06-19-2017 09:10 AM - edited 06-19-2017 09:10 AM
hi, i'm having some difficulties capturing things in flight... mainly insects like bees. i've got a Canon Rebel T-6.
the first picture would have been a great picture except the wasp that flew by unexpectedly turned out blurry. any tips on photographing bees or wasps in flight?
the second picture would have been a great picture except when i used my flash to capture the hovering hoverfly, the flowers become washed out.
Canon EOS Rebel T6, f/9, 1/160 sec, ISO-100, focal length 55mm, no flash
Canon EOS Rebel T6, f/9, 1/160 sec, ISO-320, focal length 55mm, with flash
06-19-2017 09:31 AM
As for the washout I'd shoot in raw instead of jpg so you can maybe recover from blown highlights or under exposures better. As for the flash I would probably use a -1 stop of flash exposure compensation if shooting up close like that.
When i shoot bugs or bees on flowers or other macro shots I usually use manual focus. Then I don't really twist the ring to fine tune focus, I just lean forward and back to focus. The depth of field is so shallow when you are that slide that AF is not reliable, at least not on a camera with a simpler AF than a 1dx or something.
06-19-2017 09:32 AM
You freeze action or movement with much higher shutter speeds than what you used. Takes a bit of trial & error to find the right range for specific things.
06-19-2017 10:28 AM - edited 06-19-2017 10:30 AM
"... i'm having some difficulties capturing things in flight."
First, all cameras, no matter how much they cost, have their limits. A static flower and a fast moving bee are on opposite ends as you have noticed. Some creative techniques need to be employed.
The bee just sitting on a flower doing its thing should not be any problem. Pretty normal exposure. A bee in flight over a static flower will be more difficult. I have used flash to stop hummingbirds in flight but I am not concerned with the BG.
If I wanted the bottom shot you used for an example, I would shoot it twice and stack it in PS. Do one shot for the bee and a second for the flower. I would also try to do it with out flash. Adding the flash just adds more issues to overcome if it really isn't required. Kicking the SS up to 1/2000+ and ISO to 8000 may eliminate the need for two stacked shots. However, I use PS all the time so the post editing needed is no problem. I find it easier to get two very different subjects together in one photo a snap with PS.
For that bottom shot try this first;
Canon EOS Rebel T6, f/9 f8, 1/160 1/2500 sec, ISO-320 8000, focal length 55mm, with flash no flash
06-19-2017 11:59 AM
Anyone asking the OP's questions is too inexperienced to be fooling around with stacking.
06-19-2017 12:22 PM
Robert,
Everyone starts from the begining. Even thou !
Not exactly a bee on a flower but two vastly different exposures required. Unless you stack. It's not that hard to do.
06-19-2017 07:34 PM - edited 06-20-2017 07:59 PM
@ebiggs1 wrote:Robert,
Everyone starts from the begining. Even thou !
Not exactly a bee on a flower but two vastly different exposures required. Unless you stack. It's not that hard to do.
Looks more like layer masks than image stacking to me.
06-20-2017 03:48 AM
The technique used is a layer mask. But it is two photos 'stacked' on top of each other. Each one with its very different exposure settings and editing. A layer mask can be used for many different things, stacking is just one of them.
09/26/2024: New firmware updates are available.
EOS R5 Mark II - Version 1.0.1
EOS R6 Mark II - Version 1.5.0
07/01/2024: New firmware updates are available.
04/16/2024: New firmware updates are available.
RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF600mm F4 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
Canon U.S.A Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.