My first attempts at macro

[saykimchi]

These are my first attempts at macro-photography. I used a Canon EOS XSi with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS standard lens, no flash, UV filter attached to the lens. The pictures have only been lightly edited with Photoshop - white balance adjustments etc.

I used a "Franken-lens attachment", which I made myself. It's actually 1/2 of a of a 0.5x wide angle attachment, and 1/2 of a 2.0x telephoto attachment combined. It results in pictures that are super close (or appear to be). I'm very impressed with the results so far!

The first is a grasshopper that was sitting on a petal. Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on the exact spot that I wanted to as I was afraid that it would move. The next 3 are from the same plant, but different flowers. Any recommendations/critiques would be most welcome!

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/080811_0001_749114.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/080811_0003.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/080811_0007.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/080811_0008.jpg

[owenmorris]

Very nice for first attempt I would say, nice detail good dof maybe only a little sharpness missing in my opinion but I aint no expert.

[coffee]

As Owen said, nice first attempt, and I agree with the sharpness thing. I like the DOF in most and the background colors are soothing. Most if not all the subjects in each image look on the dark side with will make for a soft image. Thanks for posting.

[saykimchi]

I agree as well with the sharpness aspect. I'm limited, however, by my home-made lens, as it seems that I can only focus on one very small section at a time. If that focus isn't perfect, then the picture comes out as these have. I plan on trying to get better results in the near future!

[coffee]

I agree as well with the sharpness aspect. I'm limited, however, by my home-made lens, as it seems that I can only focus on one very small section at a time. If that focus isn't perfect, then the picture comes out as these have. I plan on trying to get better results in the near future!


Can you explain your home made lens to us?

[dkippen]

I think photos #1 and #4 are your better shots and with a little tweaking on sharpness, these would be great. That grasshopper real jumps out at you!!

[saykimchi]

I'll try :)

I have two lens adaptors - one "Wide Angle Autofocus Lens" and one "2x Telephoto Lens". I'm not sure who makes them (they say Digital Visions, but I can't find much information on that company), but they're sold on eBay as part of camera sets (like this one (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XSi-450D-Digital-SLR-Camera-4-Lens-16gb_W0QQitemZ300278624761QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigit al_Cameras?hash=item300278624761&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1307)).

They both will unscrew, and come apart into 2 sections. The wide angle one separates into a macro adaptor and a wide angle extension. With that I can get closer than what I could normally on the 18-55mm lens.

Using the macro adaptor from the wide angle lens, and holding/taping the telephoto lens up to it, I can get "extra" macro than what I normally would. I don't think that it lets me get any closer than an actual macro lens (maybe it does, I can get pretty close), and it's not as clear or crisp as a good macro lens, but it's definitely fun to use!

Here's a pic of the two adaptors:
http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0034.jpg

Here's a comparison of the 3 stages of macro: no adaptations, only the macro adaptor ring, and the adaptor ring + the telephoto lens.

1.) No adaptations:
http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0026.jpg

2.) Adaptor ring:
http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0027.jpg

3.) Adaptor ring + telephoto lens:
http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0028.jpg

All of these are taken using the 18-55mm lens. Here are two more that I took today:
http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0029.jpg

http://www.proudphotography.com/forum/gallery/files/3/8/2/7/img_0031.jpg