Blackberry Series Part I.

I have been planning on doing this for several years and for one reason or another just never got around to it. I want to do a series from bud to ripe fruit. Either 4 or 5 shots. Not sure about using the green fruit, but for sure I'll use the red and black. These first two shots are stacked images. The bud is a 4 shot stack done with Zerene Stacker. ISO 200, f/8, 1/250sec. Shot with Canon XSi, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 34mm Extension tube, Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Flash with both heads at 1/8 power, on a tripod. The shot of the flower is a 6 image stack shot with the same set-up without the extension tube. ISO 200, f/8, 1/400sec. Now I just have to wait for the fruit to form.

Speckled Sharpshooter Leafhopper

Not really a "how to shoot it" but I found this Leafhopper on a Milkweed this afternoon. According to Bugguide.net, it is a Speckled Sharpshooter Leafhopper (Paraulacizes irrorata). Interesting looking bug. Anyway, here are three different views of it.

Honeybee Close-ups

I shoot these on a mono-pod. Just stand in among the flowers and wait. Usually a bee will come along shortly. You have to be quick on the shot because they don't stay long. One way to get them to sit still longer is to mix up a bait solution. I use a little honey and sugar mixed with water. Put it in a small spray bottle and mist the blooms. The bee will usually give you plenty of time to compose and focus several shots before moving on. I feel that flash is essential so that you can shoot with a small aperture and high shutter speed. A tripod or other support is also essential, at least for me.
This shot was taken with a Canon XSi, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite (half power both heads), on a monopod. EXIF is embedded but in case you can't read it: 1/250sec, f/11, ISO 200.

Clean the Sensor

I was playing around with my stacker program again. This time with the stamen/anther of a jonquil/daffodil. Lesson I learned is that you better have a clean sensor. In the first image you can see several lines which relate to dust on the sensor. Its an 18 image stack so the problem is magnified by 18. I did a quick clone out for the second image.

Canon XSi, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lites both heads 1/2 power, 31mm extension tube, tripod. 1/500sec, f/11, ISO 100.

More stacking.

Wanted to put up another stacked shot. This is a portion of Cedar with the blooms that are starting to emerge. It is an eighteen (18) image stack done in PMAX with Zerene Stacker. The first image is one of the single images that was used to make the stack and the second is the stacked version. Shooting info: Canon XSi, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lites both heads half power, Tripod, Infrared Remote Shutter Release, 1/250sec, f/8.0, ISO 100.

Stacking

Click on image to see full image.

I have started trying image stacking. This is my first attempt with this software. About a year ago I tried it with a free software but was very disappointed with the results and lost interest. I did this shot with Zerene Stacker and am very happy with the results. This image is a combination of 10 individual shots. I started out focusing on the tip and took a shot then changed focus slightly for the next shot. I continued this for 10 total shots. You can combine many more than that. On the support page for the software there are examples of shots using over 100. Plan to keep working on it.

Canon XSi, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon MT-24EX Twin Flash-both heads 1/2 power, tripod. 1/320 sec, f/11, manual focus and exposure.

I would really like to have your comments.

Red Spotted Shield Bug

I couldn't find a common name for this bug so I just named it myself.
Shot with Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 65mm extension tubes, ring flash, and tripod.