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Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
To all you Macro photographers, I need some help.

I sold my 105mm f2.8 ai-s Macro, and my 85mm f1.8 (couldn't get consistent results out of it, and the CA was pretty bad)
So I picked up a 105mm VR (a hell of a lens)

Now composition wise, Macro's are well, quite similar to landscapes, you make your own little world in which all the elements of a good landscape still matter
However it feels like something else is missing.
I can get visually appealing shots of bugs and plants and shit, but nothing feels special about them

What makes you look at a macro picture and go, woah, that shit is awesome.
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>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
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>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
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>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
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>> Anonymous
I'm a noob to macro, but from what I've seen and researched there are a few good ideas which one should try to keep in mind.

When at all possible, go out on an overcast day. The diffused light really helps. Otherwise you'll need to use a flash with a light sphere or some sort of diffuser.

With pictures of flora, get as close as you possibly can and try to make the uninteresting compelling. I've seen some really cool pictures of flowers stamen's, petal edges, and the like. At least it's better than the typical point-and-shoot flower macro.

With bugs, as with any other living subject, eye detail is very important.

Finally, refraction. Use a drop of water as your focus and see if you can get an interesting image refracted in it. Everybody loves those.

That's all I really know, besides going out yourself and just getting better at it over time.

You're great at landscapes anyway so I've no doubt that you'll soon master macro as well.
>> Anonymous
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High magnification shots. 1:1 is easypeasy but something like 5:1 already starts to be interesting.

Pic is taken by me. Around 3-4:1 magnification.

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>> Anonymous
>>251553

Go the MPE-65. Shit is cash.

I too find it difficult to compose an interesting macro shot. Have got some decent ones of flowers focussing on a particular part of them rather than the whole flower. Havn't had much chance for insects yet, only recently got into macro and there are like no insects out in winter here.
>> ?beethy !vW/UaE6zYU
>>251553
wow nice.

Vincent, I'm a bit of a macro noob too.. but this should be a good read for you:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/mimicry/discuss/66514/

enjoy
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>251553
For bugs thats all good, but for plants and whatnot there isn't much detail at those magnifications.
Plus then its even more difficult to get close enough / focus on the skittish insects.
At 65mm focal length, you must have been no more than an inch away from it no?

>>251557
sweet shall check that out! thanks
>> Anonymous
>>251675

You need to get that close to get such high magnifications.

Alternatively, you can do macro stacking, which is using a macro stacking ring to mount a regular reversed lens (recommended 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 or so) to a telephoto or macro lens. This is a cheap way to get 3.5 or even 5:1 macro shots. A teleconverter - 2x usually - is also a good choice if you want to get distance.
>> Anonymous
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Yo, com/p/osition crits... could I get some feedback?

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>> Anonymous
>>251685

Sorry, didn't mean to post in Reply mode
>> elf_man !!DdAnyoDMfCe
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>>251500
For plants, don't take the advice about overcast lighting. Like portraits, that kind of light is nice for insects, but for plants you're really looking for interesting patterns and colors, and brighter light with some contrast helps bring that out. For plants and flowers, I'd suggest thinking in terms of abstract art.

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>> Anonymous
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I'd say sunlight is imperative to provide decent floral contrast.

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>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
Vincent, refer to this guys work and then go try the whole macro thing again.

http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=768656
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>251964
woah, everyone is focus stacking. those are amazing
Lighting is soo soft.
He must freeze them or something and then bring them into his studio
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
>>251997
he shoots mostly live specimens to my understanding
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>251999
Maybe he has a bunch of insects as pets. Like the tarantula's and snakes I bet are also kept in tanks.

Still impressive as hell
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
>>252003
you have an online gallery vincent? you can email it to me if you want it on 4chan.
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>252007
I don't mind, its been posted on here before
photocross.smugmug.com

Also not much macro stuff on there, mostly my landscape and sports work
>> Anonymous
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Detail. Loads of it, especially in insects, the compound eyes looks stunning. Also, go for colorful insects, like butterflies, dragonflies, etc.

And if you can't get insects to stay still in the field, grab a net, catch them and put them in a freezer for a while, or go out early in the morning. That will make them slow down enough you should be able to shoot without a problem for a while.
>> Anonymous
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>>252049
Another one I like.
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>252051
Ya that one is awesome, I've seen it a few times before
>> Anonymous
>>251964
90% of his work ain't real macro.
>> ilkore !!rybbb5OcRVp
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when it comes to insect macro's, i tend to think composition-wise: subject>background and/or surface. it's all about the light, setting, and subject. insects have personalities too... some won't let you get close, but others will let you do whatever the fuck you want.
>> ilkore !!rybbb5OcRVp
also this:
http://nocroppingzone.blogspot.com/
>> NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY
>>252360
Except no body really defines macro as 1:1 anymore... so who cares?

The point of the link is instructional in regards to composition.
>> Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL
>>252445
Good shit, Looks like I will have to start using the flash more too. I've been spoiled by VR, I haven't needed the flash to take macro shots in the daytime.