Extension Tubes Arrived Today - Jumping Spider Found: FedEx delivered my Kenko extension tubes this afternoon and I tried the 12mm one out on a jumping spider. I am very happy so far.

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

FedEx delivered my Kenko extension tubes this afternoon and I tried the 12mm one out on a jumping spider. I am very happy so far. Thanks goes out to Fstop22, Tinusbum, and Blurryeyed for inspiring me with your captures of spiders and dragonflies and other critters and for giving me encouragement when I try to do it myself. Heartfelt thanks goes to Douglass for always steering me in the right direction and for being a bottomless pit of information. :)

As always, give me any feedback you can to help me keep improving.

These were cropped, slightly sharpened and lightly contrast adjusted in Photoshop Elements 10.

Roger Sr. Loc: Central Coast of California

Loo ken good! your coming along nicely

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

Roger Sr. wrote:

Loo ken good! your coming along nicely

Thanks Roger. Time will tell.

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

There working for you, nice :thumbup:

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

HOT Texas wrote:

There working for you, nice :thumbup:

Thanks HOT T. Appreciate it.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Image #3 is Canon Rebel T3 at ISO 200, with Canon 100-mm macro lens & Kenko 12mm extension tube, 1/200-sec at f/18, Canon Speedlite 430EXII, set at manual 1/1 with a diffuser.

All above stats are fine. To improve your focus, start on inanimate, small objects, like a raisin, or a peanut, or an ear stud, or even a finger ring. Then graduate to moving insects.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

yea,do that and send me that spider.lol now you can get closer,good start.tom

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

Nikonian72 wrote:

Image #3 is Canon Rebel T3 at ISO 200, with Canon 100-mm macro lens, 1/200-sec at f/18. (Unknown flash illumination used)
All above stats are fine. To improve your focus, start on inanimate, small objects, like a raisin, or a peanut, or an ear stud, or even a finger ring. Then graduate to moving insects.

Thanks Douglass for a new assignment... will do.
Also, thanks for reporting my stats. Flash is Canon Speedlite 430EXII, set at manual 1/1 and a diffuser. Also used the Kenko 12mm extension tube.

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

tinusbum wrote:

yea,do that and send me that spider.lol now you can get closer,good start.tom

Thanks Tom. Sorry, can't have my spider though. I'll be practicing on stationery objects, but won't pass up a spider photo op ever. They come few and far between for me. I really got lucky today.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Looks like your Jumping right in. Flash is a little hot, still a little blurry, but you've found your prey and hot on his trail. It gets easier as you go. Can't wait to see how they turn out with a little more practice. It's good to see we can inspire each other. Nikonian and Blurryeye both help me to excel, Love this hobby

PRETENDER Loc: Micanopy,Florida

Looks like you are a top notch student.

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

fstop22 wrote:

Looks like your Jumping right in. Flash is a little hot, still a little blurry, but you've found your prey and hot on his trail. It gets easier as you go. Can't wait to see how they turn out with a little more practice. It's good to see we can inspire each other. Nikonian and Blurryeye both help me to excel, Love this hobby

Thanks for your encouragement fstop22. Would you recommend that I step my flash down to 1/2 instead of 1/1? I guess I should just practice and try different settings. It was very bright yesterday so it would make sense to lessen the flash. I get so excited finding a subject, I don't stop to think it through.

sford122 Loc: Amarillo TX

PRETENDER wrote:

Looks like you are a top notch student.

Thanks pretender. I've been an honor roll/A Student all my life. Someday I'd like to be a teacher. :)

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

sford122 wrote:

Thanks for your encouragement fstop22. Would you recommend that I step my flash down to 1/2 instead of 1/1? I guess I should just practice and try different settings. It was very bright yesterday so it would make sense to lessen the flash. I get so excited finding a subject, I don't stop to think it through.

No easy answer for you. Once you start Nailing your focus, then you will start nailing you flash. It comes with practice. I continuously check my photos as I go along so I can see the results for my settings on the spot. I learn much more in the field as it happens then viewing the results sitting at the computer. I tend to turn my flash down so I don't wash out the colors and have to many hot spots.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

fstop22 wrote:

No easy answer for you. Once you start Nailing your focus, then you will start nailing you flash. It comes with practice. I continuously check my photos as I go along so I can see the results for my settings on the spot. I learn much more in the field as it happens then viewing the results sitting at the computer. I tend to turn my flash down so I don't wash out the colors and have to many hot spots.

thats what i do,check when shooting,if its bright i go to a smaller aperture, or cut down on the flash.tom