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Instagram Macros

Started 7 months ago | Discussions
sbw123 Regular Member • Posts: 201
Instagram Macros
3

There are a number of macro photographers on Instagram, I believe out of England, that always seem to post "handheld 30 shot stacked" photos of bugs.  They all seem to be using  a Godox flash with the same handcrafted diffuser that can be purchased on-line.

When these photographers post videos of themselves taking photos of the bugs, the flash is going off rapidly - bam, bam, bam - in rapid fire succession.  There doesn't seem to be any recycle time for the flash.

Is anyone familiar with the flash that is being used?

Does it really have essentially no recycle time, allowing for "30 stacked" shots in a row of normally skittish bugs?

Are bugs in England slower than the rest of the world, allowing for 30 quick shots before being spooked and jumping away? (More of a joke question)

Do these guys have to carry a gazillion batteries with them because the flash is used in rapid fire succession?

I'm curious as to what is going on.

I'm not trying to be controversial, I'm genuinely curious about equipment and technique.

Thanks,

-Steven

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jarlrmai Regular Member • Posts: 110
Re: Instagram Macros

You read my mind. I always see these shots on Facebook groups like the UK and Europe invertebrates group, but never see this technique mentioned it described in my normal macro forums.

The stacking thing kind of makes sense if you are shooting a wider aperture then maybe the flash recycles quicker. They may also have an external battery pack.

But the real thing is the insect staying still, maybe they are caught and chilled or found early morning.

But I never see the shots on Flickr..

BBbuilder467 Veteran Member • Posts: 7,057
Re: Instagram Macros
1

sbw123 wrote:

There are a number of macro photographers on Instagram, I believe out of England, that always seem to post "handheld 30 shot stacked" photos of bugs. They all seem to be using a Godox flash with the same handcrafted diffuser that can be purchased on-line.

When these photographers post videos of themselves taking photos of the bugs, the flash is going off rapidly - bam, bam, bam - in rapid fire succession. There doesn't seem to be any recycle time for the flash.

Is anyone familiar with the flash that is being used?

Does it really have essentially no recycle time, allowing for "30 stacked" shots in a row of normally skittish bugs?

Are bugs in England slower than the rest of the world, allowing for 30 quick shots before being spooked and jumping away? (More of a joke question)

Do these guys have to carry a gazillion batteries with them because the flash is used in rapid fire succession?

I'm curious as to what is going on.

I'm not trying to be controversial, I'm genuinely curious about equipment and technique.

Thanks,

-Steven

I have a Godox TT560 that can get over 1000 flashes at low power on a single set of  AA batteries. All manual doesn't use battery like TTL. If I could trigger it, it would probably do 7 fps, but my system won't burst with flash.

I've never depleted that manual flash doing quick back to back shots, but I outrun my TTL Metz all the time if I don't watch my pace.

I think anyone who focus stacks would use a manual flash that can match their burst speed. With GN38, I have more than enough power for macro/close-up with the manual flash.

jim mij Senior Member • Posts: 1,027
Re: Instagram Macros
1

I've never seen a live bug in england that'd sit still for 1 image never mind 30, and with all the youtubes I've watched (for some hints) they rarely get more than 1 or 2 shots per insect, but i've never looked at instagram so who knows what is possible (eg in winter)

I did a post recently on live vs dead things, but even with the dead ones I was happy enough for now getting 1 decent shot (I'm still in the "ooh look at that" phase). I would occasionally like more DOF but I prefer things being alive

My tt350 has improved lots since I bought some eneloop pros instead of ordinary duracells, faster response and more shots before a pause, and longer life

regards

Jim

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PhotoMMM New Member • Posts: 8
Re: Instagram Macros

When these photographers post videos of themselves taking photos of the bugs, the flash is going off rapidly - bam, bam, bam - in rapid fire succession. There doesn't seem to be any recycle time for the flash.

I would really love to know these settings myself...i have tirelessly played around with my meike flash to no avail to be able to get a few rapid fire shots.

Can someone please break this riddle for us newbies??

