ATJ's Fifty Two Frames

[ATJ]

Based on Gerry's comments, I thought I start a separate thread where I can post each week's image of mine, so I have them all in one place.

[ATJ]

Week 1 - 01-07/01/2012


Male black flat-head leafhopper, Stenocotis depressa, at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/01/05 16:08:37
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, 20mm tube, Pop-up flash, Mini-diffuser
Settings: ISO 400, 1/125s, f/32, EV1.7

[the foto fanatic]

on the separate thread - looking forward to following your work.

[Reschsmooth]

:up: on the separate thread - looking forward to following your work.

As a means of outsourcing

[ATJ]

Week 2 - 08-14/01/2012


Snail parasitic blowfly, Amenia sp., at Mount Sion Park, Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/01/12 17:23:10
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/60s, f/22, EV+1.67 and lightened in Lightroom

[Reschsmooth]

Cracker.

[sirhc55]

Cracker.

No, it’s a fly

[Reschsmooth]

Cracker.

No, it’s a fly

I'm just a poor old man. My eyesight is bad. My eyes are poor. My nose is knackered.

[Steffen]

It's a great insect portrait, almost endearing

If pressed for suggestions I'd wish for somewhat more DOF, but I realise that the next stop is f/32 and the end of the line. BTW, I wonder why EV +1.67 exposure compensation was necessary, this doesn't seem like a difficult scene for auto-exposure to handle?

Cheers
Steffen.

[ATJ]

If pressed for suggestions I'd wish for somewhat more DOF, but I realise that the next stop is f/32 and the end of the line.

With the 60mm f/2.8D, it can go even smaller than f/32 when focusing close, however, I don't believe I would have gained enough DOF to make much difference.

BTW, I wonder why EV +1.67 exposure compensation was necessary, this doesn't seem like a difficult scene for auto-exposure to handle?

Good question. Through experimentation with using the pop-up flash with the mini diffuser (which fits around the end of the lens), I have found that EV+1.67 is required to get close to correct exposure. If I shoot a gray card with the pop-up flash but without the diffuser, I get correct exposure. Once I add the diffuser to the end of the lens, I have to go to EV+1.67 to get the same exposure. I fear that iTTL isn't really completely through the lens - that's the only explanation I can come up with.

[colin_12]

I like the clarity of this one Andrew.

[ATJ]

Week 3 - 15-21/01/2012


Leura Cascades, at Leura, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/01/21 14:00:57
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II, Tripod
Settings: ISO 100, 6s, f/32, @ 38.0 mm

I had so many images to choose from this week, mostly small organisms, but I thought I'd choose one from today's outing. I'm also less likely to have a similar shot later in the year.

[biggerry]

Andrew, it's a nice classic shot of the cascades but comes across at my end quite flat in colour more so than real life in my opinion. Possibly even just a little bump in the colour and contrast may make it stronger. thoughts?

[ATJ]

Is this any better?

[biggerry]

Is this any better?

hhmm, yes, however I think you have increased the brightness a bit, i prefer the whites of the water in the other one, however the saturation is looking better and more like what I saw on the day.

[surenj]

i prefer the whites of the water in the other one

Hmm. I think one of us has a calibration issue. From my viewpoint, #1 has yellow water and #2 nice and white water.

[biggerry]

i prefer the whites of the water in the other one

Hmm. I think one of us has a calibration issue. From my viewpoint, #1 has yellow water and #2 nice and white water.

probably me with my $2 monitor

I should have been clearer, in the second the contrast and brightness has blown some of teh water, hence I prefer that aspect of the water in #1, however yes the second does have a better (or lack thereof) cast.

[ATJ]

Third time's the charm?

[biggerry]

Third time's the charm?

much stronger image imo.

[ATJ]

Week 4 - 22-28/01/2012


Mushroom, probably Cortinarius sp., at Mount Sion Park, Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/01/27 16:24:32
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/200s, f/16, EV+3

[ATJ]

Week 5 - 29/01/2012 - 04/02/2012


Common yellow robberfly, Ommatius sp., at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012-01-31 09:04:28
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/22, EV+1.67

[TonyT]

Andrew you have excelled your self that shot is fantastic.

[biggerry]

that shit ain't arT...but damn its a fing good picture.
(just a fraction less light maybe? it comes across a bit bright my end)

[the foto fanatic]

Woo-hoo. Sharp as a tack, beautiful bokeh. Excellent.

[Steffen]

Gosh Andrew, what are you paying those insects?

Cheers
Steffen.

[ATJ]

Week 6 - 05-11/02/2012


Yellow-headed leafhopper nymph, Brunotartessus fulvus, at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/02/06 15:08:58
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, 36mm Tube, SB800 flash, DIY softbox
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/32

[ATJ]

Week 7 - 12-18/02/2012


Nudibranch, Tambja verconis, at Bare Island, La Perouse, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 10.4 metres
Taken: 2012/02/18 10:56:23
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Ikelite housing, Flat port, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/12s5, f/16

I took nearly 4 thousand frames in the last week so I had quite a few from which to choose.

[ATJ]

Week 8 - 19-25/02/2012


Brown huntsman spider, Heteropoda sp., at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.
Taken: 2012/02/25 22:45:01
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/11, EV+2

[ATJ]

Week 9 - 26/02/21012 - 03/03/2012


Hawk moth, Gnathothlibus erotus, at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.

