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Extreme macro of a lovely little hoverfly. Now that my equipment has come back from repairs, I'm able to stack again which is rather pleasing =).
This is interesting because whilst my stuff was away, I made myself a new gadget that should let me be a bit more varied. Before, the stage that I had was a cheap eBay "lab lifter", and the mounting stage was a Watkins & Doncaster "Insect Examination Stage". Between these it was very difficult to point insects at interesting directions into the camera, so it means I was always pretty limited in terms of the views and angles I could use.
But, whilst my stuff was away, I made two things: a special lifter and a rotation stage thing. Between these it means that I can now make shots from more interesting angles, as it lets me do such things as 3/4 views like this (more below). This is a pleasure because whilst the headon shot is always good for impact, surely not every shot should be a headon shot =).
Technical: BG output onto SmallHD via HDMI matrix used as background; rear curtain sync 2s exposures; 96 photos with no sub stacks, Zerene Stacker Dmap and Pmax combined, finished off with CS4, NoiseNinja & Topaz Detail. Step size of 75µm, polystyrene chip cone diffuser. Resized 50% to reduce noise. Componon 28 f/4 reversed on slightly extended bellows so about 2:1 ish; 3 flashes @1/16 perpendicular @2 &10 o'clock, @1/32 perpendicular @6 o'clock.
UPDATE 2014 - I have put together an extreme macro photography learning site to explain the techniques and equipment used for all my macro photos here in Flickr which is now ready. To point to a few of the links that people who want to learn this stuff might like to have a browse of:
Focus Stacking, Focus Stack Preparation, Shooting A Stack, Stack Processing, Stack Post Processing, Schneider Kreuznach Componon 28 mm f/4, Schneider Kreuznach Componon 35 mm f/4, Schneider Kreuznach Componon 80 mm f/4, Nikon El-Nikkor 50 mm f/2.8N, Reject Enlarger Lenses, JML Optical 21 mm f/3.5, 20 mm Microfilm f/2.8, Anybrand MP-E 65 Macro Lens, Manual, TTL, Rear Curtain Sync, Extreme Macro Backgrounds, Single Colour Background, The Gradient Background, Adjustable Flash Shoe Mounts, Extension Tubes, Eyepiece, Field Monitor, Flash Bracket, Focusing Helicoid, Holding Tools, Lens Adapters, M42 Iris, Macro Tripod, Making A Macro Beanbag, Insect Photography
This was attracted to the fennel growing in my garden. Please can anyone assist with a positive identification.
a male syrphid (hoverfly) (Diptera: Syrphidae) resting on a small dried flower
ID: Sphaerophoria sp
Nikon 105mm f2.8 + 27.5 mm extension tube
A hoverfly on cosmos flower in our Staffordshire garden this morning. I'm not very good with hoverflies; but this could be Helophilus pendulus. The black on the hind tibia is restricted to the distal third.
A stack of 200 images taken using a stackshot rail and put together with zerene stacker. magnification 5x
Same fly from yesterday (but the front end view today) View large to see that wonderful long tongue lapping up that pollen! ;0) HFDF Have a lovely day and weekend
Myathropa florea
This hoverfly was photographed on a buddleia flower in our garden. Syrphus vitripennis is a fairly widespread in Britain and frequents a wide range of habitats. It can be found from March to November peaking slightly in May, but is most abundant in July and August. It is also a noted migrant.
The larvae feed on aphids and are considered a useful garden species for this reason.