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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 176 - Macros >> Challenge 176 - Eligible > The eyes have it. (for Rod)
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01-08-09 Lydia

The eyes have it. (for Rod)

Canon EOS 40D ,Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
plus extension tubes (just arrived yesterday!)
1/100th sec f/4.0 iso250 hide exif
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ctfchallenge11-Jan-2009 05:53
Now THAT'S up close and personal! :-) Nice composition and tones although I'm not keen on the subject! :-D CJ
ctfchallenge09-Jan-2009 18:19
The extension tubes were a *Christ*mas gift... and they are both Canon. I did use both of them stacked on the 100mm macro for this shot. I'm having fun playing with them. I just wish I could find a frog or something that isn't hibernating. Even if he's a groggy froggy. *grin* Nothin' though. *sigh*

Lighting was a single difused Tri-Lite from the front... but it was bright with natural light in the room for the background. If I didn't have that, I'd just have used a difused on-board flash. ~Lydia
aam1234 09-Jan-2009 17:37
Thanks, Christakis. I heard/read the same thing as you mentioned. One guy even said "Canon air is not better than Kenko's" :) because there are no optics/glass in the tube.
Guest 09-Jan-2009 16:43
Amm, if you are interested in buying extension tubes, may I suggest the Kenko extension tube set. For aprox the same price as one Canon you three tubes get 12mm, 20mm and 36mm. The build quality and operation is exactly same as the Canons one. For this shot I wont be surprised if Lydia used all three stacked on (78mm!!). That is if she uses Kenko of course ;)
aam1234 09-Jan-2009 14:46
As Kiki asked, which extension tube did you get, Lydia.
Guest 09-Jan-2009 13:07
Lydia, Great macro shot as always. May I ask your lighting setup? I really like shooting macro but I am unsure of the way forward concerning equipment (Lighting gear to be precise). I have an external flash unit with a diffuser but that's about it.
Rod 09-Jan-2009 07:30
Death is a part of life a, so finding a deaded bee isn't the same as killing it just to get a picy. I don't know how you would get a picy this close of a live bee. Plus the bleeding things can sting ya:-)
ctfchallenge09-Jan-2009 04:51
Well I feel better already, having vented my ethical doubts ;) It's not *taking* the pictures I feel bad about, it's my reaction on the receiving end of the picture, the bum trip as a viewer, when I realize I'm looking at a corpse. I kind of feel cheated, get the idea?
Anyway!!: I probably missed a forum thread.. which extention tubes? It does sound (AND look) like fun.
-k2
Canon DSLR Challenge09-Jan-2009 04:03
Thanks, Kiki and TV.

To each his/her own, I think, about the dead bug issue. I find nature fascinating and if it's dead when I find it, I see no reason not to take advantage of it and examine it. I've learned a lot from this bug. :)

Do I prefer them alive? Yup. But, there is no bug alive outside in the cold and I have new extension tubes. *grin* A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! *grin again* ~Lydia
ctfchallenge09-Jan-2009 02:09
My 5 cents Ms Too is to close down your aperture. Have fun with your extension tubes - truly an essential accessory for macro work. -tv
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 23:28
I've been taking pictures of dead insects, too :P
-k2
aam1234 08-Jan-2009 23:18
Waw, Kiki seems to know every thing. How do you know these things, Kiki. I'm impressed.
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 22:38
The eyes do have it.
Thing with dead insects is they dry up, and their eyes get dusty. Alive, they're cleanliness itself. They almost never have dust on their eyes unless sick or dying. They do their best to rub it off right away otherwise. Can't say I find shots of dead insects to be much of an achievement. You've arranged a few very well though, but that's "stilleben", and I always feel let down when I realize the main character is actually dead. A picture lose that "celebration of life" aspect then and goes plain morbid. My 5 cents.
-k2
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 21:36
Darn, aam and Troy. *sigh* I can't please us all, and so I have to try to please myself, I suppose... I wasn't happy with the other one because of the reasons Rod said... but put it up anyway. When he said it, it confirmed it... so it had to go. *smile* Thanks for the honest comments. I do appreciate them. ~Lydia
aam1234 08-Jan-2009 20:45
I'm with Troy. I like the other one better.
Rod 08-Jan-2009 19:21
Now that is resolved AND an excellent macro with great detail, very well done megirl. It's so well done that I hereby pronounce you as the official macro photographer representing the CTF challenges. If the others don't agree than you can officially represent me:-)
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 19:02
I didn't see the other one, but this one is absolutely amazing, Lydia! It's exactly the kind of shot I have in mind when I think "macro."
--Mary Anne
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 18:53
You shoot bees! What calibre gun do you use?
Hope you are sporting and give them a chance to draw :)
Technically superb picture,
YB
Guest 08-Jan-2009 18:38
I liked the other one better :).
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 18:36
This one is not, aam. I found him dead and kept him. But, most are alive when I shoot them. I don't put them in the fridge or anything to get them slow, either... just shoot 'em where I find 'em. :) ~Lydia
aam1234 08-Jan-2009 18:24
Lydia my sista, are these things alive when you take pics of them. Just wondering.
ctfchallenge08-Jan-2009 17:49
Thanks, fellows.

How about now, Rod? ~Lydia
Rod 08-Jan-2009 06:48
I'm not sure if this isn't too close for the angle of the shot. If it was at face level & featured the face & eyes it would have worked better for me. As it is it seems unresolved by the in focus wings going out of the picy & the focus being on the lighter hairs leaving the face not very clear. Are bees eyes smooth or do they have the hundreds of segments like the flies eyes?