One of half a dozen pictures I took of a ladybird in my house. I think the composition is ok but the colours and lighting could be better. Comments on the picture and how to light macro shots would be greatly appreciated.
there was a light spot on the left black spot and I tried to clone it out and ran it through neat image (shot at iso400, so a little noisy)
It definitely has excellent composition (I might only suggest trimming a little bit more off of the left side).
The lighting is always the hardest part (for me at least). If you want to go fancy I know there are macro flash systems that essentially flank the lens and flood your subject with uniform light. A more ghetto approach (which I'm always fond of) would be to grab a simple desk light (the kind with a clip and flexy support) and experiment as much as you can. Start by perhaps shining the light at approx. 45 degrees to the subject but in the same level as the lens and then move from there (keep the rest of the room's lights down or even off).
The above would be my best educated suggestion. Keep in mind I haven't done the type of photography you are trying to achieve... so I'm possibly horribly wrong, lol :)
I've seen this really cool macro light that attaches to the end of you lens much like a lens hood would. It then hooks up to your flash... IT created a soft light around your entire lens...
It was very cool, I don't remember it being god-awful expensive, but I don't remember where I saw it either!
Thanks for the responses peeps I did try to do the old rule of thirds (hence the space) but shall try to reduce the space. I'll probably try the old clamp on light rather than go down the (more expensive) super dooper lense lights.
Sounds like a plan! If you can use a tripod, I'd also suggest going to ISO 100 (or as low as your cam allows)... hopefully the little bugger will sit still long enough. If not I've heard you can set them in the refridgerator/freezer for a bout 30 seconds and that will slow them down for a bit with out killing them. Granted I haven't tried this myself, lol.
I like to take a few black cards, white cards, and hand held mirrrors. Problem is having twelve hands to hold them all just so. I prefer working with ambient light than incident.
I'd caution anyone thinking about getting a macro ring light to look at some samples. It does give perfect, even light and is great for its typical application (medical/ dentistry imaging) but leads to similarly clinical and lifeless macro work. Yes everything will look perfectly evenly lit - but that often is not the most exciting way to portray a subject.
It does give perfect, even light and is great for its typical application (medical/ dentistry imaging) but leads to similarly clinical and lifeless macro work. Yes everything will look perfectly evenly lit - but that often is not the most exciting way to portray a subject.
Some macro lighting rings allow any of the four (typically) lights to be turned off, allowing for shadows and other creative lighting applications.
I have some cat pictures to share if you prefurr.
I did try to do the old rule of thirds (hence the space) but shall try to reduce the space. I'll probably try the old clamp on light rather than go down the (more expensive) super dooper lense lights.
