Bugs from the garden

[KKapple]

Getting much better results now that I have brackets attached to my flash and have it positioned right in front of my lens like I have seen many of you guys here having it. Finally feel I have some images worthy of posting in here now.

I do not know the scientific names...I guess that is part of posting in the macro forum so excuse me for not knowing them for now.

Any feedback is welcomed so I can become better.

My settings right now are, shutter speed 180 @f/13 with my flash and a diffuser.
I have a hard time holding steady and the wind is blowing. So far these are my best results.

1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8

[DigitalScape]

Excellent images, Keith - yu have the lighting dialed in. What flash bracket did you go with?

[jfoureyes]

These look super to me...fantastic job on them!

[KKapple]

Thanks guys. I have lots of practice I need to do to become better, but getting there as fast as I can. Will do a bunch more this weekend.

John, I am using this bracket...


And then attaching my flash to this ball head.

[Kenj8246]

These are nice shots, Keith.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the exif data says that flash wasn't used on any of these and the shutterspeeds were around 1/10 sec. at f/8. Think you'll find that your shots would be even better if you'd start out with base ISO(whatever that is for the 5DII), F11 aperture, 1/250 shutter and adjust from there. That way, the flash will have a better chance of stopping a lot of motion. You'll still end up with some dark backgrounds, depending on the ambient light, but that will improve with shot selection.

For what it's worth, I'm shooting manual mode on my flash with a setting of 1/8 power starting out and adjust from there. In general, the lower the flash power, the shorter the flash duration and the more motion-stopping capability you'll have. The flash will recycle quicker, as well. Hope this is useful.

[KKapple]

Originally Posted by Kenj8246

These are nice shots, Keith.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the exif data says that flash wasn't used on any of these and the shutterspeeds were around 1/10 sec. at f/8. Think you'll find that your shots would be even better if you'd start out with base ISO(whatever that is for the 5DII), F11 aperture, 1/250 shutter and adjust from there. That way, the flash will have a better chance of stopping a lot of motion. You'll still end up with some dark backgrounds, depending on the ambient light, but that will improve with shot selection.

For what it's worth, I'm shooting manual mode on my flash with a setting of 1/8 power starting out and adjust from there. In general, the lower the flash power, the shorter the flash duration and the more motion-stopping capability you'll have. The flash will recycle quicker, as well. Hope this is useful.

Thanks for the suggestions on the settings Ken.

That exif data will never be accurate. I basically copy the original image and paste it into a template I have made with the same frame, logo watermark and copy right info. So you are reading the exif data from the very first image used a long time ago.