I ran my first 'Macro and Close-Up Nature Photography Workshop' yesterday at Thorndon Park in Brentwood, Essex. Everyone seemed to have a great time, learned at least something, and spent an afternoon grubbing about in the undergrowth, finding out just how many subjects there are for a macro lens!
One technique I touched upon, and one participant tried his hand at, was getting hoverflies in flight. It's tricky, very hit and miss (mainly miss), but good fun when you have a bit of time to spend on it.
My method is this. Switch your camera to manual focus, and prefocus the lens on a spot about 10 inches away. Use a flashgun that you can set to manual and using trial and error, get a correct exposure (I use ISO200, f/13, 1/125s). Now, holding the camera at arms length approach the hovering Hoverfly, estimate when it's in the frame and in focus, and shoot!
Good ones can look like this:
Most come out like these... :)
It's just a bit of fun...
posted by Daniel Bridge @
15:13 
There are 1 comments about this post:
Scraps of Bev said...
Hi Daniel..Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
Saturday was a great success and I've no doubt the future sessions coming up for you will be equally successful.
Out of all my pics yes I did get the odd one or two that I will put up on my blog including maybe my 'static' hoverfly!!! Yes of course yours in flight is brillant and that is something I have to work towards...
Many thanks again Daniel for a great day..I'll be touch soon when I need to book up for my next course!!
Beverley
Sunday, June 24, 2007
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