Taken: 2012/02/26 21:46:06
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16, EV+1.67

[ATJ]

Week 10 - 4-10/03/2012


Cup moth caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans., at Mount Sion Park, Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.

Taken: 2012/03/05 17:41:01
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16, EV+1.67

[ATJ]

Week 11 - 11-17/03/2012


Golden orb weaver, Nephila sp., at Knapsack Park, Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.

Taken: 2012/03/11 09:12:33
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16, EV+1

[ATJ]

Week 12 - 18-24/03/2012


Pot-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, at The Leap, Kurnell, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 20.6

Taken: 2012/03/24 10:45:43
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, +5 diopter, Ikelite housing, Dome port, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16, @ 42mm

[zafra52]

Simply spectacular!

[biggerry]

Pot-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, at The Leap, Kurnell, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 20.6

needs rotating 90 clicks I think

[ATJ]

needs rotating 90 clicks I think

I prefer reality over "art".

[ATJ]

Week 13 - 25-31/03/2012


Toad stink bug, Platycoris sp., at Mount Sion Park, Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.

Taken: 2012/03/30 15:36:13
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/22, EV+1.7

[ATJ]

Week 14 - 1-7/04/2012


Striped pyjama squid, Sepioloidea lineolata, at Shiprock, Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 12.8 metres

Taken: 2012/04/05 20:17:26
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Ikelite housing, Flat port, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16

[ATJ]

Week 15 - 08-14/04/2012



Head of a mother-of-pearl pipefish, Vanacampus margaritifer, at Shiprock, Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 14.2 metres.

Taken: 2012/04/09 10:14:13
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Ikelite housing, Flat port, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/100s, f/16

[ATJ]

Week 16 - 15-21/04/2012


Peron's tree frog, Litoria peronii, at Glenbrook, New South Wales, Australia.

Taken: 2012/04/16 20:53:11
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D, Pop-up flash, Mini diffuser
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/16, EV+1.67

[ATJ]

Week 17 - 22-28/04/2012


Eastern blue devil, Paraplesiops bleekeri, at Point Perpendicular, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 29.1 metres

Taken: 2012/04/28 11:56:13
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 Fisheye, Ikelite housing, Dome port, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/11, @17 mm

[surenj]

That frog is rather nicely done Andrew.

The blue devil looks like a nice specimen for a tank!

[surenj]

OK just realised that the blue devil is protected....

Legal implications
Taking or possessing Eastern blue devil fish (or
any other species of protected fish) is an offence
and heavy penalties apply. For corporations
these penalties can include fines of up to
$55 000 while individuals can face fines of up to
$11 000 and up to 3 months in prison.

[biggerry]

OK just realised that the blue devil is protected....

Legal implications
Taking or possessing Eastern blue devil fish (or
any other species of protected fish) is an offence
and heavy penalties apply. For corporations
these penalties can include fines of up to
$55 000 while individuals can face fines of up to
$11 000 and up to 3 months in prison.

must be worth a few bob on the black market then...

nice shot Andrew, but it does look like a fish tank shot.

[ATJ]

The blue devil looks like a nice specimen for a tank!

It was around 40cm long so you'd need a big tank.

nice shot Andrew, but it does look like a fish tank shot.

I was shooting with the Tokina 10-17mm fish-eye and it was very hard to get close enough. I have a shot that is a better angle - it is sort of facing me - but it is a bit far away and I have to crop a lot.

The other annoying thing is sRGB profile doesn't do the colours justice. The blue edging on the tail and spots on the face are really electric in life and in the raw photo.

[biggerry]

Hey Andrew, i like the second one better, however neither gives me a sense of size, my first thought was its smaller than my palm.

I assume your using two light sources on these? there is no light fall off to the edge of the frames which gives me the feeling of fish tank rather than real sea.

pretty fish

[ATJ]

Hey Andrew, i like the second one better, however neither gives me a sense of size, my first thought was its smaller than my palm.

Short of carrying a box of (waterproof) matches to place in the frame, there's not a whole lot I can do about scale.

I assume your using two light sources on these? there is no light fall off to the edge of the frames which gives me the feeling of fish tank rather than real sea.

Yes, two strobes. I'm not sure how having light fall-off at the edges makes it more "sea like". All it would show was poor lighting technique. If available light was used (and we ignored that it would be very dark with almost no colour) there wouldn't be light fall-off at the edges.

[ATJ]

Grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus, at The Nursery, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Depth: 6.5 metres

Taken: 2012/04/29 11:16:52
Equipment: Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye, Ikelite housing, 2 x DS161 strobes
Settings: ISO 200, 1/125s, f/11, @17mm

[Reschsmooth]

Andrew, I am really enjoying seeing the weekly nature shots you are posting. Whilst it is such a small fraction of what is out there, seeing something new and diverse every week adds to the appreciation we should have for what is around us.

[the foto fanatic]

Andrew, I am really enjoying seeing the weekly nature shots you are posting. Whilst it is such a small fraction of what is out there, seeing something new and diverse every week adds to the appreciation we should have for what is around us.

Hear hear!

[ATJ]

...seeing something new and diverse every week adds to the appreciation we should have for what is around us.

Thanks, Pat. That has been the challenge I have set myself: To not just post an image every week but to try to make every week's image different from previous weeks' images (and future weeks' images). I had started out posting (what I thought was) my best image for the week but as the weeks go on it becomes more difficult.