Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

This is a second attempt at true macro. I used an Canon 7D, 100mm macro lens set at the MFD.

I find it extremely hard to keep the subject in focus. But I tried my best.

blind photographer Loc: Rock Hill, South Carolina

I am certainly no expert but it looks great to me.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

This one looks much better than the one posted earlier, you have good lighting, good DOF, and have done a pretty good job of staying on plane with the caterpillar.

Good Job.

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

Thanks very much.

I don't how you "hand held" guys do it. It is so hard keeping the subject in focus.

So, "Blurry" , since you are the lens stacking guru how do you manage the excellent focus and DOF without a tripod, in your art work ?

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Well, I guess a couple of things, one is that you need to be shooting at small apertures, it looks from this pic that you have that part down, but a good flash and diffuser is pretty important. I do not try to hold a pic in focus because you are right, it is very hard to hold a pic in perfect focus, but I find that there is a sort of rhythm to hand and body movement as the pic seems to be coming in and out of focus so I try and time my shots accordingly. If I can I try and find something that I can brace a hand or an arm on or even a hip... in absence of such a thing I try and take a sturdy stance such as kneeling... Nothing is better than shots that you can lie down and shoot as nothing is better at steadying your camera than the ground, and you can also get some really great shots down there. Oh, I almost forgot, I discard a lot of photographs, when I am on a good subject I will shot 50 or even 100 shots.

Fstop22 uses his AI setting, that is more designed for sports type photography where your subject is in constant motion, personally I do not like autofocus in macro, but it seems to work really well for Martin.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Better focus, better illumination, better DoF.

Per your Exif info: Canon 100-mm macro lens, ISO 400, 1/200-sec at f/20. Focal Dist = .31-m = 31-cm = 12.2-inches (sensor to subject), I will assume that this is MFD, which provides MWD.

What is your illumination source? I suggest diffusing light to lessen shadows, and practice, practice, practice.

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

I am using a Gary Fong diffuser on a 580 EXII. Which brings up my next question. Does the Gary Fong diffuser accomplish the same result as a soft box ?

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

The Gary Fong diffuser is a commercial softbox. The 580EX II is an excellent speedlight, which needs to be on an articulated arm, so you can adjust the angle and positioning, similar to Geff's set-up below.

I suggest setting your speedlight to Manual, and adjusting manually for correct exposure. I usually have my speedlight set to 1/2 or 1/4 power (not in softbox). Other UHH softbox users choose even lower power output, depending on how close softbox face is to subject.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Looks good. As already mentioned keep the shutter speed up 1/200 and use a flash. This will help camera shake. Don't know about anyone else but when I first started I was getting Maybe 5% in focus the first week or so. Just takes practice. Auto focus really helped in the beginning, but many times the lens did not know what to do as I was shaking so much. I'm starting to use manual know as I just keep the lens cranked down to 1:1

Stevieboy Loc: West Palm Beach, Florida

Nice job. Clear and exposure looks real good. Keep it up.l

Steve