Green mantispid (Zeugomantispa minuta) at one of BugShot 2011 black lights (Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, MO, September 2, 2011). Click/double click to enlarge.
We began the OUTSTANDING BugShot 2011 with each of the three instructors sharing their top 5 tips for outstanding macrophotography. Below I summarize one tip from each instructor that was made particularly relevant to me based on how I currently photograph.
John Abbott taught me and consistently showed me, that I need to use my tripod, tripod, tripod. Beginning this week I will do that, do that, do that. I’ve already seen a difference in some of my shots.
Thomas Shahan made clear the power of elevating the specimen I am photographing to give it a greater sense of importance and power. That’s what it’s all about. Or kinda’ all about.
Alex Wild helped me realize the importance of light manipulation and the fact that I can be much more flexible and creative than I currently am using my present equipment. I now have about two years of lighting things that I need to try and am really looking forward to experimenting.
If you didn’t go to the workshop this year and have even a little bit of interest in arthropod macrophotography you REALLY should go next year.
Equipment that can make my world a better place…
(Please note this is not all inclusive, but is a great starting point for anyone who already has some macrophotography experience.)
Plamp (got one already, attaches to my tripod, tripod, tripod)
Cognysis automatic focus railing
White box (though my XotoPro kinda white boxes on its own… http://thingsbiological.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/encouraging-an-understanding-and-appreciation-of-spiders/)
2 gallon all glass aquarium
Glass partition to move specimens to the front of the aquarium for photography
Web Sites
Odonata Central Virtual Image Library
Software
Adobe LightRoom ($43 education pricing for me and a bunch of others!)
Books to Browse
Secret Worlds: The Miracle of Flight, note that there are five hardcover copies available for less than $1 from Amazon associates.
Damselflies of Texas: A Field Guide
Matt Kowalski’s Light Room book (can’t find it so far, but if someone else can and wants to share a URL, it’ll be right here pretty quickly!)
Thanks so much to all of the BugShot 2011 instructors, participants and support folk. It was a great experience, I learned a huge amount, and met a bunch of people with whom I hope to stay connected well into the future!
Great summary! I’m jealous of your Plamp (and thrilled that I even know what that is now!)
I put it on my Christmas list last year. Need to start using it soon, don’t I? I have to admit that it is pretty cool, and I’m committed to trying out the tripod again. Will let you know what I think, though the outdoor session in which someone supported the crab spider eating the wasp so that a whole bunch of us could photograph it sold me on the Plamp. Another toy!
Nice wrap up post – you’re far better at organizing what you learned than I.
Actually I haven’t really even started with the summary, but wanted to start to organize my thinking by doing something easy that I could put up after about 15 minutes of work. Lots to re-synthesize and translate. I particularly liked your last entry! The detail regarding what you are doing as well as the rationale behind it is providing me a really nice model for my assembling my thoughts. I’d like them to be equally meaningful. Maybe I’ll sit back and wait for another of your entries before I start…
Oh, and it was really great to get to meet you in person.
Likewise, Ted. After reading TGIQ’s entry I realized that I really need to tag around with each of the workshop attendees in their home regions while they do their work/photography. I LOVED your image of the tiger beetle larva in its burrow!
It was indeed a genuine pleasure to meet you Dave! Thanks also for this summary of the first portion of the meeting. What a wonderful meeting it was! I shall look forward to reading your bog and seeing what you are up to each day/week. By the way, I loved this shot of the green mantispid! Great job!
Thanks, Rob. I really enjoyed our morning conversations. It will be fun to see what everyone posts over the next month or so!
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Thanks for the overview, I wish I could have been there! Could you explain more on the 2 gal. aquarium and how it was being used?
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