Tom Hicks wrote: , Hugo , man I told you not to tell, Some of the older members might remember this but some one actually accused me of doing just that , shooting fake dragone flies , little model dragonflies that had been air brushed, and then some one said all my subject were dead and just put into positions to make a good comp. I wish I could remember who that was.
I remember that fellow, but I can't recall his name either. What an A..H...!
Tom Hicks and John Mcfadden have spent more time here at FM helping photographers improve upon their techiques. Knowing Tom and all the weird concoctions (sp) that he has come up with, he shows what can be done with what you have (including his milk container diffuser) that have helped many to improve on their techniques. I am not trying to pick on anyone, so please don't take it that way. Having been around here for a little while a lot of people want to know what f-stop, shutter speed, lens hell all the exif data on a picture that is posted. The most important thing is the composition, once you have that in mind you simply set your camera to achieve the desired results. That may sound easy, but the only way to learn is to try different settings for DOF, shutter speed, white balance and the like until you understand how each interacts with the other. Like I mentioned earlier, Tom is an experimenter with many varied items and techniques but most of all he is a compositionist. Hell, I think Beethoven spent less time writing the 9th Symphony than it takes Tom to take one Macro shot.
Ok, serious stuff over with!
It's been awhile since we had fun post. Thanks Trey for bringing back some of those wonderful moments. I just wish I had as many and varied ones as you do of the Hicksman. You've got me rolling on the floor.
Here a few that I found on my drives.
Here is one of Tom's secrets, camouflage. Being one with the animals.
BTW JRN, as Smeets would say "I am going to give it to you the hard way!" You are just like me, you "Fat Bellied Old Fart" the reason you don't like macro is that once you get that big fat belly of yours on the ground you can't get back up. Now come on, it's time you fessed up.
Speak For Yourself "Mister Steele"...
I May Be Slow Getting Up, But I Can....
Your Trouble Is, You Are Too Top Heavy.
That "Big Nikon Using Head" Of Yours, Makes It Impossible!
And Now You And Trey have Infected Poor Tom...
As If He Does Not Have Enough Problems...
Oh My GOD...
I Have A Black Long Lens In My Kit...
How Did This Ever Happen...
The Infection Is Speading...
jrn813 wrote:
Speak For Yourself "Mister Steele"...
I May Be Slow Getting Up, But I Can....
Your Trouble Is, You Are Too Top Heavy.
That "Big Nikon Using Head" Of Yours, Makes It Impossible!
And Now You And Trey have Infected Poor Tom...
As If He Does Not Have Enough Problems...
Oh My GOD...
I Have A Black Long Lens In My Kit...
How Did This Ever Happen...
The Infection Is Speading...
Help Me....
Tom only started using Nikon stuff so he can BORROW my long lenses!!! I'm wise to his conniving ways And you know the power of the darkside, JRN. Resistance is futile. How's that for mixed sci-fi metaphors?
lazersgm wrote:
I must say I would love to know how he keeps the bugs still while he sets up. Spiders I can see but most bugs don’t like to stay in the same place for long and it’s frustrating to try and capture them on film. I have been trying shutter speeds of 1/350 and up hand holding with flash but am still not getting the nice crisp photos that I wish. I know it’s not the equipment and that it’s my own short comings but I still try my best. Maybe in time I can get as good as tom and I hope I will. It does not help that my back is thrown out at the moment ether. . I have more time to shoot then anyone could hope for just not the knowledge that I need yet to be good. I just ordered “macro photography: Learning from a master” and “john Shaw’s close-ups in nature” and hope that will help shed some light on why my photos are not what I would like them to be. I was thinking of setting up a 29gal fish tank in my home to photo bugs in if anyone has any suggestions about that It would be much appreciated. I was also thinking about going with 2 sigma 500dg super flashes instead of just the one on my macro rig to help up the shutter speeds and f stops I can use. ...Show more →
I would love to know the same thing. Bugs are hard work but so fun. If they would just get tired enough to sit still when I have camera in hand, I'd be overjoyed.
, Hugo , man I told you not to tell, Some of the older members might remember this but some one actually accused me of doing just that , shooting fake dragone flies , little model dragonflies that had been air brushed, and then some one said all my subject were dead and just put into positions to make a good comp. I wish I could remember who that was. 
You've got me rolling on the floor.