Marmalade Hoverfly

[John 2]

Not many of these around this year.

Nikon D90
Tokina 100mm Macro.

[Brownbear]

Wow, gorgeous image. Beautiful light, colour and detail.

[Bobobird]

Agreed. Gorgeous shot.

Good control of the highlights.

[Stagecoach]

It's the superb lighting that stands out in this image, well done.

[John 2]

Thanks all for your comments. I bought the Tokina as a portrait lens but occasionally it's pressed into use when I'm too lazy to go further than the garden.

[Geoff F]

Not sure why these Episyrphus balteatus hoverflies have been absent this Spring, John. I usually find a few during March if the weather is warm.

In the garden today, I just managed a fleeting glimpse of my first one this year.

[Suzan J]

Hello John: This is truly an incredible shot. The sheen on the wings is quite stunning. I see you are using a 100 mm macro lens. Did you do any focus stacking? If not, how did you manage to achieve the relatively deep depth of field? I am just learning to use a new macro lens myself and am finding that the depth of field issue is quite challenging.

[Downrigger]

Hello John: This is truly an incredible shot. The sheen on the wings is quite stunning. I see you are using a 100 mm macro lens. Did you do any focus stacking? If not, how did you manage to achieve the relatively deep depth of field? I am just learning to use a new macro lens myself and am finding that the depth of field issue is quite challenging.

I have the same admiration and the same question. My only thought is of a tip Mike Buckley offered me to the effect that increasing distance from the subject can afford DOF, followed by recovery the subject with a crop. Maybe that, here?

[John 2]

Hello John: This is truly an incredible shot. The sheen on the wings is quite stunning. I see you are using a 100 mm macro lens. Did you do any focus stacking? If not, how did you manage to achieve the relatively deep depth of field? I am just learning to use a new macro lens myself and am finding that the depth of field issue is quite challenging.

No, I haven't focus stacked here Susan. It's a technique I have successfully tried on static subjects but I wouldn't be quick enough with a live subject. The DOF isn't that great. The RH wing is beginning to go OOF. It was taken at 1/320th sec @ f10 and so what there is there is down to a relatively small aperture and good light. The sheen on the wings is down to strong sunlight. I have in fact had to do a fair amount of highlight recovery.

[John 2]

I have the same admiration and the same question. My only thought is of a tip Mike Buckley offered me to the effect that increasing distance from the subject can afford DOF, followed by recovery the subject with a crop. Maybe that, here?

Absolutely right Mark, that is something I am learning. Not only does it help the DOF but it makes following the subject much easier as well. Only down side is that you need a low ISO and therefore good light to avoid noise.