Eye on the sun.. So, anxious to capture some images, I went out front this afternoon thinking about some tiny flowers we have out there. While looking for a specimen to shoot, this...

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

So, anxious to capture some images, I went out front this afternoon thinking about some tiny flowers we have out there.
While looking for a specimen to shoot, this green fellow decided hiding in plain sight might be his best option. Lucky me. Trying out a lens reversal ring with 18-55mm kit lens. Grasshopper held still long enough for this strange thing to close in on him.
I get it, I understand the fascination of Macro Photography. This was hand held, natural sunlight, no flash. My First bug shot.

Eye on the Sun....

(Download)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

And as I was coming back inside I decided even the dead roses had something to offer. So I took the shot.

End of a rose...

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Exif info of image #1:
Camera Model: NIKON D3300
Lens: 0.0 mm f/0.0
Image Date: 2014-09-19
Aperture: f/0.0
Exposure Time: 0.010 s (1/100)
ISO equiv: 12800
Exposure Bias: +1.00 EV
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Manual
Light Source: Incandescent
Flash Fired: No

As you can see above, you have selected a very high ISO, resulting quite noticeable noise. Reversing an Auto kit lens makes choosing an appropriate aperture quite difficult. Most reverse-lens photographers use older manual lenses, so the aperture can be pre-selected.
Why "Exposure Bias: +1.00 EV" and "Light Source: Incandescent"?
Decent DoF in both images. Not too shabby, both captures.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

That is pretty darn good for your first bug!:):) I love the rose tho!!! Very nice set!
Erv

tinusbum Loc: east texas

i like the rose better too,seems to have less noise in it

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

I like the rose better also, very cool texture. The hopper is bug-eyed and makes me think about drinking more coffee and taking a quick look in the mirror to make sure I'm not turning green.

Nice job, a whole other world at your fingertips!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Nikonian72 wrote:

As you can see above, you have selected a very high ISO, resulting quite noticeable noise. Reversing an Auto kit lens makes choosing an appropriate aperture quite difficult. Most reverse-lens photographers use older manual lenses, so the aperture can be pre-selected.
Why "Exposure Bias: +1.00 EV" and "Light Source: Incandescent"?
Decent DoF in both images. Not too shabby, both captures.

Thank You Douglass for helping me along. :D
I'm struggling along to try and figure out the settings. My camera's flash does not seem to work with a reversed lens. (Not too surprising to me.) Hopefully that will change with a ring flash plugged into the hot shoe.

I tried holding the aperture wide open with some shots, but got extremes of over or under exposures.
The bias and light source were left overs from shooting indoors of a feathers down. My bad. My inexperience glaring through. :lol: So many settings, so little brain left. ;)

After getting some bleached out (over exposed) shots, I left the aperture close (F 22?) and got the bugs eye on the screen. A Eureka moment! (Yes, I am easily amused...)
I didn't have time to try and adjust the ISO before it crawled out of range in the bush. Here again, my inexperience with quick adjustments, which I am figuring out as well.

I still have a lot of reading and application to do. :roll:
Currently I only have 2 lenses to try, 18-55mm, or 55-200mm.
But that is going to change next week.... :shock: :roll: :cry:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Erv wrote:

That is pretty darn good for your first bug!:):) I love the rose tho!!! Very nice set!

Thanks Erv! You have been very encouraging to me. :thumbup:
I did diddle with that in Elements 12. I'll try and upload the NEF file.

Nikon Electronic File
Attached file:
(Download)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

tinusbum wrote:

i like the rose better too,seems to have less noise in it

Thank You. It was a passing whimsey I had been thinking about. Even here, Fall is in the air. (Between heat waves, that is... :lol: )
We are drier than a popcorn fart in this drought. :lol:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

pfrancke wrote:

I like the rose better also, very cool texture. The hopper is bug-eyed and makes me think about drinking more coffee and taking a quick look in the mirror to make sure I'm not turning green. Nice job, a whole other world at your fingertips!

:lol: :shock: Yes, it is a whole other world. Best part is it doesn't take a lot to find subjects. ;)
It is fleeting as the weather is cooling.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

SonnyE wrote:

I did diddle with that in Elements 12. I'll try and upload the NEF file.

An NEF file is not an image, so it cannot be viewed. On UHH, you can only post JPG, TIFF, and DNG format images.

Here is a straight (un-altered) JPG copy of your NEF file. It is severally under-exposed.

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

SonnyE wrote:

I still have a lot of reading and application to do. Currently I only have 2 lenses to try, 18-55mm, or 55-200mm. But that is going to change next week.

You will find that "alternate" methods of optically increasing magnification have short-comings that are quite often very frustrating. Reverse lens and lens-stacking fall into this category. Many macro-photographers initially dabbled with alternative methods, but most of us settled on true macro lenses.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Nikonian72 wrote:

You will find that "alternate" methods of optically increasing magnification have short-comings that are quite often very frustrating. Reverse lens and lens-stacking fall into this category. Many macro-photographers initially dabbled with alternative methods, but most of us settled on true macro lenses.

Me too, Douglass. I have a Tamron 180mm in the mail. :roll: Due in Mon-Tue. :shock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AP7O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When I wake up in the night I turn on Youtube and watch Macro videos. I might turn around the plain extenders I ordered, and get the good ones. Naw, I'll just send them to the Son-In-Law and keep these for me.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JG6TLAE/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1 :shock:

riverlass Loc: northern California

I love your enthusiasm. I love that moment when someone finally "gets" what Macro Photography is all about. Keep up the good work... this process really does requires a lot of work). You have the right attitude so don't give up. It's a wonderful miniature world out there.

Sophie Loc: Aberdeen, WA

Thanks for the info It helps