Spider Macro

[HappyFotographer]

Given that the front area I laughingly call a garden is a spider haven I thought I would try out the macro settings on the Tamron 70-300.

I should have stopped once I couldn't find the top thingymajig of my poor excuse for a tripod but I decided that the goddess wasn't truly against me and this was just a sign to practise my handholding skills........yeah right.

So this is the only slightly salvagable image I got. The little fellow was probably lucky to be 1cm in length along the body......any bigger than that and I run away screaming.



240mm handheld, f16, 1/80sec

OK, so after looking at some of the incredible images here I decided I really should of had the common sense to pop up the flash.......any other suggestions to what I could have done to improve on this.

cheers
Deb

[sirhc55]

Deb - everything you did in this shot was wrong and the result, a great photo The water droplets and the spider all look superb and to have handheld this shot is testament to what a great photo - well done

[HappyFotographer]

Deb - everything you did in this shot was wrong

and the result, a great photo

Thanks, I think.

The water droplets and the spider all look superb and to have handheld this shot is testament to what a great photo - well done

I actually sprayed the little sucker myself, enjoyed it way too much truth be told......my 3year old daughter going "yeah mummy, get that spider" in the background just egged me on.

OK, given that I did everything wrong, what should have I had done to get it right (without fluking it)? A faster shutter speed I presume.....anything else? The fstop choice seems right....or am I completely off there as well?

Cheers
Deb

[Oneputt]

Your hands are obviously steadier than mine. Well done Deb, very nice, I like it

[leek]

Deb,

That's a great result for a handheld macro shot - particularly one taken with the macro feature of a zoom lens...

I've taken a few similar ones in the past with my Sigma 300 zoom, and know that it's not easy. You've made maximum use of the available DOF.

I think Chris was referring to the lack of a tripod and flash - those were the things you did "wrong"... But hey - it worked didn't it...

Generally - with macros you need to stop down the aperture as much as possible and then increase the amount of light (with flash or other light) to get a reasonable shutter speed. Using a tripod would help to compensate for a lower shutter speed...

However, that said, I've seen some excellent macros with less DOF where one aspect is sharp as a tack (e.g. the eyes) and the rest is mildly out of focus...

It all depends what look you're trying to achieve.

[KerryPierce]

I really like that shot, Deb. Wish I'd done that... It's especially cool that it's hand held at the focal length and shutter speed used. That's very impressive, but as I'm sure you learned, makes for a very low percentage of keepers.

If you don't already have an sb800 or sb600, you might want to consider obtaining one. It will help a great deal with all of your low light, back light, side light shots, where you need fill flash. It would prolly help with your photos of the kids a great deal too.

[sirhc55]

Deb - I was joking

[HappyFotographer]

Hi Kerry

If you don't already have an sb800 or sb600, you might want to consider obtaining one. It will help a great deal with all of your low light, back light, side light shots, where you need fill flash. It would prolly help with your photos of the kids a great deal too.

I don't have one, would love it, but my family keep on insisting I feed them....pesky buggers.

Thanks for the comments
Deb

[HappyFotographer]

Deb - I was joking

ooooohhhhhhhh........well then to you then!

[Slider]

Great shot Deb, and don't you just love the green blood in their transparent legs

[famish]

Wow Deb... That's a great shot.

I haven't got my D70s yet, so haven't got any lens experience.... and am trying to remember everything about this thread for when I do!

Thanks.

Fiona