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How to keep subjects still?

Started 6 months ago | Discussions
pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
How to keep subjects still?

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

Duy

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Joseph S Wisniewski Forum Pro • Posts: 35,461
Get up much earlier. And read much more
3

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?

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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Machiko
Machiko New Member • Posts: 2
Re: How to keep subjects still?
3

Patience

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oneofone25
oneofone25 Senior Member • Posts: 1,586
Re: How to keep subjects still?

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

Duy

I use electronic shutter so I don't waste my shutter count.  I keep them as pets in my office at work in small insect houses I purchased.  I find that many times, they are still the first few days after I catch them as they aren't used to the surroundings.

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macrouser
macrouser Senior Member • Posts: 3,979
Re: How to keep subjects still?

  It is early and I just got out of bed.  No coffee yet,

I take photos of insects and spiders nearly every day and it all depends on the insect and the weather.   Some kinds of insect will hold still for a long time but some will fly at the slightest movement.  Some I can not even see till I look through the view finder.

This one wondered off into the dark and I thought it was gone for good.

Soon after, it appeared on the top of a nasturtium leaf.  I felt really blessed when  it actually faced me and I was able to get in position and get this shot.

I didn't even know that this fly had moved till I looked at the photo.  It was back in the same spot after the shot.

A wasp like this one requires a lot of luck and patience and many tries.  Just turning your head to look will often be enough to make them fly.  Some times they will give you one or more shots.

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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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OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: How to keep subjects still?

Machiko wrote:

Patience

Thanks Machiko

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OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: How to keep subjects still?

oneofone25 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

Duy

I use electronic shutter so I don't waste my shutter count. I keep them as pets in my office at work in small insect houses I purchased. I find that many times, they are still the first few days after I catch them as they aren't used to the surroundings.

Thanks oneofone25

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OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: How to keep subjects still?

macrouser wrote:

It is early and I just got out of bed. No coffee yet,

I take photos of insects and spiders nearly every day and it all depends on the insect and the weather. Some kinds of insect will hold still for a long time but some will fly at the slightest movement. Some I can not even see till I look through the view finder.

This one wondered off into the dark and I thought it was gone for good.

Soon after, it appeared on the top of a nasturtium leaf. I felt really blessed when it actually faced me and I was able to get in position and get this shot.

I didn't even know that this fly had moved till I looked at the photo. It was back in the same spot after the shot.

A wasp like this one requires a lot of luck and patience and many tries. Just turning your head to look will often be enough to make them fly. Some times they will give you one or more shots.

Thanks macrouser.  Nice pictures.

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BlueRay2 Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816
Re: How to keep subjects still?

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

Duy

sometimes it really helps if you have a longer macro lens and give them some breathing room. i have an old Sigma 150mm macro lens that helps me a lot when i shoot macro. its just that longer lens doesn't spook the critter and that helps a lot.

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The eye sees all but the mind shows us what we want. w, Shakespeare

Rodger in Edmonton
Rodger in Edmonton Veteran Member • Posts: 4,599
Re: How to keep subjects still?

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

Duy

A method for ants and other sis a spray bottle of H20 - it is harmless and many stay in position while they dry off  and as others note - get out early - bees will sleep on flowers until it warms up.

they are cold blooded and need heat to maximize mobility.

Many jumping spider shots are done indoors on a table and after the spider is fed - it will remain stationary.

The shot below is on a rock in a dish on my kitchen table, I collect a few ants, put them in the fridge to slow them down, then spray them or make an island with falling timbers for bridges etc.

A great man y great macro shots are more manufactured than happened upon and nailed hand held in a 40 kmh wind, while carry in a 140 lb back pack and...

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Best Regards, Rodger
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OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: How to keep subjects still?

BlueRay2 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

Duy

sometimes it really helps if you have a longer macro lens and give them some breathing room. i have an old Sigma 150mm macro lens that helps me a lot when i shoot macro. its just that longer lens doesn't spook the critter and that helps a lot.

Thanks BlueRay2

I have 100mm macro lens and hope that this helps.

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OP pawn Veteran Member • Posts: 3,261
Re: How to keep subjects still?

Rodger in Edmonton 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

Duy

A method for ants and other sis a spray bottle of H20 - it is harmless and many stay in position while they dry off and as others note - get out early - bees will sleep on flowers until it warms up.

they are cold blooded and need heat to maximize mobility.

Many jumping spider shots are done indoors on a table and after the spider is fed - it will remain stationary.

The shot below is on a rock in a dish on my kitchen table, I collect a few ants, put them in the fridge to slow them down, then spray them or make an island with falling timbers for bridges etc.

A great man y great macro shots are more manufactured than happened upon and nailed hand held in a 40 kmh wind, while carry in a 140 lb back pack and...

Thanks Rodger

Nice picture.

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