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How to keep subjects still?

Started 6 months ago | Discussions thread
OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: Get up much earlier. And read much more

Joseph S Wisniewski wrote:

pawn wrote:

Hi

I have seen amazing closeup photos of insects (like jump spiders, etc.). What are the technique in keeping live subjects from moving around?

Thanks Joseph for the detailed tips.

Mainly, shooting them in the cool of the morning.

Then, learning the routines of your particular insect. Some have a feed/torpor cycle. A jumping spider sits and sits and sits and sits, until it has something to jump on. Don't be that "something".

Pick and choose your critter. You may be saying "ah ha! I found the rare ruby crested demon butterfly" and set up to shoot a specimen that's nearly warmed up and ready to take off, while three-feet away there's another one who's still in the shade.

Set up where they will be, not where they are. If you see an insect feeding on a flower, odds are it's like 80% done (unless it's really rare or spectacular, which pushes the probability up into the mid 90s).

But if you learn how to pick the most desirable flowers, rotting berries, etc. you can set up where they will be, and when they are where will be, you have as long as they are there.

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