Archive for the ‘Canon EF 100mm Macro lens’ Category
February 25, 2019
This post features a focus-stacked composite image that shows a dorsal view of an odonate larva/nymph from the Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails) that was collected and reared by Bob Perkins. The larva died before it metamorphosed into an adult.
Cordulegaster sp. larva (female) | dorsal view
Most larvae go through 10-13 stages of development known as “instars.” The author lacks sufficient experience to identify the instar of this specimen, although it appears to be one of the later stages as indicated by its well-developed wing pads.
Related Resources
Tech Tips
12 photos were used to create the focus stack. A single focus point was positioned over select anatomical features; photos were taken at each point of interest.
The following equipment was used to shoot all of the photographs for the focus-stacked composite image, shown above: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko 20mm macro automatic extension tube; Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Auto power-off was disabled for the camera and all external flash units.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to create the focus-stacked composite image, as well as spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails), gear talk, high-speed sync, larva, nymph, studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 2 Comments »
February 22, 2019
Bob Perkins collected and reared an odonate larva/nymph from the Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails). The larva died before it metamorphosed into an adult.
This post features a focus-stacked composite image that shows a ventral view of the preserved larva; a composite image showing the dorsal view will be published in my next blog post.
Cordulegaster sp. larva (female) | ventral view
This individual is a female, as indicated by her rudimentary ovipositor that can be seen on the ventral side of the specimen along the boundary between abdominal segments eight and nine (S8-9). Do you see it?
Related Resources
Tech Tips
Nine (9) photos were used to create the focus stack. A single focus point was positioned over select anatomical features; photos were taken at each point of interest.
The following equipment was used to shoot all of the photographs for the focus-stacked composite image, shown above: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko 20mm macro automatic extension tube; Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Auto power-off was disabled for the camera and all external flash units.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to create the focus-stacked composite image, as well as spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails), gear talk, high-speed sync, larva, nymph, ovipositor, studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 1 Comment »
February 6, 2019
The following focus-stacked composite images show dorsal- and ventral views of the exuvia from a Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) larva that was collected and reared by Bob Perkins.
Here are some personal observations after examining the specimen carefully.
The front- and middle legs block the mentum (prementum). This specimen is a good candidate for rehydrating the exuvia and reposing its legs.
Related Resource: Composite image: Progomphus obscurus exuvia.
Tech Tips
Six (6) photos were used to create the first focus stack; seven (7) photos were used for the second. A single focus point was positioned over select anatomical features, working from back-to-front; photos were taken at each point of interest.
The following equipment was used to shoot all of the photographs for the two focus-stacked composite images, shown above: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko 20mm macro automatic extension tube; Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to create the focus-stacked composite images, as well as spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:cerci, Common Sanddragon dragonfly, dorsal hooks, epiproct, exuvia, gear talk, high-speed sync, larva, lateral spines, paraprocts, Progomphus obscurus, studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, education, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | Leave a Comment »
January 11, 2019
Bob Perkins collected and reared a Shadow Darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa) larva/nymph. This blog post features a focus-stacked composite image of a beautifully preserved specimen of the adult that emerged from the larva.
This individual is a male, as indicated by his “indented” hind wings.
Artifacts
In my experience, focus stacking either works or it doesn’t. When it doesn’t work, “artifacts” appear in the final output that can be caused by many factors. There are work-arounds that can be used to repair the artifacts with mixed success. (See Tech Tips/Related Resources.)
I shot 19 photographs that were used to create a focus-stacked composite image of the Shadow Darner dragonfly. There’s a lot going on in those photos that caused too many artifacts to publish the final output. Several of the more noticeable artifacts are shown below.
Can you see three artifacts?
Artifacts highlighted.
I created another composite image; I used as many photos as I could before the first artifacts appeared. As it turns out, only five of 19 photos were used in the do-over composite image (shown at the beginning of this blog post). Look closely — some of the same artifacts are also noticeable in the do-over version.
