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End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens

  
 
RockvilleBob
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p.1 #1 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


Working with the Loawa 25mm 2.5 to 5x macro in the field without a tripod is challenging. These are from my third outing with the lens on a monopod, Loawa dedicated ring light, flash with external power for continuous shooting and with popeshield diffuser. It is a lot of stuff for a little lens.
I sense that with more practice the results can be rewarding. The setup seems to work well and with the Nikon Z7 in continuous shooting I get continuous flashes using TTL. I need continuous shooting to move the camera in and out since the DOF is so small it is a little bit of luck to get oe in focus.
I also need to set the display to starlight to see anything even with the ring light.
The first image is looking down a Cone Flower that has seen better days. Loawa 25mm at 2.5X
The next two images are miniscule baby wasps(?) ensnared in a spider web taken at 2.5




  NIKON Z 9    1/1000s    16000 ISO    0.0 EV  






  NIKON Z 9    1/1000s    9000 ISO    0.0 EV  






  NIKON Z 9    1/1000s    18000 ISO    0.0 EV  




Sep 01, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Danpbphoto
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p.1 #2 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


Now these are CLOSE Bob!
My cone flowers are in their "seed head" mode now because of such a hot dry summer. But that brings the goldfinches in to sit atop the flower head and pick the seeds.

And my spiders are catching those darn invasive "Lantern Flys" and having a feast! Yeah!!!
Great compositions!
Dan



Sep 02, 2025 at 10:36 AM
RockvilleBob
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p.1 #3 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


Danpbphoto wrote:
Now these are CLOSE Bob!
My cone flowers are in their "seed head" mode now because of such a hot dry summer. But that brings the goldfinches in to sit atop the flower head and pick the seeds.

And my spiders are catching those darn invasive "Lantern Flys" and having a feast! Yeah!!!
Great compositions!
Dan


Thanks Dan

I keep looking for live spiders but only am finding their handiwork



Sep 02, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Danpbphoto
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p.1 #4 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


RockvilleBob wrote:
Thanks Dan

I keep looking for live spiders but only am finding their handiwork

I usually only catch a glimpse of the actual spider Bob. But yes their "handywork" is clearly visable.
Dan




Sep 02, 2025 at 11:00 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #5 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


You are just getting to know your 25mm lens.

It is always in my kit and here are some posts, including the first..All hand held.

Harold

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1547974/

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1557294/

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/1026794-slime-mould-lycogala-exiguum-on-dead-pussy-willow

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/system-cameras/1017815-echinopsis-stamens

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/insects-arachnids-and-other-land-living-invertebrates/1013551-true-bug-eggs-and-emerged-nymphs-2021

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/system-cameras/998455-slime-mould-heterotrichia-major

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/899829-badhamia-foliicola-ripe-spore-capsules




Sep 05, 2025 at 06:42 AM
 


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RockvilleBob
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p.1 #6 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


e6filmuser wrote:
You are just getting to know your 25mm lens.

It is always in my kit and here are some posts, including the first..All hand held.

Harold

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1547974/

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1557294/

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/1026794-slime-mould-lycogala-exiguum-on-dead-pussy-willow

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/system-cameras/1017815-echinopsis-stamens

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/insects-arachnids-and-other-land-living-invertebrates/1013551-true-bug-eggs-and-emerged-nymphs-2021

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/system-cameras/998455-slime-mould-heterotrichia-major

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/show-your-photos/foto-fair/899829-badhamia-foliicola-ripe-spore-capsules



Thanks Harold
I will need more practice
How many shots do you usually take to get a hood image?



Sep 05, 2025 at 07:16 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #7 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


RockvilleBob wrote:
Thanks Harold
I will need more practice
How many shots do you usually take to get a hood image?


It depends on so many factors, mostly out of my control. It could be one, it could be ten.

Then there are stereo pairs. Maybe twice as many. I may fail altogether..

I have never fired a "burst". Well, not intentionally.

The above applies to insects, flowers, etc. Mushrooms and slime moulds are much more compliant and excellent practice material, the range of sizes covering close-up to extreme macro. The smaller ones may be best transfered, on substrate, to my outdoor (garden table) or indoor (kitchen ) "studio", where elbow support is more readily availble.

Lighting can be daylight but RC, off-camera, flash (on detachable feet or spikes) is controlable. I use mostly manual camera and lens settings.

For stereos, ideally, the lights should not move with the camera.

Knee pads and waterproofs are often useful.

Harold

Beware of getting pollen or spores on your sensor when changing lenses.



Sep 05, 2025 at 09:41 AM
RockvilleBob
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p.1 #8 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


e6filmuser wrote:
It depends on so many factors, mostly out of my control. It could be one, it could be ten.

Then there are stereo pairs. Maybe twice as many. I may fail altogether..

I have never fired a "burst". Well, not intentionally.

The above applies to insects, flowers, etc. Mushrooms and slime moulds are much more compliant and excellent practice material, the range of sizes covering close-up to extreme macro. The smaller ones may be best transfered, on substrate, to my outdoor (garden table) or indoor (kitchen ) "studio", where elbow support is more readily availble.

Lighting can be daylight but RC, off-camera, flash
...Show more
Thanks Harold



Sep 05, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Trinado
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p.1 #9 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


These are inspiring photos! Excellent work.


Sep 27, 2025 at 04:09 PM
RockvilleBob
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p.1 #10 · End of Summer Cone Flower and working with Loawa 25mm 2.5 5x macro lens


Trinado wrote:
These are inspiring photos! Excellent work.


Thank you for the kind words



Sep 28, 2025 at 03:33 AM







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