Garden Macros and Snakes

Continuing the recent theme of macros with extension tubes, here are a few from our garden this weekend. All were taken with Extension Tubes of varying lengths, some with a Pentax-A 50mm F1.7 and some with a Pentax 100mm WR Macro F2.8. The exceptions are the 'Snake' shots, which are the DA*300. All are taken with a Pentax K-3. Hope you like them, please comment and critique.

1. Hoverfly on Wild Flower - Pentax-A 50mm + Tubes



2. Tiny Fly on Water Forget-me-not - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes



3. Grass Snake in Pond - DA*300



4. Grass Snake again - DA*300



5. Unknown Fly (Wasp?) - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + diffused flash



6. Unknown Fly again - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + Diffused Flash



7. Hoverfly on Wild Flower - Pentax-A 50mm + Tubes



8. Hoverfly on Wild Flower - Pentax-A 50mm + Tubes



9. Hoverfly on Wild Flower - Pentax-A 50mm + Tubes



10. Unknown Spider, in Reeds near pond - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes



11. Unknown Solitary Bee - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + diffused flash



12. Unknown Solitary Bee - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + diffused flash



13. Unknown Solitary Bee - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + diffused flash



14. Unknown Solitary Bee - Pentax 100 Macro + Tubes + diffused flash



Regards
David

Hi Derek, thank you for your comments! I always place composition as my highest priority, which might be why these images are as they are. My thought process is to get the composition right and try my hardest to get critical focus in the right place, but to get the compo right I never use any kind of camera support as it is too restrictive. This leads to a lack of sharpness (sometimes), but I think it's worth the sacrifice. I prefer the non-flash shots, but the flash does give leeway for a bit of camera shake. Everything is a compromise with macro, especially if you're doing it outside with live critters and no controlled conditions.

Cheers
David

excellent set David, well up to your usual high standard. liking the Grass Snake definitely a different garden visitor

Super set David... particularly like the grass snake and the hoverfly on the flower... very strong across the board...

Best

Totally agree. But you've got the compromises spot on with this set. I like 'em all, with the first two having the edge for me.

You must have had rain recently in Sheffield. I had to top up my pond yesterday, not enough water for a paddling frog at one end, let alone a grass snake.

Steve

Superbly well shot, I think you wimped out a bit in not shooting the grass snake with the 100mm macro + ext tubes, what's wrong with

Great set as always

Sincere thanks for the comments everyone, I really enjoy macro photography, although it does take up a lot of time!

Cheers
David

Snakes in the garden, are you sure it's not a zoo you're in ???
Damn St Patrick for banishing all the snakes from Ireland

They are cracking shots though.

Just a question not a criticism, did the WB. Shift between both snake shots.
Colour reproduction in first, is much more pleasant, more magenta in the 2nd one.

Again though,
Cracking set.

Hi Derek, I'm really not sure what happened, these were processed with identical WB settings, I even processed them twice to make sure, but for some reason the second one came out completely different. I can't explain it, these were the only 2 shots from the day that looked so different!

Cheers
David

Wonderful pictures. I also have to agree with David about composition and natural light. Have you tried cranking up the ISO Derek? Not being a flash user nor a super mega macro type I don't know whether you could still get the sheer image quality that sets your work apart.