Related Resources
Tech Tips
The following equipment was used to shoot the preceding composite image: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko macro automatic extension tubes (12mm, 20mm, and 36mm); Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Auto power-off was disabled for the camera and all external flash units.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Tech Tips/Related Resources
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Aeshna umbrosa, Family Aeshnidae (Darners), gear talk, high-speed sync, Shadow Darner dragonfly, studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 2 Comments »
January 9, 2019
Bob Perkins collected and reared a Shadow Darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa) larva/nymph. This is a preserved specimen of the adult that emerged from the larva.
Test shots of this beautiful specimen were taken using a relatively small aperture of f/16 for greater depth of field. The following photo is a “one-off,” that is, not a composite image.
Related Resource: Test shots: Aeshna umbrosa exuvia.
Tech Tips
The following equipment was used to shoot the preceding photograph: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko macro automatic extension tubes (12mm, 20mm, and 36mm); Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Auto power-off was disabled for the camera and all external flash units.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Aeshna umbrosa, Family Aeshnidae (Darners), gear talk, high-speed sync, Shadow Darner dragonfly, studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 1 Comment »
January 7, 2019
This blog post reports the result of more experimentation with completely automated focus stacking using CamRanger.
25 photos were used to create this focus-stacked composite image of an Eastern Least Clubtail dragonfly (Stylogomphus albistylus) exuvia from an odonate nymph that Bob Perkins collected and reared.
I own two Canon macro lenses: a Canon MP-E 65mm Macro lens; and a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens.
The MP-E 65mm macro is manual focus only, and cannot be used with CamRanger to create automated focus-stacked composite images.
In contrast, the EF100mm macro can be used with CamRanger to create automated focus stacks. In order to increase the magnification of the EF100mm macro, I used the lens in combination with three Kenko macro automatic extension tubes: 12mm; 20mm; and 36mm.
Pros and Cons
My goal was to create a tight close-up showing the face-head only. On one hand I failed to achieve my goal due to less maximum magnification using the combination of EF100mm macro lens and extension tubes rather than the MP-E 65mm macro lens.
On the other hand I shot 25 photos in a little more than four minutes*, with the focus plane shifted in small increments from front to back along the subject — all without touching the camera after setting the initial focus point. That’s what I call success!
Related Resources
Tech Tips
The following equipment was used to shoot all of the photographs for the focus-stacked composite image of the exuvia: CamRanger hardware, and iOS app running on my iPad mini (with retina display); Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko macro automatic extension tubes (12mm, 20mm, and 36mm); Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Auto power-off was disabled for the camera and all external flash units. CamRanger was set for a *10-second delay between shots in order to allow sufficient time for the lens to change focus automatically, the camera rig to settle, and the flash units to power-cycle.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to create the focus-stacked composite image, as well as spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Eastern Least Clubtail dragonfly, exuvia, Family Gomphidae (Clubtails), gear talk, high-speed sync, studio photography, Stylogomphus albistylus
Posted in Aperture, CamRanger, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | Leave a Comment »
January 4, 2019
This blog post is a follow-on to a previous post entitled Studio macro photography rig. As you can see, my four-flash rig has been updated to include a fifth flash: a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Although it isn’t shown clearly in the following quick-and-dirty photo taken with my iPad 3, both the Godox TT685C and a Canon 580EX II Speedlite are mounted on the crossbar of my Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Alloy Tripod. Look closely — the tiny subject (a Stylogomphus albistylus exuvia) is positioned in the far-left corner of the white posing platform, in front of the Lastolite flash modifier.
The Lastolite flash modifier features a two-layer system of diffusers that provides beautiful soft light: the white square you can see on the outside of the collapsible box and another white square that you can’t see, located halfway between the flash head and the front of the box.
Another addition to the rig is my new 3 Legged Thing QR11-LC Universal L-Bracket. (Note: The camera body blocks your view of the L-bracket.) The L-bracket enabled me to mount the camera in portrait mode quickly and securely. Although the Manfrotto 405 Pro Digital Geared Head can be adjusted to position my camera rig in portrait mode, the heavy camera-lens-flash combo is unstable and can tip over easily.
New gear used for studio macro photography.
