Anybody do manual macrophotography?

[thestuffedbird]

I like macrophotography (if I'm using the right term).  I took some pictures of a terrestrial garter snake the other day.  It's the first one I have seen.  Using my 18-55 on my DSLR, I remove the lens and hold it on the camera backwards.  It takes some experimenting, and you actually focus the picture by moving the whole camera forward and backward.  It is amazing what you can capture through the lens when you zoom in ultra close.   

[rnviper3]

cool.  But that seems like a hard way to get a good close up.  My wife does a lot of macro work, so she has a macro lens. Thanks for sharing your photos.

[rodlrock]

cool.  But that seems like a hard way to get a good close up.  My wife does a lot of macro work, so she has a macro lens. Thanks for sharing your photos.

I to shoot with a Macro lens I would not be shooting with my len off it is a very good way to muckup your canera.

[thestuffedbird]

Never had a problem.  If I am shooting a flower or an interesting rock, lichen, etc, I can simply detach the lens, reverse it, take a few macros, and put the lens back on.  It's not exact, but it fits the moment.  I carry a telephoto and an 18-55.  I keep it simple.

[* Terri *]

Try looking at extension tubes.  They allow you to get closer to the subject and still focus.  A set of 3 for my canon camera is about 179.  They fit on the camera body and put the lens further away.  If you don't want to dish out the money for a good macro lens, these are a good alternative.

[TrixiMcGee]

That's really cool - I have a cheapy macro lens that works amazingly well...I too would be worried about constantly taking my lens off outside - just because of dust...do you have any other pics? This flower was about the size of a pencil eraser in the grass. I think my macro lens was only about $36 on eBay. It was the first time I used it so please excuse the blurrrrrr

[grygon]

Yes I have done this for years but I keep my 28-90 lens on and then hold my 50 lens up to it backwards.  Both need to be on "infinity" focus.

I posted about this technique here a while back.  It is called "the poor man's macro" or "double lens reverse macro" sometimes.  My 28-90 lens has a macro setting but it doesn't get the extreme close up that the reverse lens can:









Compared to "regular macro" with my 28-90 lens, this was as close as I could get:





Compared to regular macro done with about 11 focuses (it is called "stacked focus" macro, and means that you can control what is or is not in focus or fuzzy), notice how everything is clear and sharp as I wanted people to see everything in this carving:

[Allie]

cool.  But that seems like a hard way to get a good close up.  My wife does a lot of macro work, so she has a macro lens. Thanks for sharing your photos.

I to shoot with a Macro lens I would not be shooting with my len off it is a very good way to muckup your canera.

It's kinda risky, less so in the summer In the winter there is more static and your sensor holds a charge and can easily collect dust when it is exposed like that. And sensors are difficult to clean (properly). With that in mind, always shut your camera off before changing lenses!

[thestuffedbird]

Here are some others.

[thestuffedbird]

Some orchids.

[thestuffedbird]

And more from the garden.

[TrixiMcGee]

love your orchids! How pretty!

[grygon]

Here's some I did on July 5th and just now uploaded:

Take a look at that eyeball!  Cicada


Future fly babies


Cicada reproduction bits???


Baby spider... take a gander at the matrix on it's butt.