dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I photographed some pansy seeds this afternoon and also came across a spider on my back wall to photograph. I used the 105, hopefully 1:1 on the seeds and used a Kenko 36mm extension tube on the 105mm for the spider.

Pod of Pansy Seeds

(Download)

Harvestman

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Harvestman arachnid, or more properly an Opilines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiliones

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Is that what I usually call a Daddy Longlegs or is that a different spider altogether. How are the photos?

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Daddy Longlegs is a colloquialism that pertains to different insects or arachnids, depending on region. A Daddy Longlegs in California is not the same critter called a Daddy Longlegs in the SouthEast.

Spiders have a separate thorax and an abdomen, whereas opiliones do not.

Tresed47 Loc: Pennsylvania USA

I like the photograph of the seeds -well done

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you so much for looking. I appreciate your comment on the seeds. They are still there so my next photo shoot of them will be to see if I can get everything in focus. I think it will be a nicer photograph.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Not bad Dennis. Focus on the back seeds throws me off a bit and the background is too colorful for my tastes. Spiders shows good detail and focus you just need more illumination.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you for the nice comments and for taking a look at my photos. I agree with you about the seeds. I next want to try them with everything in focus. Possibly that will change the background somewhat too. When photographing the seeds I used the depth of field preview button and it all looked in focus at the time. But it was also pretty dark too so seeing was not necessarily believing in this case.

The spider wasn't very big even at 1:1 so I added a 36mm extension tube. I recently bought the extension tube set and a Fotodiox flash diffuser for my Nikon SB900. It works great except now I need a clip to put the diffuser near the subject. These were shot of the spider using the flash handheld which didn't work too well for me. It does give me some experience though for next time. Thanks again, Dennis

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

At 1:1 it might be difficult to get all the seeds in focus. Not sure of the total depth but it looks to me like it will exceed what you can do with a single macro shot. I would encourage you to shoot it again, and again, and again and ....... Try different focal points and get a feel for depth of field (DoF) at different apertures.

As for the speedlite/diffuser mount, in the long run you will be best served coming up with a rig the allows you to get the face of the diffuser as close to the end of the lens as possible. There are multiple benefits to this approach, mainly better illumination, lower power output required and most importantly freeing up your flash hand to help stabilize the camera.

In macro, 90% of the battle is experience, and the only way to get experience is to shoot, shoot, shoot. I look forward to seeing your next shots.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thanks so much. I appreciate your input. The little clip I spoke of and can't think of a term for it will allow me to mount the flash with a remote cord on an old Jones Bracket but the clip will allow the flash to angle down to the end of the lens. I will keep at it.