Freehand Macro Photography at 1/20 s Shutter Speed

[@MicaelWidell]

Thanks for watching! Also find me in these places: 💌 newsletter: mwroll.com 🌄 instagram: instagram.com/mwroll 🎖patreon: patreon.com/micaelwidell 🐦 twitter: twitter.com/micaelwidell 💬 discord: bit.ly/widelldiscord macro lens buying guide: lensguide.micaelwidell.com

[@gemstyxwalls1419]

Good to know.

[@dude157]

9:30, the insect has a face on its shell.

[@marcusmaher6575]

I nearly broke my ankle running for my camera to try your settings and all I can say is thank you thank you as a beginner I couldn't believe how better the detail is now to get me a diffuser 👍😉

[@mitz8892]

Thanks!

[@eze3572]

It’s nice to know there actually are people existing who enjoy the same things I do. Sometimes I feel like I’m completely weird because nobody relates to my passion. Thank you for the great video

[@MicaelWidell]

It’s a small hobby. But we are many across the globe :)

[@stevenml5748]

Thank you

[@kencolson8387]

Thanks for bringing us along on your photo shoot. Just like being there.

[@ronjenkins4257]

It's inspiring that your mother still uses a trampoline at her age. In North America we always consider Swedes to be devoted to fitness at all stages of life.

[@norbertalexy8803]

You have a very good point with your observations about the slower shutter speed: both on the dreamy look and on the brighter, more natural looking background. - Thanks Micael :-)

[@kaiyankwong1465]

Great video ! In modern digital camera, the noise level of ISO 100-400 is very good. Instead of using 1/20 s shutter speed in ISO 100, you can try 1/80 s shutter speed in ISO 400 which give you same exposure to background ( or ISO 640 (2nd gain) in Sony A7III ) and the successful rate will be higher. Moreover, flash output will reduce and the flash can recycle faster and can take multiple photos for focus stacking.

[@MicaelWidell]

That’s a great idea! Will try. Thanks!

[@RickMentore]

Love the introductory drone footage! Your images were stellar, my favorite was the white moth on the red wood. Quite a few insects are nocturnal and thus docile in the bright day light. We all know flash with slow shutter still gives sharp image but just never thought about employing that principle while making macro photos! "Eureka moment," thanks MW!

[@MicaelWidell]

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@larrycostello]

That was brilliant I really enjoyed it. Such interesting outcomes using a slower shutter. And yes that was a 'stink bug' aka 'shield bug' (it gives off a smell to keep predators away) it is a beautiful insect I think. I am also curious about your flash diffuser and if it's available in Ireland?

[@MicaelWidell]

@@larrycostello check the video description for a link to the diffuser

[@dennisharris144]

LOVE this channel. Don't love the boots 🤪. Literally everything I learned about macro photography came from this channel.

[@MicaelWidell]

Happy to hear that :) Boots aren’t pretty but feels good to have protection against vipers.

[@rfh1234]

I really enjoy your presentations. The pace is nice, the explanations are in depth and clear, and you remind me of some of my family that live in Malmo.

[@walontuoja4336]

Limitations usually help with creativity. Great content as usual! Will surely try this out myself!

[@Synqued]

I thought I’d clicked on a Joshua Bardwell video by mistake. Keep up the great content! “I’m Micael Widell, and your going to learn something today”

[@MicaelWidell]

Hehe maybe it was subconscious of me since I flew a lot of FPV lately. I follow his channel :)

[@Alexander0189]

Great video man. My Laowa 90mm is coming tomorrow I cannot wait 🥳🥳🥳🥳 your videos have helped massively. Thank you!

[@LeeLong]

Thanks so very much for making this video! I went out in the backyard and gave it a shot. I was using a basic Canon Rebel T6i and a standard Canon zoom lens with a 31mm extension tube on it. Also, I only used the on body flash because I didn't have time to find my flash unit. I was thrilled by the color and detail in my shots!

[@wongnick7766]

谢谢！

[@smartintech2]

I like this. Thanks for sharing. I just started with macro.

