A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

I enjoy field macro immensely. Nothing like getting out in the field away from it all. I find a good Saturday and Sunday morning hike is just what the doctor ordered to recharge my mental batteries. One of my long term goals in macro photography is to do field stacks of insects. When I first started shooting macro I tried this with some success. Originally, I started out with some crude gear that I hodge-podged together. Initial efforts were based around a light weight aluminum tripod and a heavier entry level tripod. I rigged up a basic linear slide on a monopod tilt head (Manfrotto 234RC). Results were a mixed bag. I was able to produce some nice stacks when everything aligned just right. Problem was getting everything lined up by manually positioning the tripod and then aligning a single axis monopod tilt head. It was often a frustrating exercise. Another issue I ran into was the aluminum tripods introduced vibrations into the rig at higher magnifications. The heavier of the two rigs was less susceptible but was significantly heavier to lug on long hikes. I made due with limited success. Eventually I got my hands on a used ball head (Manfrotto 488). It was better then the monopod swivel mount but I found it would often sag ever so slightly once I tightened it down. Compensating for the creep was a frustrating process and I finally quit carrying the gear with me. Over the past year I have been accumulating pieces for a more robust and lighter field stacking rig I recently completed my setup. It includes the following:

Berlebach - Mini Tripod
Manfrotto - 410 Jr. Geared Head.
Velmex Unislide
Arca and Manfrotto clamps and plates
Boy 115 lab jack
A couple flexible arms and clamps.
Poor man’s Cam Ranger - DSLR controller with TPLink MR3040 Router

First few go rounds have been a learning processing - just understanding deficiencies in my equipment strategy. That’s fine, I like to tinker and make modifications to my setup. I have been presented with a few opportunities to shoot lethargic insects not yet fully awake from their evening slumbers. As I watch the subjects and start methodically setting up my gear, I remember how much I enjoyed this deliberate form of photography. For me there is great satisfaction in the whole process. Everything slows down, concentration is of the utmost, careful placement of the tripod, camera, and diffused flash. So much so that the drone of cars passing on the nearby freeway overpass go silent.

I’ve only had the rig up and running for a few weeks and I am impressed with early results. Biggest improvements are the wooden tripod. It has a 360 degree swivel platform that allows for roughing in the shot and holds tight when clamped down. Ambient vibrations are non existent as well. The 410 Jr. geared head is a huge improvement as well. It provides precise framing of the subject with no creep. Big surprise, performance wise, is the Boy 115 lab jack. I picked it up used at the local camera shop. Originally, I planned to use for a tabletop stacking platform. I took it to the field as a stand for a fill flash but quickly discovered with a flex arm and clamp I could use it to secure vegetation. When I started using the rig, I attached the flex arms to the tripod but found when I moved the UniSlide screw vibrations from the action were transferred to the subject. By isolating the subject support, I eliminated the vibrations. The lab jack It also serves as a z axis for fine tuning subject placement. I think I can add additional flex arms and clamps for small reflectors to better illuminate the subject. Biggest issue I have now is the effort exerted to turn the screw on the UniSlide introduces slight vibrations. This is easily solved by allowing the rig to settle a second or two before firing the shot. That said, I am learning it is best to shoot stacks on live subjects as quickly as possible. Slight movements, either by the subject itself or the gentlest of breezes can cause real headaches for Zerene and subsequent post processing cleanup. The rig is very portable and reasonably lightweight. I can fit everything inside my backpack and still have room for an extra lens, flash, and misc. items. Process and results are far from perfect but I’m going to enjoy working with this rig and improving my technique and results.

Honey bee sleeping on a sunflower. Sunflower was lower to the ground so stabilizing the stalk and bringing it level to the camera was fairly easy with the lab jack, flex arm and clamp. I didn’t pinch the clamp on the stalk as I didn’t want to damage it. This allowed it to sway in gentle breezes and proved problematic on several stacks. Couple this with the fact I forgot my wireless router and had to trigger the shutter by hand this stack has room for improvement but is good enough to post as an example. Shot specifications: MP-E 65mm at ~1:1 / f5.6 / ISO 200 / SS 1/13 / natural light / 44 image stack.

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True Bug Nymph on Sennabean (Sesbania drummondii) pod. The Sennabean plant grows all along the bayous. It has a very nice leaf stem with 10 to 50 leaflets along the stem axis. Plant produces brilliant yellow flowers in the spring and bean pods in the summer. By late summer early fall the pods dry out and rattle when the wind blows. The plant is toxic and has an acrid smell. In the heat of the summer, when the humidity is high, getting too close to the plant burns my eyes. Toxicity and acrid smell don’t seem to bother shield bug nymphs as they feed on the pods. Shot specifications: MP-E 65mm @ ~1:1 / f5 / ISO 200 / SS 1/50 / Natural light / 40 image stack.

