In house soft light.

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/200s, ISO-400, 100L + 580EXII + DIY light modifier

I was looking for a light modifier to soften my harsh flash light. Was thinking about buying LumiQuest III or Rogue. I was'nt sure if it will work for me... or do I have to work for it? Instead of buying and then trying, why not trying and then if it works for me then buy.

DIY time. With a cake box, scissors, tracing paper, tape and other nick naks, I build my first flash soft box. It looks similar to the LumiQuest but with the a small downside. Its not durable but do-able for now hehehe. It increases the light source to about 4x the speedlite flash area. Here it is. Not a preitty sight hehehe.

The above picture was the first test using the in house soft light. The spider above is actually larger than the one that was taken previously. Lighting it with a bare speedlite give a very harsh shadow. With the DIY light modifier I could take a bigger critters. Just need to remember that the light source needs to be bigger than the subject and must be near. Will post other tests with this light modifier.

Wet day, great pose...

EOS 60D, F/8, 1/160s, ISO-100, 100L + 580EXII + ROGUE 1/2 CTB gel

It has just stop raining for an hour or so. With my sons, we went to the park near the house. While my sons were playing an almost dried swings, I went for a bug hunt. I found this wasp clinging on a brunch of a bush. It did not twitch or fly off even when I got near it. It seems that its wing is wet. This is a joy. I got to shoot a wasp without worrying it will fly off in a second.

On the flash, I use a Rogue 1/2 CTB gel to color correct my flash. I use not to use gel and correct the color in post processing. In post processing, to color correct is not simple when you are shooting in the shade using flash. I usually got a yucky tint which I had to spend hours try to correct. Sometimes luck was not on my side. Some pictures were not able to be color correct. In the end the picture were deleted. :(

The Screeching Singer Pt II

EOS 60D, F/13, 1/160s, ISO-100, 100L + 580EXII

Cicada cocoon. The cicada has already discarded its skin. What is that white stuff coming out of it?

The Screeching Singer

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/160s, ISO-100, 100L + 580EXII

When I first came to Japan, in summer time, I was so intriguer with the sound of a particular insect. I have not heard of it prior coming to Japan. It sound like a screeching ghost. Hehehe. Remind me of those time when we were a child and telling ghost stories especially abount Pontianak (Vampire in Malay language). The sound was actually from a Cicada (pictured above). Some times the sound is quite deafening.

Diamond in the forest Pt. 2

EOS 60D, F/8, 1/160s, ISO-100, 100L + 580EXII

Was not please with the picture taken a few month back (can be seen here), so I tried again. This is more like it. But I think I can improve it a little more....

He's looking at you...

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/160s, ISO-400, 100L

Just wondering around in the bushes again hehehe. Found this Damselfly. First time seeing it close and personal.

Very Busy I See...

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/60s, ISO-400.

The Hunter Part 2

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/200s, ISO-100

The hunter hidden in its lair... Waiting for the catch of the day...

The Silent Hunter.

EOS 60D, F/7.1, 1/100s, ISO-400

Waiting for its pray... It is still as a twig... Doesn't look like a spider. Hmmm

Lunch Time

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/80s, ISO-800

Caught a spider biting on its pray before winding it on its web. I guess no time for BBQ.

Diamond in the forest

EOS 60D, F4.5, 1/100s, ISO-800

Taken this during a BBQ event in chiba... 

Stink bug 2

EOS 60D, F/6.3, 1/200s, ISO-800

Another stink bug. But I think this is female of some sort. I'm not a bug expert but it is different from yesterday's stink bug photo. Do you notice the different?

Stink bug 1

EOS 60D, F/6.3, 1/100s, ISO-800

Lots of stink bug this spring. I think this is a male. Maybe.

Strange...

EOS 60D, F/6.3, 1/60s, ISO-400

Found this near a tree. Not sure what it is. Maybe eggs of some kind. Hmmm.

Purple Katabami (ムラサキカタバミ)

EOS 60D, F/5, 1/200s, ISO-200

Just wondering in some bushes and found a nice purple flower. Did not know much about flowers nor their name. Found out though. It is a purple katabami. Not sure what it is called in English...

Cactus?

EOS 60D, F/10, 1/80s, ISO-200

Internal organ of a tulip...

Time Does Fly ...

EOS 60D, F/8, 1/100s, ISO-200

A fly on a tulip on a drizzle day.

Critter's Lunch Time

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/200s, ISO-100

It seems that it is very busy eating... 

Small Flower

EOS 60D, F/7.1, 1/160s, ISO-200

Sakura 2

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/250s, ISO-200