>>>>> The Weekly Close up 27/2009 Post yours<<<<<

Welcome to the Weekly Close Up, where we rule the weekend.

I'm not kidding either. Last weekend, not only did the Weekly Close up lead DP in post, the Weekly/ Sunday threads from the Oly DSLR forum were the majority of the top ten in hottest threads.

Way To GO.

So lets do it again! Show me those close ups of bugs, flowers and whatever.

List your gear and if you have cropped. we have no limits on gear here. Even though Oly is the best, we accept all gear.
Reply to this please as it's easier to see the images in thread view.

Lets show them how it's done!

My shots are next.
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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Not much out this morning in the yard but flies are always around.

330, 50mm, EC 20, SRF-11 Uncropped



Thanks for looking
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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The Great Blue Skimmer (Male.) Taken with the E-510 and 70 - 300 mm lens.





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WSSA Member #161
Coolpix L1, E-500 & E510

I never fail to be impressed by the Zuiko 50 mm macro (and the photographers who use them well).

Phil
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http://folio.phil-rose.com

It's not me, it's the glass.
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]

I really like the full body shot.

Thanks for sharing
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]

Hope this falls into the close-up category

And a wonderful shot it is too.

Thanks for sharing
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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Thanks Jim, This dragon will make short work of your fly.

JiminDenver said:

I really like the full body shot.

Thanks for sharing
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]

Click to expand...

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WSSA Member #161
Coolpix L1, E-500 & E510

Don't use the word 'just' so lightly..........that's a truly wonderful shot )

I had a close encounter with a hoverfly today on a ten mile walk, you'll find out more when I process the shots!

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Good thing there are lots of flies around.

Great captures Robert
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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Since Roberts Dragon ate the first fly I posted, I thought I'd replace it with another.

330, 50mm, EC 20, srf-11, Cropped a bit for comp.



Thanks for looking
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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Did you using a tripod for this shot and the other?

JiminDenver said:

Since Roberts Dragon ate the first fly I posted, I thought I'd replace it with another.

330, 50mm, EC 20, srf-11, Cropped a bit for comp.

Thanks for looking
--
JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]

Click to expand...

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WSSA Member #161
Coolpix L1, E-500 & E510

I'm waayyyy to lazy for a tripod and the bugs don't usually wait for me to set one up either.

So all of my shots outside of the studio are either hand held or with a monopod cocked forward in what I call a macro pod.
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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I picked this guy up in the car park at Rutland Water to save him from getting squashed in the shut of my door. He just stayed on my hand.

Eventually he went for a wander, and then I ended up passing him from hand to hand as I went about my business. He even sat on my shutter finger for about an hour!







Oh, and some butterflys!





All shot with the E3 and Sigma 18-50 2.8........natural light.

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Oooh, love the wing detail )

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Stunning )

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What wonderful shots and willing subject. I've only had a few even sit still long enough to shoot.

Great series, Thanks for sharing
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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

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These were shot with my E-1 and 40-150mm + raynox dcr-250.

The first picture is of a bug I found on my shirt after I came in from shooting. I'm not sure what is it though.

I saw in another post how macro required a tripod. I had hoped that this myth was put to bed.

Not to tick off the people that believe the concept, to each his own really, but it's just not true. Not only are there other ways of stabilizing a macro rig (including hand held) , a tripod restricts shots to static subjects that you hope will stay still as you set up, focus, etc.

A monopod is much more versatile but even they get in the way when I'm following a insect around a flower. I often use shutter speeds down to a 30th of a sec hand held at 2-1, even with flash. It is possible.

LordV (Brian) one of the most respected macro shooters on the net right now uses a technique he calls the bean pole. A long stick that he holds onto in his left hand to steady the camera. It allows him to rotate the camera and shift height much faster than even a mono pod.

As far as using long lenses and tripods. Again as long as your subject is still, you are good. Having to use longer shutter speeds will show subject movement even it the camera is perfectly still but I can shoot my 1000mm mirror lens at 1/1000 hand held without IS. (you gotta try it, it's a hoot)

I will admit that it doesn't take much practice to set up a tripod and focus through the 10X LV and that it can take a lot of effort to learn some of the other ways but that's the only difference. The amount of effort required.

OK rant off

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JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]