Blue damsel

[blacknstormy]

Blue damselfly - Ischneura heterosticta
With the joy that is the 105

[Oneputt]

That is no fluke

[Dug]

Baygon and super glue?

[Nicole]

Really nice shot. Pretty little things.

[kinetic]

Great Rel! I really love the blue colouring (OK, so I just love the colour blue anywhere, no matter how inappropriate! ).

Offtopic: Dug, your avatar is revolting!

[jethro]

Patience is a virtue dragonfly. This is a fantastic shot with a lot of patience
jethro

[blacknstormy]

Thanks for the comments guys
Dug - you've exposed my secret for getting photos !!!! (but I actually use mortein How do you think I got my flies in cop shot?????? lol

[marcotrov]

Rel a terrifically sharp shot through great technique. You'v kept the film(sensor) plane parallel to the subject to maximise that depth of field. I lust badly after a 105micro or 155 Sigma or 200 f/4 micro etc etc
My one other comment IMO and for what its worth would be to clone out the OOF white flower in the right background which tends to distract the eye a little. All that said its a great image.
cheers
marco

[blacknstormy]

Marco - go the 105 - I keep saying it, but it really is a FANTASTIC lens.
And your right about the OOF on the right - will get rid of it Technique .... mmm not sure, but creeping around in wet grass sure works
Thanks again
Rel

[blinkblink]

Rel,

I just love all you photos, just want to see more.

I would like to see them a little bigger. You are posting them at around 650 px and they are around 180K. If you sized them to 800px and saved them a JPG image quality at about 70% they end up around 100k. They'll be bigger and smaller, if that makes any sense.

Chris

[marcotrov]

Rel there is a 105 f/2.8 Micro Nikkor AI-S lens in absolutely mint condition up here manual focus for $600 it is one of nikon's sharpest but I'm wondering whether the autofocus would be handy. Indeed on Jom Doty's Lens reviews this lens rates better than the 105 AF-D Micro. What do you think, how useful is autofocus for your macro?
cheers
marco

[blacknstormy]

Thanks Chris - I'll do that... was just trying to make them fit on a small monitor, but you are right . Do you lose a lot of quality saving them at 70 though?

Marco - sounds like a great lens ... but I do use autofocus a lot !! I wear glasses, and have found that depending on my eyes at the time, manual focus can be spot on,,,, or way way off base!! Autofocus for me is just much easier and more 'trustworthy', and I get a pretty decent shot off that way. But I guess it depends on what you are used to. If you manual focus more than me - it could be a bloody good way to go. Maybe others in the forum can give you more of a guide than I. But that's my 2c. Open another thread with the question, and I'm sure everyone will have some valuable input. I don't know about you, but I think long and hard when I'm spending that kind of money, so pays to be sure it's what you want in the long run. Let me know what you decide

Rel

[E1Shane]

you must have a lot of patience. Do you use a tripod when shooting like that or is it easier not to?

[sirhc55]

A manual focus macro prime is the creme de la creme - auto focus on digital cameras (depending on camera and lens) has been proven to be very inefficient - as much as 45% off.

All of my macro work is done with manual focus. I must admit that macro photography with the D2Hs is a lot easier than with the D70

[blacknstormy]

Shane - I personally don't use a tripod for my macro shots. I'm usually laying on the ground , and working my way up to whatever I'm trying to get a shot of (which is really hard when you are this fat !!!). But I'm starting to use the tripod and monopod a lot more for shots with the 80-200. I didn't appreciate how much of a difference it really makes.

Thanks Chris - I told you guys I don't know what I'm doing, I really DO just fluke it Marco - by the sounds of it, go for the lens !! Chris really knows what he's talking about, and if you can reliably manual focus, I think the decision has been made

Rel

[Potatis]

Yet another great shot, Blacknstormy! Thanks for sharing your great photos.

I must admit that macro photography with the D2Hs is a lot easier than with the D70

Is that because of the small viewfinder, Chris? Or something else?

[sirhc55]

Yet another great shot, Blacknstormy! Thanks for sharing your great photos.

I must admit that macro photography with the D2Hs is a lot easier than with the D70

Is that because of the small viewfinder, Chris? Or something else?

Spot on Doug - the larger viewfinder on the D2 series helps tremendously for close focussing