sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is an experiment in using colored a background for staged macro photography. I used my Stink Bug as a model focusing on its proboscis.

I purchased a pack of recycled colored paper ($1.50 for 50-sheets) and put a small piece of the magenta paper closely behind it as shown in the attached photo using a third-hand tool to hold both the specimen and the paper background. I pulled the specimen out from under the light diffuser for illustration. When shooting the specimen it is moved under the translucent diffuser which is made from three stacked drink cups cut down to size (I have various lengths for different size subjects and lens focal lengths).

I've also included a photo of the camera rig and the subject positioner setup used for this image.

Thanks in advance to those who view and comments, suggestions and critique are highly appreciated.

Stink Bug Proboscis 2-12-19 by Herman Munster, on Flickr

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(Download)

enygy Loc: LI, NY

Pink is the new black...

Very, Very nice!

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

napabob Loc: Napa CA

boomchuckalucka...............no wondering what that area looks like now.............it's in the details

your there, lighting and focus top notch, I doff my chapeau...........

nice seeing your rig and set up too

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Herman. I am pressed with your dedicated setup

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I use a drill-press / milling slide table ($36) that is quite handy and it has fine degrees of both X&Y travel. It's all aluminum and well built for this use.

https://www.amazon.com/Multifunction-Worktable-Milling-Compound-Drilling/dp/B01KUZB8DW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1550006787&sr=8-5&keywords=slide+table

I then set a stainless steel laboratory scissor jack on top of it to adjust the elevation position of the subject ($15).

https://www.amazon.com/DOLITY-100x100mm-Stainless-Lab-Lift-Platforms/dp/B07G87BHVW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550007002&sr=8-2&keywords=lab+scissor+jack

The combination of the two provides a wide degree of X/Y/Z fine adjustments to position the subject and the flat surface of the scissor jack allows for a variety of stages such as the third-hand tool, bearing orbiting positioner or just a glob of modeling clay to pin specimens in.

I also placed a inexpensive manual X/Y/Z macro rail on the sliding work table for setups that find it to be more convenient ($15) mounted in a vertical position.

https://www.amazon.com/Inseesi-Focusing-Close-up-Shooting-Standard/dp/B01K9W89JM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1550007544&sr=8-3&keywords=macro+rail

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Although We are using similar setups, my photos do not come close. Is there a word 'supelarivest'?
Bill

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the kind words. I try to shoot something everyday and experiment with anything that comes to mind so I learn a lot from my mistakes. There are far many more sessions that deleted than get posted.

One of my recent discoveries was that the length of the diffuser is important to the position of the subject. I found that by placing the subject into the full lenght of the translucent plastic drink cups was causing light to be reflected past the subject causing a 'glow' around it as the light was bouncing back toward the lens. In effect it was backlighting the subject. It took a lot of experiments to figure that out.

Super closeup macros (2X thru 10X) requires the subject to be very close to the lens and at times it nearly touches it. This requires the subject to be placed inside the diffuser which gets illuminated like a "lamp shade" would. By trimming the length of that shade I found that I could eliminate the "back glow" from around the subject.

I also found that the subject needs to be dry also. I preserve them in denatured alcohol and if I don't dry them the smallest bit of dampness creates a starburst of light. I've also learned to clean them before the shooting session helps improve the image greatly. It amazes me how much debris and lint there is on an insect. They remind me of the character 'Pig Pen' on the Peanuts cartoon.

tinusbum Loc: east texas

wow! that really shows up.great focus

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

I hit send too soon. Was more, but oops.
My words are to compliment. I am learning a lot here. I am not 'kind' when l prase. Your's is highly deserved.
Try getting one of the best in a large format, 24x30,say. You WILL be impressed. The detail should be amazing. I get frames for cheap at yard sales and mat and assemble them myself. The sell. Then I can afford to upgrade.
Friends are every bit as supportive as the people at UHH,and that is nice.
Dinner, then The Left Handed Gun.
Night, Gary.
Bill

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very, VERY good. It has been a blast to see your progress, and so quickly! I expect that under the lights, the alchohol might continue to ooze out and cause artifacts. I would have thought that some backlighting gives a nice effect, as it does in single frame flash, but I don't know.
I have bookmarked your equipment. Maybe one day...

Do you need more rails? 🙂

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Mark. If a few rails are good then more are better? Or was that the more beers the better?

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Totally excellent Gary.

cucharared Loc: Texas, Colorado

Wow! That's truly a sensational photo. Fantastic detail.
I thought I was seeing some shop machine stuff there. Your description of your setup was great. It is a magnificent layout. Functional as heck, too. You done good!

ron