Combination of sensors, Insect Photography

Insect Week

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Insect Week is an annual event celebrated from June 24 to 30, the goal of which is to raise awareness about the critical role that insects play in our ecosystem. This article shares some insect photographs that have been created with a range of camera gear over the years.

When we take some time to study these tiny creatures it is hard not to be amazed with the miniature world of insects that is all around us. Insect Week reminds us about how insects help pollinate critical crops around the globe. And… act as Mother Nature’s clean up crew.

Regardless of the brand and format of camera gear that we may own, the wonderful world of insect photography is waiting for our creativity.

As you look through this collection of handheld images I would encourage you to spend some time with the EXIF data. It will help confirm that the world of insect photography is readily available to us. While not all of the subjects in the images are insects… they were still a lot of fun to photograph. (Thanks for the heads-up Woody)

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkon 1 CX 39-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 110mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-2000, spot metering, Vello extension tubes
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 64mm, efov 173mm, f/5.6, 1/10, ISO-3200, Vello Deluxe Extension Tubes
Nikon 1 J5 + Nikon 1 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 110mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-360, Vello 16mm extension tube
Nikon 1 V2 + Nikon 1 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 90mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-2800, Movo extension tubes
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 110mm efov 297mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-1000
Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm efov 810mm, F/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-1250
Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, efov 810mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO-640
Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon 32mm f/1.2, efov 86.4mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-800
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 62mm, efov 166mm, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-3200, Vello Deluxe Extension Tubes
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 53mm, efov 143mm, f/8, 1/25, ISO-3200, Vello Deluxe Extension Tubes
Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-500
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/4.9, 1/50, ISO-1600
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/4.9, 1/100, ISO-1600
Olympus TG-5 @ 12 mm, efov 66.7 mm, f/3.8, 1/13, ISO-1600
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/4.9, 1/30, ISO-1600
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/4.9, 1/100, ISO-1000, microscopic mode
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/4.9, 1/400, ISO-800, microscopic mode
Olympus OM-D E-M1X with M.Zuiko 40-150 mm f/2.8 and M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 190 mm, f/8, efov 380 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-1250, subject distance 2 metres
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 41 mm, efov 110.7 mm, f/8, 1/160, ISO-3200, extension tube used
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150 mm f/2.8 PRO @ 150 mm, efov 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, ISO-5000, Pro Capture mode
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro with 16 mm Kenko extension tube, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO-6400, Hand-held Hi Res Mode, subject distance 190 mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro with STF-8 Twin Macro Flash, f/11, 1/250 ISO-200, subject distance 270 mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/5, 1/320, ISO-3200, subject distance 245 mm, handheld focus stacking used, out-of-camera jpeg adjusted in post
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 @ 150 mm, efov 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-1250, Handheld Hi Res Mode, subject distance 775 mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/5, 1/320, ISO-1250, subject distance 245 mm, Handheld Hi Res mode
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/9, 1/640, ISO-1600, photographed one-handed, subject distance 280 mm.
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 170 mm, efov 340 mm, f/11, -0.7 step, 1/1600, ISO-2000, Pro Capture H mode, subject distance 1.8 metres
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 300 mm, efov 600 mm, f/8, -0.7 step, 1/2500, ISO-1600, Pro Capture H mode
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/5, 1/320, ISO-6400, subject distance 235 mm
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 75-300 mm f/4.8-6.7 @ 300 mm, efov 600 mm, f/6.7, 1/1250, ISO-2000, 16 mm extension tube used, cropped to 3509 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H mode
Olympus TG-5 @ 18 mm, efov 100 mm, f/6.3, 1/100, ISO-1600, microscopic mode
Olympus OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 220 mm, efov 440 mm, f/13, -1 step, 1/1600, ISO-2500
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 381 mm, efov 762 mm, f/8.7, 1/1600, ISO-2500, cropped to 2525 pixels on the width, subject distance 3 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/4000, ISO-4000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3537 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.8 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-640, cropped to 3558 pixels on the width, subject distance 4.4 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 800 mm, efov 1600, f/13, 1/2500, ISO-5000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3670 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.5 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-5000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3568 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.6 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4116 pixels on the width, subject distance 2 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 227 mm, efov 454 mm, f/6.3, 1/30, ISO-2000, Handheld Hi Res mode, subject distance 2 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/10, 1/400, ISO-4000, cropped to 3552 pixels on the width, subject distance 1.3 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, 1/5000, f/11, -0.3 EV, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3268 pixels on the width, subject distance 3.9 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000, ISO-1250, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3686 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.5 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/6.3, -0.7 EV, 1/5000, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3721 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.4 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/5000, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3692 pixels on the width, subject distance 4.1 metres
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, 1/250, f/5, ISO-200, STF-8 twin macro flash used, subject distance 250 mm
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/4, 1/15, ISO-3200, handheld in-camera focus stacking, full frame capture. out-of-camera jpeg adjusted in post
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/13, 1/400, ISO-1250, cropped to 3541 pixels on the width, Handheld In-Camera Focus Stacking, subject distance 505 mm
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro and M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/13, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-1600, cropped to 2569 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 745 mm
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-14 Teleconverter and Digital Teleconverter @ 252 mm, efov 504 mm, f/9, 1/320, ISO-800, Handheld In-Camera Focus Stacking, full frame capture, subject distance 270 mm
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/16, 1/800, ISO-6400, full frame capture, Handheld In-Camera Focus Stacking, subject distance 285 mm
OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 PRO IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 126 mm, efov 252 mm, f/9, -0.3 EV, 1/160, ISO-2500, handheld in-camera focus stacking, full frame capture, subject distance 275 mm

If you haven’t taken your camera gear out to photograph insects for a while, Insect Week may be a great reason to reconnect with these tiny treasures.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld with the camera equipment  noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files our out-of-camera jpegs using my standard process in post. This is the 1,395 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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4 thoughts on “Insect Week”

  1. Hi Thomas,

    An old-timer here who has just discovered your blog. Superb photos which have left me thinking “How does he do it?” In the 70s I used to do a lot of butterfly photography with a Canon F1 mounted on a bellows with a ring flash + plus a handheld flash. I see that equipment has become more compact and sophisticated now. I am going to have to read your previous articles and maybe invest in some of your coaching.

    Thank you for the inspiration and such enjoyable, beautiful images.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jon,

      Thank you for your kind words, they are most appreciated.

      Advancements in camera technology have certainly had significant and positive impacts on photographers like me who shoot handheld. The majority of my images have been captured in natural light. I have expanded my kit to now include teleconverters and the M.Zuiko STF-8 macro flash. This has broadened my handheld macro photography potential.

      Tom

      Reply

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