Chasing flies: I felt a bit like Rocky trying to catch a chicken today. I didn't get any great fly pictures, but when I moved on to little flowers I could feel how much better I've...

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

I felt a bit like Rocky trying to catch a chicken today. I didn't get any great fly pictures, but when I moved on to little flowers I could feel how much better I've gotten at holding the camera still. The flower is a basic focus stack, so if you look at the full size, you'll see my "paint" lines.

This one was very fast.

(Download)

The only eye shot

(Download)

He mooned me because I was taking too long.

(Download)

Focus stack

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I want you to notice the very narrow DoF at f/11, of your Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) damselfly. The wing veins are pretty much in focus, but the far eye and the close eye bracket the narrow DoF, so both are OoF. To me, this is the most frustrating aspect of macro-photography.
Exif of image #1:
Camera Model: Nikon D7000
Image Date: 2014-06-22
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

:thumbup:

skylane5sp Loc: Puyallup, WA

Nikonian72 wrote:

I want you to notice the very narrow DoF at f/11, of your Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) damselfly. The wing veins are pretty much in focus, but the far eye and the close eye bracket the narrow DoF, so both are OoF.

By bracketing the DOF do you mean the eyes are + and -? Then shouldn't the area between the eyes be in focus? I see the focus as being behind the head - far front leg. Like the upper body and head are bent toward the camera and in front of the focal plane which catches the wings.
Am I right, wrong, full if "it"?

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

skylane5sp wrote:

By bracketing the DOF do you mean the eyes are + and -? Then shouldn't the area between the eyes be in focus? I see the focus as being behind the head - far front leg. Like the upper body and head are bent toward the camera and in front of the focal plane which catches the wings. Am I right, wrong, full if "it"?

I believe that you are correct. I mis-read the image. Far eye is closer to focus that near eye. Damselfly body does not run tangent to lens, so Plane of Focus holds tail & most of abdomen, but runs behind far eye. Still a narrow DoF, but not as narrow as I suggested.