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Black Shield Bug Nymph Head on a Sennabean pod head on stack 1 of 2. I actually attempted a least 20 of these head on stacks. Most of my efforts were thwarted by either the bug or a breeze moving the antenna or the pod or vibration induced by my mashing the shutter button too hard. I never realized how the gentlest breeze sends the furthest antenna segment fluttering like a wind sock. Shot specifics: MP-E 65mm @ ~ 3:1 / f4 / ISO 250 SS 1/30 / natural light / 47 image stack.

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Black Shield Bug Nymph Head on a Sennabean pod head on stack 2 of 2. Shot specifics: MP-E 65mm @ 3:1 / f5 / ISO 320 / SS 1/30 / natural light 51 image stack.

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Green Shield Bug Nymph shot down the bean pod. I liked this angle but it proved to be difficult shooting in natural light as the camera shadowed the subject. After several unsuccessful attempts with very slow shutter speed (1/4), I resorted to diffused flash. I used a second flex arm and clamp to place a large leaf in the background to give it color. Shot specifics: Sigma 105mm / f8 / ISO 200 / SS 1/125/ MT-24 EX w/triangular diffuser.

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My Old Friends - The Lady Bug and Field Stacking - Looks like my friend in the photo has been around the block a few times. Colors on the edging of the shell are fading and a case of fungal parasites. She allowed me to shoot this stack before heading off for the day. 8 image field stack - MP-E 65mm @ ~3:1, f/13, ISO100, SS -1/100

(Download)

Moth Field Stack -Shot specs: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with Canon FD 50mm 3.5 SSC Macro lens w/68mm tubes, f/3.5, ISO 200, SS 1/20, Natural Light, 16 photo stack. First time out with the camera, I forgot to set the image output to raw so each individual frame was shot as jpeg.

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Rig setup for diffused flash.

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Rig setup for natural light.

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Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Holy Magnification!
Hey, Bill! are you taking notes?

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Wow, what magnificent shots. Zoomed in, those eyes are really something else! Absolutely beautiful photos.

Macronaut Loc: Redondo Beach,Ca.

Yup! I think my evolution may vary a little though...baby steps for now :wink:

waltchilds Loc: Central Florida

Wow! Now this is some serious stacking. Very interesting story too.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Wow William!!!! What a awesome post!!!!! They are all just breath taking.
Erv

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Love the stacks and the detail of the field set-up. Now it's just practice and a whole lot of fun.

:thumbup:

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Wow F/5.6 field stacks with ambient light, are you insane or just Love Macro?? Hats off to you William, this would take more patience than I have. Love your description of everything fading to the background as you concentrate on the set up and shots. In your own little world, I can relate. That's one heck of a Diffuser you have there. Are you using styrene?? Looks like your stacks in the F/8 range and flash are coming out a little better. Vibrations, wind, long shutter speeds, setting up. You might have a little more tenacity than I have. I just love projects involving macro and the time I spend with my camera trying to perfect one element of the puzzle. So glad you find this hobby. Please keep us informed of your adventure. It's a shame were not neighbors.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Douglass

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thank you Sarah. I do appreciate your comments.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thank you Walt...

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thanks Erv!

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

Thank you Allen, yes the fun has begun... Very challenging endeavor and I'm enjoying it.

A-PeeR Loc: Houston, Texas

A (un)healthy dose of both.. F/3.5 is worse ;-)

Thank you, This form of photography fits my makeup well. I enjoy plodding and measuring progress in steps and small refinements in technique. It’s not for everyone that’s for sure. It’s not for me all the time. Over the past few weeks I have several breaks from the stacking adventure, shooting single frame handheld. One of the things I like about this setup is I can carry it with me and use it as need or want dictate.

It is a very accurate description, I didn’t realize how tuned in I was until I was packing up my gear and the cacophony of noise became audible again. It was like a switch was turned on.

Good old heavy duty paper towel. I still like it the best. I am reminded of you every time I get good illumination.

Agreed, with the flash the frame is frozen. I don’t like the diffuser hanging over the subject as I can’t see what going on without looking through the viewfinder or down at the live feed on my phone. With the diffuser off I can see the small vibrations introduced by the wind and time the shot accordingly. Next go around I am going to setup an off camera fill flash and bounce card to augment ambient light. I think this will help freeze the subject while allowing a slower shutter speed.

I don’t think I have more tenacity, perhaps a higher threshold for pain. Agreed time, spent shooting is time well spent and it really does refresh my mind. I think I would enjoy being your neighbor. Not sure the locals would take to kindly to two nut jobs tromping through the fields and swamps though. ;-)

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Your enthusiasm and endeavour is enviable. Good luck with this project and these were super photos.