing handheld macro

Here's a couple of techniques that I use which work well for me.

First, I never use autofocus for macro as it's just not fast enough and I don't like autofocus for macro because it changes the reproduction ratio with the change in focus. I manually set my focus to the reproduction ratio I want, and I move the camera back and forth until the subject comes into focus. My camera is modified with a Catseye split screen prism. It takes a bit of practice to master this technique, but I've found it actually works much better than trying to use autofocus.

Next I use a flash mounted to a bracket and set to just a few inches from the focus point. Since the flash to subject distance doesn't change, I can use manual mode on the flash. The flash allows me to use my lowest ISO setting, wide aperture, and fast shutter speed regardless of the lighting conditions. In bright sunlight the flash is used for fill, with less light it is the primary light source and abient is used for fill. Since the flash to subject distance is so small, I can also use the flash to overpower even bright sunlight and darken blue skies if I wish.

[Speck Tater]

5. I'm still trying to learn to do handheld macro

So far my trials have been pretty much all failures. But a tripod isn't practical either when the subject is moving around. I guess it just takes practice. I've also considered captive subjects, like building a "spider habitat" where I can coax a spider to spin his web in a controlled environment, out of the wind, and with the background of my choice, or where I can keep a "pet" grasshopper in his "terrarium" until I get a good shot of him.

[rdking647]

2. handheld outside with a flash

90mm tamrom macro lens,nikon sb600 speedlight

[NV Whino]

3. Going for the gold in synchronized flower diving

Great shot.