By the way, in case you looked at the preceding photo and wondered “What’s up with the crazy crop?” I used Photoshop to conceal some of the clutter in my kitchen. I set up my macro photo rig in the kitchen because it’s the largest uncarpeted area in my tiny apartment. Padded carpet is a poor surface for macro photography — the field of view from a tripod-mounted camera-lens-flash combo shifts noticeably (and unacceptably) as one moves around the rig.
More Tech Tips: A complete description of all of the equipment used in my studio macro photography rig is provided in a previous blog post entitled Studio macro photography rig.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Eastern Least Clubtail dragonfly, exuvia, Family Gomphidae (Clubtails), gear talk, studio photography, Stylogomphus albistylus
Posted in Aperture, Apple iPad, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, Godox TT685F, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, product reviews, wildlife photography | 2 Comments »
January 2, 2019
The following gallery shows 18 finalists for my “Top 10 Photos of 2018.” The photos are presented in reverse-chronological order beginning in September 2018 and ending in February 2018.
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 9
No. 10
No. 11
No. 12
No. 13
No. 14
No. 15
No. 16
No. 17
No. 18
Editor’s Note: The following location codes are used in some photo captions, shown above.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:exuvia, exuviae, female, male
Posted in Aperture, butterflies and moths, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MP-E 65mm Macro lens, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, damselflies, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF80mm macro lens, Godox TT685C, Godox TT685F, Godox XProF, macro photography, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 1 Comment »
December 26, 2018
2018 is the year I got serious about macro photography of odonate exuviae. I bought lots of new photography gear and spent hours learning to use it, and spent more time refining my workflow for creating focus-stacked composite images.
I am blessed to have several mentors who have patiently taught me a lot about identification of odonate exuviae, and many friends who have kindly collected and shared specimens with me. Sincere thanks to Sue and John Gregoire, Richard Orr, Michael Powell, Bob Perkins, Mike Boatwright, Andy Davidson, and Joe Johnston.
Dragonflies (Order Anisoptera)
Family Aeshnidae (Darners)
Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails)
Family Corduliidae (Emeralds)
Family Gomphidae (Clubtails)
Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)
Family Macromiidae (Cruisers)
Family Petaluridae (Petaltails)
Damselflies (Order Zygoptera)
Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)
Related Resources: Odonate Exuviae.
Next post: New Life List additions in 2018 (odonates).
Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:studio photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MP-E 65mm Macro lens, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, damselflies, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF80mm macro lens, Godox TT685C, Godox TT685F, Godox XProF, How To, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 5 Comments »
December 21, 2018
This blog post features another focus-stacked composite image of an Eastern Least Clubtail dragonfly (Stylogomphus albistylus) exuvia from an odonate nymph that Bob Perkins collected and reared.
11 photos were used to create this focus stack. My camera is set for spot focus, meaning one-area focus for each photo. A single focus point was positioned manually somewhere on the face-head in all 11 photos.
From this viewpoint, the large, dish-shaped antennae remind me of wooden spoons (with short handles).
This is the first time I shot some photos in portrait mode using my new 3 Legged Thing QR11-LC Universal L-Bracket (Orange) mounted on my Canon 5D Mark II DSLR camera. I’m sold!
3 Legged Thing QR11-LC Universal L-Bracket (Orange).
Related Resources
Tech Tips
The following equipment was used to shoot all of the photographs for the focus-stacked composite image of the exuvia: Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, in manual mode; Kenko 20mm macro automatic extension tube; Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro lens (set for manual focus); and Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite set for “Master” mode, and several external flashes set for “Slave” mode including Canon 580 EX- and Canon 580EX II Speedlites and a Godox TT685C Thinklite TTL Flash fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 was used to create the focus-stacked composite image, as well as spot-heal and sharpen the final output.
I used my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 superzoom camera and a handheld Canon 580EX Speedlite fitted with a Lastolite Ezybox Speed-Lite 2 flash modifier to shoot the photo of my Canon 5D Mark II.
Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Tags:Eastern Least Clubtail dragonfly, exuvia, Family Gomphidae (Clubtails), gear talk, high-speed sync, nymph, studio photography, Stylogomphus albistylus
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon MT-26EX-RT Macro Twin Lite, digital photography, dragonflies, extension tubes, Godox TT685C, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, natural science, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 1 Comment »
