Hi Guys,
I'm new to your forum, although, I have been lurking for some time. how many times have you read 'that' opening remark? hehe.
Anyway, I have no hesitation in suggesting that this would easily be the most informative forum that i have had the pleasure of 'lurking/browsing' through in many a long year. . . .
I'm hoping that you will be able to assist me in setting up my macro bench at home? I have seen many of your set-ups/rigs in other threads and have used this info very successfully in setting up my own 'basic' system. Basic for the time being, as with all my hobbies, I usually become obsessed and end up running off and going overboard, which to some is entirely understandable.
Forgive my blather. . . . hehehe.
Can 'The Collective' help me out with suggestions as to how I go about holding/mounting/pinning/presenting my subjects to the lens for their pictures to be taken? I'm talking about live/dead/subdued(fridge) specimens of flies, bees wasps, spiders, etc, etc. . . . How to you guys go about this process? Do you make up little habitats for your live subjects, or hold them gently in some apparatus, pin dead ones to flowers? What are the secrets guys
Thanks in advance for reading and/or answering. I'm humbled by your assistance.
Bruce...

Welcome to the forum.

A rather contentious question though - most of us shoot live bugs in their natural environment. Part of the fun is actually finally getting a shot of an elusive bug as it goes around it's daily business.
Whilst I have once frozen a fly for diffuser tests and again once fridged a wasp to slow it down, I found photographing specimens in this way very boring and have not done it since. I tend to try and make sure no harm comes to subjects I'm trying to photograph now.
About the only trapping I do is bugs in the house which I trap using a glass and card and then sometimes see if I can get the subject to settle (often by giving it a drop of honey to eat) so I can take some pics before releasing it.

So sorry not much help from me
Brian v.

Early in the morning, before the critters have their first cup of coffee, I'll cut the perch they're sleeping on and hold it with a wood clamp that I shortened (so it'll fit in my camera bag). I call it my Field Studio:

Hi Bruce. I would add. Go for a walk in the bush, near some water, a dam or creek. (or just the back yard) Slow down, pause, walk on, and you will begin to see what you ordinarily miss. A little movement or a little colour. Then, approach respectfully, as if you are a gentle giant coming upon a wary midget. And say hello, gently as can be. Introduce yourself and the eye of the lens slowly and accept what is presented. It helps to be easy, inside, and it comes with practise. Whatever you get, take it back here and learn. From Brian and John above for instance.

Mark

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your answers. i should have been far more specific but I didn't want to drag the question/introduction out for too long. I don't have any intention of running around with a bug catcher or aerosol can in persuit of my intended quarry. I have some already dead bugs in the fridge that have been collected around the place and I am intending on using them for my initial camera tests. I want/have to learn how to use my camera and its settings all over again for the macro cycle and added extension tubes etc. I don't see any use in using test charts to try and work out how to get max depth of field and optimum posture angles from my bug shots.
MarkB1, I live in Ballarat and have plenty of little dams and fields with wooded areas located all around me. I have noted however, after the last few years of drought etc., in our region, there has been less and less insect wildlife getting about. Just means that I will have to look harder.
So guys, no intentional killing of bugs here!!!
Bruce...

Wimberley Plamp.

n0b0: Did you get Juza'a permission to post those images here? Might have been better just to post a link to the article on his site...

The funny thing about that shot, and the article, is that Juza would pick on people if their backgrounds were busy -but he wouldn't tell them how he was getting such clean photos

Thanks n0b0,
Great link, your assistance is appreciated.
Seems to be one of 'those' things that people DO but DON'T like admitting to incase they incur the wrath of their peers?
I remember some folk in the underwater community complaining that a photo was "un-natural/staged" if the photographer moved the subject or did a little 'gardening' beforehand, so as to get a clear/clean shot of the subject. I don't see what all the fuss is about, as long as the subject is left unharmed?
Bruce...

Am I stealing his image and claiming it as my own John? I don't think so. The link is in the pic anyway, so I'm actually advertising his website here, so what are you gonna do about it John? Report me? Who made you forum police?

n0b0 wrote:
Am I stealing his image and claiming it as my own John? I don't think so. The link is in the pic anyway, so I'm actually advertising his website here, so what are you gonna do about it John? Report me? Who made you forum police?

Oh come on man -I just asked a simple question. Due to copy right laws I have a tendency not to post anyone's images unless I ask them first. Why are you so touchy?! I'm not going to walk on egg shells around you n0b0...

I'm not asking you to, but at least have the decency to use PM. If you can't be bothered, then use that REPORT button and have the proper authority contact me. You're not a moderator and as such, it's not your place to question me in public.