So im buying a sigma 105mm macro lens to slap on my D80 for some nice macro shots (mainly insects). Now im stuck in an odd dilema, the use of a tripod or not. It seems to me that using a tripod on macro shots would make it almost impossiable to get the insect framed and ready to shoot ect. But at the same time my lens does not feature a VR or anything like that so I dont want to risk sharpness of the image. Another thing is that with a tripod I would be to far away from my subject.. so is there a shorter tripod used in macro photography specifically, if so please tell me (it would be reatly appreciated =D).. Do the pro's use tripods for only insects that are not going to move? But what do they do about bee's, flies, and all those goodies?
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Insect photography and Tripods?
- Thread starter Noctis BR
- Start date
I
injanier
Guest
Because of the shallow depth of field, it is hard to get good macro shots without a tripod. Rather than chase after the insect, wait for it to come to you. Stake out a likely flower or other attractant, and snap when a bug lands. Like other forms of wildlife photography, insect photography requires patience and luck. Pros sometimes use captive insects in staged settings - if you cool them down a bit, insects slow down. I know a butterfly photographer who raises the caterpillars, and shoots the butterflies right after they emerge from the chrysalis and unfold their wings.
M
MixedMojo
Guest
There are many ways of doing macro, either supported or unsupported. Both work well, depending on how you wish to shoot, or rather, how much time you have on your hands. One thing for you to consider, if you relied on natural light, you would most certainly need a tripod - no doubt about it because stopped down to f/22 or smaller, your shutter speed will be far too slow. Most people who shoot macro use artificial light, i.e., flash. Using flash simplifies the dilema because you can forgo the metering and set a manual exposure based on using your TTL flash. Just set your aperture to f/22, as an example, and your shutter speed to anything above 1/125 up to your max sync speed, and you're always guaranteed sharp results. I shoot with a micro nikkor 105mm f/2.8D, and shoot unsupported at 1/125 and f/22 all the time using my SB-600 and omni with no problem. The only other thing you could do, if you wish to use natural light, would be to open up your aperture and bump your ISO. I wouldn't recommend it for two reasons: Noise and depth of field. You want your macro shots crisp, with the least noise. I usually don't go above ISO 200. And you really need a tiny aperture to keep as much of the subject in focus as you can, unless a really, REALLY shallow DoF is a goal for your composition. At close focus, it's really shallow.
At any rate, I know a guy who shoots in natural light, supported by a tripod, who uses a drop of Karo syrup, placed on the petal of a flower to entice his subjects. It's clear, looks like a water droplet, and critters love it. That's a thought, anyway.
At any rate, I know a guy who shoots in natural light, supported by a tripod, who uses a drop of Karo syrup, placed on the petal of a flower to entice his subjects. It's clear, looks like a water droplet, and critters love it. That's a thought, anyway.