I took this photo at a local Butterfly Conservatory (Brookside Gardens) last week ... just thought it was neat !!!
I went there for the sole purpose to practice with my 105mm micro lens. I think I need to go back and practice some more. I had a lot of Depth of Field problems that I need to work on.
Awesome picture!!!!
Oh yeah, lotsa problems. LOL
Great picture!
Hey John, how are things these days in Gordonville ? Quiet, I hope !!!
By the way, any dummy can get one decent photo out of a 100 (maybe two) -- lol. It was the other 99 that concerned me. Here is an example of my depth of field dilemma. As small as this caterpillar is, part is in focus and the rest isn't. Next time, I'll use a larger aperture setting with flash, if necessary. At least they don't move very fast.
Its way too hot and they're still setting of fireworks. Maybe tomorrow will be quieter. Btw, the bluejays have been minding their own business. :-)
You got the best part in focus. A larger aperture or different composition? Like you say they don't move fast so there's time to do some staging. At least with digital no film is being wasted. Why am telling you stuff you already know?
Linthicum, that's a great photo. You're a thousand steps ahead of me....I don't even know where to begin to change aperture or anything else. I just use autofocus and hope for the best LOL
-Julie
Wish I had your "luck" with aurofocus, Julie!
And I wish I were patient enough to sit with a book and teach myself more about real photography. But after my B.A. and M.A., my love affair with any sort of "textbook" has long died LOL
-Julie
I can understand that!
Whats aurofocus?
LOL
It's what Scooby Doo uses on his camera!
oh, btw, love the pic! I have a Spicebush butterfly that visits but I have nothing for a host plant. :(
This message was edited Jul 6, 2005 1:52 PM
I like that pic, too. Wonder what would happen if he cropped the body out and enlarged the head some? (I am trying to learn something).
Looked up the host plant. Came back spicebush and sasafras (sp). Both Texas natives!
Hi Linthicum,
Those 2 pics are great!!! The spicebush cat is really cool--I'll definitely have to try to attract some of these into my backyard.
Depth of field problems are one of the most common problems in macro photography, so don't be discouraged (your 2 pics actually aren't bad in this regard). You are not alone in your frustrations. The standard method for increasing depth of field is to "stop down the lens". This is techno-speak for using a larger F-number (same thing as a smaller aperture). Of course, when you make the aperture smaller, there is less light reaching the film or digital chip, so you will need either a longer exposure (which can lead to blurry pics when the subject moves) or more light (usually from flash). If you use flash, then other problems can result (I have a big problem with incorrect color rendention when I use the flash on my digital camera). A good way to learn these things first hand is to experiment with several different inanimate objects. Take a series of pics in aperture priority mode using your entire range of F-stops, both with and without flash. Make notes about the shutter speed the camera selects, and then compare the pics to see what comes out best. I found this method to be very useful when I was learning how to use my digital camera.
Good luck!
Mark
Mark, thank you for the micro photo tips. The Depth of Field Calculator located at the link below shows you how narrow the depth of field really is, even at fairly high aperture settings. But you are correct, I'll take some pictures at all of the f-stops, up to f/32.
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
Saved that link, thanks!
I forgot to add that you can always improve the depth of field by moving the camera back away from the subject. If you have enough megapixels or use a fine grain slide film that you scan at high resolution, then you can crop the unwanted parts, and still have a good close up. Sometimes this is the only way to get everything in focus.
Mark
