Macro help please!

[Marvin]

Hi guys!
Well, I have got a new macro lens and I have been playing around with it. How the bloody hell do you focus on moving little insects?? It seems nice and when Rel does it and posts her pics! A tripod isn't practical. I have no idea!! I tried manual focus and continual AF. I am clueless!
Lee

[sirhc55]

The 3 P’s - patience, persistence and perception.

Other than that, glue the little suckers down

[Mr Darcy]

Pins work too

More seriously, anticipation helps as well as the three Ps
1.Now that insect is walking this way...
2.I'll manually focus on that spot there.
3.Approaching... approaching... approaching.
4.Damn it flew away.
5.(Apply three Ps)
6.Repeat 1..3 until 7
7. Snap.... Gotcha!

[fozzie]

Hi Lee - firstly familiarize yourself with your new Macro lens. Start on a stationary object with the aid of a tripod ie. roses on a perfectly still day until you are very happy with the results. Then venture onto a moving subjects, bearing in mind to follow the sound advice from Chris. The results will come .

hmmm....some interesting observations in your post, that I could play with!  BTW: what lens did you buy ?

Hi guys!
Well, I have got a new macro lens and I have been playing around with it. How the bloody hell do you focus on moving little insects?? It seems nice and when Rel does it and posts her pics! A tripod isn't practical. I have no idea!! I tried manual focus and continual AF. I am clueless!
Lee

fozzie

[big pix]

The 3 P’s - patience, persistence and perception.

Other than that, glue the little suckers down

....... or Mortein

[Big V]

Freeze them with skefron - buy it from the chemist.. Now come on Lee you saw how we did it last time

[ATJ]

I almost always use a flash for macro shots of insects. A flash is good for two main reasons:

1) The duration of the flash is very short (1/1000 to 1/10000s) and so can freeze most of the action.

2) At close quarters you can provide significantly more light than you'd get in full Sun which means you can use a smaller aperture and increase the depth of field - how much of the image will appear to be in focus.

On point 2, as you can control the light source (either manually or with TTL), you can pretty much go with any aperture and you can be more creative with depth of field. A shallow depth of field is usually more stunning but it can be difficult to get the whole subject in focus. A wide depth of field with a small aperture (f/16 and smaller) makes getting a focused image easier, but may result in distracting background.

Of course, you still need to anticipate where a moving insect is going to be as already described and that takes some practice. Part of the "trick" is to take as many photos as you can (they're free, right?) that way even if you have to take a hundred shots to get a good one, you still get a good one.

[sirhc55]

There is of course a 4th ’P’ - when all fails, you end up ’pissed’

[Marvin]

 LOL thanks for the suggestions. I'm guessing there is no quick fix then! But I do like your fourth "p" Chris!
Virgs, I don't like my chances of finding a dead one we could mock up to make it look like it is alive!!!
Fozzie, I bought Leigh's Tamron 90mm. I really like it but am just finding it very frustrating. I think I have got something good and it is nearly always out of focus!
Thanks ATJ. Some great suggestions. I will try using flash.
Thanks everyone.

[ATJ]

Marvin,

Other things you can practice are is insects that don't move as much, such as caterpillars and even grasshoppers that will often stay put for minutes. Small flowers are good, too.

[CraigVTR]

Marvin

All good advice above. One thing I have heard Rel say, I think is;

Shoot the little fellas late in the day when it is cooling and they begin to rest for the evening.

Another way is to gently capture the subject and place it in the fridge for a period of time. When they cool they do not move around until they have warmed up. Some insects can be frozen and are fine when they thaw out. Saw this tip on the web somewhere. I also saw the refrigeration trick in action last week.

Good luck, you'll love macro.

Craig