OP sbw123 Regular Member • Posts: 201
Re: Instagram Macros

PhotoMMM wrote:

When these photographers post videos of themselves taking photos of the bugs, the flash is going off rapidly - bam, bam, bam - in rapid fire succession. There doesn't seem to be any recycle time for the flash.

I would really love to know these settings myself...i have tirelessly played around with my meike flash to no avail to be able to get a few rapid fire shots.

Can someone please break this riddle for us newbies??

Do you by any chance have the Meike Twin Flash? My transmitter stopped syncing with the flash heads and I can't figure out what's going.

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jim mij Senior Member • Posts: 1,027
Re: Instagram Macros

PhotoMMM wrote:

When these photographers post videos of themselves taking photos of the bugs, the flash is going off rapidly - bam, bam, bam - in rapid fire succession. There doesn't seem to be any recycle time for the flash.

I would really love to know these settings myself...i have tirelessly played around with my meike flash to no avail to be able to get a few rapid fire shots.

Can someone please break this riddle for us newbies??

are you sure Is it real time and not stop go animation ? Or perhaps it’s wired up to mains power…

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Jim

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Luisifer
Luisifer Contributing Member • Posts: 631
Re: Instagram Macros
1

Don't be disgruntled, bugs in England are reeeeally slooooow.

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Todd Council New Member • Posts: 2
Re: Instagram Macros
3

This is my first post to these forums, but I felt I could shed a little light, like a flash set at 1/16 power.

There are a couple of unique things happening to make the "hand-held 60 shot stack" possible.

First of all you have to have a cooperative subject. Some bugs just sit there. I have found that for me, shooting subjects I find at night while they are "sleeping" helps a lot. Here in Texas where it is still upper 70s (25C) in the morning I can't get the early morning dew covered bugs that they are shooting in more northern areas right now.

Secondly those guys are mostly shooting newer mirrorless cameras that do focus bracketing like the OM-1. I don't have that luxury yet, so I do a push stack where I focus on the front of my subject, set my camera to continuous shooting (Mid range), and hold the shutter release while slowly pushing the camera toward the subject. If I am lucky, I'll get a 5 to 10 shot stack.

Third thing is you need is QUICK recycle time on your flash. I shoot in manual with the Godox V860ii flash at 1/8 or 1/16 power. That gives a really fast recycle time. I do lose a lot of stack sets when the flash fails to pop mid set.

Some of the best advice I got recently came from a Podcast by Lee Hoy where he was talking about the difference between leading a birding tour and a bird photography tour. He was stressing that not every bird you encounter is a good subject for photography. However when you find that one that is cooperative, is holding still and the light is just right, go CRAZY. Shoot a few hundred or thousand images.

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Beetles
Beetles Forum Member • Posts: 61
Re: Instagram Macros

I'll add that Godox/Flashpoint have Li-Ion versions of both their compact and full size flashes, and those have shorter recycle times. I have never made a great 30 image stack handheld. I usually get 5-10 images off, there is enough movement that there are ghosts, I have a lot to learn. But getting the flash to cycle quickly really just needs â…› or lower power. You have to adjust ISO and distance (closer better) so you don't need much light. The bigger risk I've discovered is that sometimes TTL thinks I need full power, maybe it's a dark background, and it will try to power through at ½ or full power. I melted a black spot on (luckily) the outer diffuser that way, smelled burning, shut everything off, and luckily it seems it was only the outer diffuser that burned. I keep the flash on manual usually for any stacking now, because I think the flash will melt itself to slag trying to cycle too many times.

oneofone25
oneofone25 Senior Member • Posts: 1,586
Re: Instagram Macros

yeah, those folks love their diffusers.  I try to avoid flashes with my shots out in nature and use constant lighting when needed.  But they do get some good results with their shots.  I do wonder about the "60 images handheld stacks" as I am well aware of the limits of their cameras and lenses they are using.  Even when I am setting my camera down for a focus bracket session, any breeze can ruin a whole stack.

thank goodness for electronic shutter.  But they aren't using that...

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