eframgoldberg Loc: South Florida

I have been so busy with grad school I havent done much photography the past month. Long overdue.
canon mpe65 canon 5dmkii mt24ex

harvester ants

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Harvesters bite & sting!

eframgoldberg Loc: South Florida

indeed they are quite unpleasant creatures. i've been bit once in santa fe, it was not an enjoyable experience.

eframgoldberg Loc: South Florida

oops i dont know why the full size one didnt go up the firs time.

original

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

You gotta be kidding me!

eframgoldberg Loc: South Florida

thanks!

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Good job with a fantastic lens that is not at all easy to master.

Any tips on working with one to be successful? Do you use a rail?

eframgoldberg Loc: South Florida

handheld, this was kind of an easy shot as i used my left hand to steady the front of the lens aimed at the opening of the ant pile. Focus rails are good if you are shooting static subjects like flowers or dew covered insects, but it is worthless for moving subjects and/or windy days. I have a years worth of experience shooting with reversed lenses over 1x, so i didnt just pick this lens up and throw it on my camera and expect good shots.

my aperture sets dof and sharpness. usually f/11. shutter speed doesnt matter because i dont depend on it for exposure. at higher magnifications and stopped down, very little light reaches the sensor. I usually have it maxed at 1/200. I set the exposure with my flashes which technically gives me an effective shutter speed of the flash duration which is fast like 1/8000 so I dont worry too much about motion blur. I set the magnification on the lens then move the camera back and forth.

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Nice Job. Good luck with the new lens. Actually you don't need luck. you are doing just great as it is.