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.