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Weekly macro & closeup thread for 17 to 23 July

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Way too much wind at the lake today -so I had to find a spot that was protected by reeds. Unfortunately it was an area that's shaded in the afternoon, so I had to rely on the flash. Manual mode 1/25, F16, ISO 100. Flash set to -1.



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My gallery: http://dalantech.smugmug.com

No cropping zone... ;)
 
John K said:
At least that's what I think they are -not sure though.
Click to expand...
Hi again John,

after asking around I finally got the answer what we where shooting: these are "Große Wollbienen" (in german), translated as "Big Wool-Bees". I only found an article in german:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro ße_Wollbiene

The scientific name is "Anthidium manicatum". The funny thing is, that the male bee (the bigger one) is searching for a territory to guard and attacks every other insect trying to get some nectar. They are hovering between the flowers. Only female wool-bees are allowed to get nectar and some will be copulated while in this territory.
Never realised they were there before...
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Canon EOS 33/300D/30D
 
Those are really beautiful everyone and John.

I recieved my reverse adaptor ring for my 50mm 1.4 FD lens. Its amazing, although took some getting used to. At least f16! This one inch bug covered one third the photo!



and heres one from my new Tamron 17-50mm2.8-



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http://netgarden.smugmug.com/
DSC V1 Sony for Infrared, Canon 20D,
a few too many lenses...
 
Crocosmia Lucifer; Canon 20D w/ Sigma 150mm EX DG Macro @ f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 400



Bumble Bee; Canon 20D w/ Sigma 150mm EX DG Macro @ f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 400

 
Omri Alon said:
I used my Sigma flash with a home-made diffuser (it was sunny).
Click to expand...
That is a technique I use, too. How does your diffuser look like? Would you please share a picture?

Since this seems to be a picture thread, here is a picture lit by the diffused light of a Sigma flash.



Thank you.
  • Armand
 
janaco said:
John K said:
At least that's what I think they are -not sure though.
Click to expand...
Hi again John,
after asking around I finally got the answer what we where
shooting: these are "Große Wollbienen" (in german), translated as
"Big Wool-Bees". I only found an article in german:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro ße_Wollbiene
The scientific name is "Anthidium manicatum". The funny thing is,
that the male bee (the bigger one) is searching for a territory to
guard and attacks every other insect trying to get some nectar.
They are hovering between the flowers. Only female wool-bees are
allowed to get nectar and some will be copulated while in this
territory.
Never realised they were there before...
Click to expand...
That fits the behavior that I was seeing. They would only allow the smaller females to feed in their area, and they will mate with them for about 4 to 6 seconds -the male will zoom right in and "go to town" as soon as he sees a female.

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My gallery: http://dalantech.smugmug.com

No cropping zone... ;)
 
I typically use f16. I have been meaning to try f13 or f11 when at 4x or greater magnification, but I don't often shoot at that high of magnification.

Here is a 5x shot @ f16 cropped slightly of a baby lacewing larvae, I believe. This critter is essentially invisible to the naked eye. I think I'm getting some diffraction on this one. I can usually tell whether I am getting diffraction by how much detail I can get in the eyes.



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Happy shooting,
Mark
http://www.mplonsky.com/photo
 
Also you can see a little diffraction in the weave of the fabric that the critter is on -still a good photo though! I see a difference in detail between F11 and F16 using the 100m macro -I lose some of the fine hairs on a damselfly at F16...

Shot at F16:



Shot at F11:



It's not a big change, so if I need more depth of field or a faster shutter I don't hesitate to use F16 on the Canon 100mm macro -I'll actually stop down to F16 before I go to ISO 400...

--
My gallery: http://dalantech.smugmug.com

No cropping zone... ;)
 
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