Photographing Tarantulas: I am having problems getting the colors correct when taking photos of my Aphonopelma Chalcodes. If I get the dirt correct, the spider is too cool and I can...

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I am having problems getting the colors correct when taking photos of my Aphonopelma Chalcodes. If I get the dirt correct, the spider is too cool and I can not get the blonde coloring near correct. I shoot in raw and my ring light is a temp of 5500. The iridescent hairs on the legs seem to absorb certain light frequencies. Any ideas? The camera used is a Canon 1Dx with the 50mm f/2.5 macro lens- with and without the life size adapter.

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

Two things come to mind. 1. Can you set a "Pre-set WB" or maybe Canon calls it a "Custom WB"? 2. Could your ambient light be causing problems? Don't know if these will help. Some critters are really tough to get the color "right". Sometimes, critters just look different when looking with the naked eye or thru a microscope or thru a camera lens.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Thanks. The ambient light temperature is 5000 K. I have tried both black and white backdrops around the terrarium and that seems to make no difference.

I may try my 5D MK IV using liveview to see if I can get better color.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

This is an interesting challenge. Since they don't move a lot, you could try to take pictures without a flash, relying on various sources of ambient lighting. Maybe the ambient lighting you need is the sun? Clearly , right now that would mean placing her near a window that lets sunlight in.
I had an analogous problem with photographing shade-loving damselflies with metallic colors. The flash would ruin them. The best solution I found was to not use the flash, although that was trickier since I pretty much had to do it hand held, despite the longer exposures.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Can you set the WB by color temperature? I haven't tried this in awhile--but my old D300 had that type of setting.
Oh and by the way- I may be the only hogger-other than yourself who has been to Walthill, NE. I spent a summer in Pender, NE and helped on a crew putting up wet storage silos for that part of Nebraska. Also worked at the IBP plant in Dakota City....

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Can you set the WB by color temperature? I haven't tried this in awhile--but my old D300 had that type of setting.
Oh and by the way- I may be the only hogger-other than yourself who has been to Walthill, NE. I spent a summer in Pender, NE and helped on a crew putting up wet storage silos for that part of Nebraska. Also worked at the IBP plant in Dakota City....

Thanks. I did try setting the WB by the color temperature. I can get the eco-earth close to correct but the spider is way off. As was also suggested by Mark, I may try direct sunlight when the weather warms up a bit.
I served as the mayor of Walthill for a while and now I am out of politics My dad was the postmaster in Dakota City for a couple of years.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I am suspicious of your illumination Kelvin temp (WB). Are you using a continuous ringlight (LED or similar), or a ring-flash?

Also, this image appears to be a close-up rather than a true 1:1 macro-photograph. A Canon 1Dx has a full frame sensor, 24-mm x 36-mm. This spider looks much larger than sensor size.
In future posts, please include a macro-photo along with full critter photo, and please check the box labeled (store original), so we can enlarge to appreciate resolution & detail.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Nikonian72 wrote:

Are you using a continuous ringlight (LED or similar), or a ring-flash? Also, this image appears to be a close-up rather than a true 1:1 macro-photograph.

Thanks for you reply. I know that the photo is not a macro, but a close-up photo. I am using a continuous LED ring light. The Kelvin temp is 5500 K and this is correct as far as I can determine. Using a grey card I get the same results. The ground (substrate) is the correct color but the tarantula has a slight yellow hue. This is a consistent problem- using the ring light, flash, and ambient light.

I have read that this can be a problem with certain species of tarantulas and insects. I am just looking for suggestions. Apparently this is not the correct section of UHH to ask for help with this since I am not taking true macro photos. I'm sorry.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

haroldross wrote:

Apparently this is not the correct section of UHH to ask for help with this since I am not taking true macro photos.

One of the main functions of the Macro Forum is to assist macro-photographers in solving macro problems. The only condition in posting to the Macro Forum is to include at least one macro-photograph in each thread. A full-size image of a tarantula is encouraged, alongside a macro-photograph of same tarantula detail, such as fangs or eyes. I do not know if any of our members have any experience with illuminating tarantulas. Hopefully, a member or two may have a referral that will be useful to you.