How do you take your insect/spider photos?

[WeeHector]

Looking at the various macro/insect/spider threads, I am amazed at how different my photos seem to be from almost everyone elses. I basically don't use flash, as I prefer to use natural light, and do everything handheld. As I take most of my photos from about 2 inches away, I work with ISO at 800 and compensate for light with aperture, generally taking lots of shots with a view to stacking. I'm probably breaking every rule in the book as far as pros are concerned but it more or less works for me.

So how do the rest of you work? Do you stick by the rules or do you go your own way?

PS. I do all of my shots in the field, so I don't catch insects and stick them in a fridge before photographing them in a light tunnel.

 

[wev]

I lost my copy of the rule book before I ever opened it, so have no idea what rules I may be breaking.

I generally shoot handheld in the field, as well. I do use the onboard flash, as it is almost always breezy here (to say nothng of my own shakiness) and I need to stop the movement somehow. I use an 89c DIY diffuser made from a plastic witch hazel bottle with full flash and the fstop around 22 and 100 ISO. When after macros on purpose, I shoot my Tam 90, but the 16-300 does a pretty good job when just wandering about.

 

[Woodyg3]

I usually get my insect shots when I'm out in the field looking for birds, so I use a long telephoto, a fast shutter speed, hand hold and natural light. I take a bunch of shots and usually get one or two keepers.

If I was serious about it, I'd get a longish macro lens, I suppose. Bug shots for me will probably always be serendipidus finds rather than something I'm seeking out.

 

[richnmib]

I get most of my insect shots in my backyard. I handhold and I use my Yongnuo flash with a diffuser. I use an f stop of f11-f16 and my iso at 100 and shutter speed between 1/200-1/250 sec. I mostly use my D200 with the 85mm Nikon macro lens. Some of mine are better than others but since I don't make my living taking pictures I can live with that.

 

[Ironwood]

I take mine with my camera set on manual, f16 , 1/320th sec , iso200 , I use the cameras onboard flash with a foam diffuser on the end of the lens ( Scott Murray style ).
I use manual focus, always handheld.

I have to take multiple shots, I just delete the ones that I don't nail the focus.

 

[aroy]

I normally use the onboard flash, and depending on the DOF I need between F6 and F16, mostly F8. All shots are hand held as they are "opportunistic", that is I take them when I find them, normally in my backyard.

I am thinking of adding a diffuser to the onboard flash, so that harsh "spots" of light are toned down.

 

[Eyelight]

I have not shot that many, but tend to use the on-board flash or SB-400 (sometimes diffused). Most of mine are with the AF-S DX VR 55-200mm and most at 200mm, f/8 - f/16 give or take.

 

[Gobae]

Recently, I've been using my AF-S DX VR 55-200mm and anywhere from 5.6-8f @ISO 800 handheld. I used to use my Quantaray 70-300mm w/macro, but I have problems hand-holding it steady while in macro mode, and in bright light it's got issues with chromatic aberration. Also, overall the 300 just isn't as sharp as the 200mm VR.

 

[J-see]

I'm not bothering about any rules. Evidently it helps knowing the basics but after that, go to the extremes of your gear. That's what I do; I go wild with the settings and see what it delivers. If nothing, I take it down a notch and check again. I do most handheld and without flash but occasionally use an improvised lens-rest. Above all I try to experiment with different angles of shooting even when those compromise the technical aspects.

In the end what I try to do is produce an impression. I'm not so much interested in an accurate representation.

 

[FastGlass]

If shooting a series of images in hopes of Focus stacking than the use of a tripod is absolutely needed. I found that hand holding while taking a shot of anything inches away is difficult. The slightest movement will drastically change where the DOF occurs. The use of a filter on my 70-200 which will allow me to do Macro ( well, close to macro) is something i'm going to look into. The advantage to using the filter is to eliminate the need for focus stacking as the DOF is larger. Such as shooting flowers and getting the entire subject in focus. As far as lighting. If in bright sun light, I use a diffuser over head which does a pretty good job. Haven't tried using flash yet.