Smocks, Stacks, Shinys and Spiders

After assembling a new diffuser setup for my Canon 100mm lens with the Canon 270ex Flash, a trial in the outdoors was called for.   The venue this time being the banks of the river Stour near Canford Magna.

There was some insects about – but too early for the main subjects that I hope to use this setup with soon – damselflies.   A slight breeze was about, and so I decided to try the flash out on some flowers – something I don’t normally do – prefering to shoot them in natural light.  Not having a tripod – and the new diffusion setup prompted me to try with flash though.

The results are very pleasing, with shallowish depth of field allowing for some background colour to show through, and the flash freezing the waving flowers.

Next onto the stacks.  Firstly a 3 shot (@F11) stack of a spider I found on a bench.

I also took this 7 shot (F6.3) stack of mating flesh flies.

In the vegetation I also came across this spider with impressive fangs, unfortunately I could not get it face on, but they are still clearly visible and prominent.

And finally the Shiny – the reflective wings and body of a Doc Leaf Beetle

Map of Location