If you went the Joe Demb route, try tilting the bounce part up higher. You may still need to fiddle with flash power - I've found myself going to 1/16 or even 1/32 power even with the Demb unit on top of my 550. You're doing full manual on exposure - now you need to do it with flash.
Flash is a toughie, and obviously you don't get a second chance on these guys. You have to have the skillset in the bag before you get there, if you follow my drift, which means filling up a whole set of Saturday afternoons when you could be out taking REAL photographs with taking flash shots of a playing card (or something equally boring).
IMO, the new generation of high-ISO cameras has significantly reduced resident flash skillset among photographers. To me it's always regrettable when a skillset starts to disappear.
Tim Kuhn wrote:
Indeed David, they aren't as easy as it looks. You may be right about 4, I'll mess with it some. Yes there is flash being used in all of them. I was trying to bounce it but the space wasn't conducive to that. I really do need to get a diffuser for such work.
I'll need to look these over on the good monitor to appreciate the butter-splendor
Went out to our b-fly facility and low and behold they had an orchid display going on so guess what I didn't get too many butterz
I'll be back later...........
Karl
#1 seems a bit off in WB, like greenish maybe?? Focus and sharpness is dead on though baby!!
#2 Challenging like a floral to separate from the BG butt the subject is strong and I like the looks of this butter
#3 Interesting how flash finds colors that illuminate more rapidly than others and the blacks of these butters are absorbent of light like a sponge. It is dark and rich and dynamic, just bit more light on the eye
#4 Yes sir I like this one!
#5 The wings have scales more light on this one would help IMO, nailed the focus again
#6 I like it!
#7 nice representation of muted powdery silky colors Tim. Subtle hues are excellent, lots of little things to appreciate on this one for me
#8 You will have a chance to get even with me later
Technically challenging shooting and a good job of it
Karl
Gary Thompson wrote:
A great collection of butts Tim, and nice looking ones at that. These are not always that easy to shoot, but you've done well with the DOF and getting the wings parallel to the sensor plane.
Gary
Thank you Gary!! You are so right about the sensor, a very important thing to keep in mind
I didn't get too many butterz 
Gorgeous series, makes me want to take a day off to visit the butterfly house.