Some arthropod macro shots

[HorsePunchKid]

These are some attempts at very close-up macro photography. Most of these were taken at f/22 to f/32 (tiny aperture), which seemed to make it hard to get the flash to light things up properly. Unfortunately, at these sizes, it seems like you have to use a small aperture, or most of the subject will be out of the focused depth. Larger list of arthropod photos if anyone here is into that.

Earwig, Forficula auricularia

Weevil, Otiorhynchus sp.

Pillbug, Armadillidium sp.

Some strange spider

Full size image of weevil (~3MB)
Full size image of pillbug (~2.5MB)
Thumb gallery

 

[mdude85]

what equipment did you use for these shots?

 

[HorsePunchKid]

what equipment did you use for these shots?

There's some info here. I used the Sigma 50mm macro lens and the Metz flash for these. Having the off-camera flash equipment is very nice. If I didn't have that, I'd have to bounce the flash or perform some contortions to get the light down to the subject. As it is, I can just set the flash on the table and light the subject from whatever angle I want.

 

[mdude85]

nice. the sigma seems to have worked out well... I was however considering some macro filters instead of a dedicated lens...to me one is not really worth $300, or what have you-- considering I have a lens whose minimum focusing dis only about a foot (canon 50 mm 1.8) and it works in a pinch.

do you have any experience with macro filters?

 

[emorphien]

Well you've noticed that the closer you focus the less depth of field your going to have. When I shoot at 1:1 with my macro lens at f/2.8 I get just a few mm of DOF.

You can actually calculate what your DOF will be but I find its generally not worth it, I just look at the results through the viewfinder.