[@klaustomasini]

green shield bug (Palomena prasina) young larva at 8:32

[@IanWilkinson]

Lot's of sensible advice and great results here - and congratulations on the loop-de-loop ;-)

[@samsen3965]

Micael... You never cease to amaze me. Never knew you can pilot a drone that well in FPV mode.

[@MicaelWidell]

A small hobby of mine that I practice only a couple of times per year :)

[@samsen3965]

@@MicaelWidell Honestly and haven't seen you this happy, in a long time. I think you should consider more frequent visits and stay with mom. I'm sure your kids will love that too. btw who far is the travel?

[@guybob548]

I sometimes like the slower shutter speeds for that kind of Vintage feel on some photos, and those great backgrounds!

[@gemstyxwalls1419]

I tried that setting w/o a diffuser,it worked.

[@aslater4385]

Excellent video as ever. I can’t wait to get out and see if I can lighten up my dark/black backgrounds. A lot of my most successful photos are from my pre flash era and I really can’t see how I did it!

[@davidclode3601]

Thanks mate, great video!

[@fieldphotoIDforflies]

Always love the content, Micael!

[@MrBono303]

Very good Video. Ich have the same difuser from Pope shield. Sadly the shield don't hold so nice than yours. Its allways want to flip to the side and i have to hold the whole Thing With my hand.

[@walontuoja4336]

I went out and experimented with my 70-300mm + extension ring + flash + Dörr diffuser and I was struck with awe on how sharp those insects were at 1/15 or 1/30 shutter speeds - handheld! Thank you so much :) (my YT profile has link to my gallery if you want to see some results)

[@BigMilan]

Great shots as usual:) And i just followed you on ig. I hadn’t shot much macro lately but i just moved to a new house right across the street from a very big park. Hopefully there are plenty of insects there :D

[@prla5400]

You've been uploading out a lot of videos which is good

[@Phantomias7]

Every time i tried this i got ghosting on antennae and legs :( i guess i'll have to try again and block the ambient light some more

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes that is the key!

[@jbugmd]

Great instructional video, thanks very much. I tried it out today and was amazed at the results I got "freehand". Bye bye tripod.

[@MicaelWidell]

Glad it helped!

[@samsen3965]

8:39 Sting bug is correct. a.k.a. British bug or "Pentatomidae Palomena Prasina"

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you!

[@andrewlamberson539]

very informative. A+

[@okamimemos1716]

Super interesting video, loved your accent and the countryside. Where is this? I'd assume somewhere Nordic :)

[@MicaelWidell]

Outside of Uppsala, Sweden

[@SteveSSBB]

Have you tried any of the diffusers from Crafty Bells? Highly recommended.

[@MicaelWidell]

Haven't tried yet, might do in the future :)

[@SteveSSBB]

It offers great diffusion. It is held on by a Velcro strap that contains some rubber/elastic stitching so it doesn’t move. I’ve had mine for about 4 years and it works as new. The only lens I find it doesn’t play nice with design-wise is the Laowa 15mm as it doesn’t sit well on the end of the lens with the extending barrel. Happy shooting!

[@timoohlsen]

Nice one! Thank you 😊

[@jackthair8311]

Is there a table that shows the increase in magnification with macro tubes?

[@MicaelWidell]

It differs somewhat between lenses. But a general rule of thumb is that you gain 1x magnification if you add X mm of extension tubes, where X is the focal length of the lens.

[@jackthair8311]

@@MicaelWidell Thanks. So on a 50mm lens, adding 50mm of extension tubes should increase magnification x1.

[@MicaelWidell]

@@jackthair8311 exactly

[@hthamalainen]

Thanks for your great videos! Which model your white diffuser is?

[@MicaelWidell]

Pope shield

[@shlomoeshet8525]

Great video as always. Can dedicate one to flash settings and usage in outdoor macro photography? Thanks.

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you! I cover my outdoor flash settings in my macro settings video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZSwaJWdoKuKiMk

[@shlomoeshet8525]

@@MicaelWidell Thanks😎

[@critche95]

Hey, at 8:50 it is a stink bug larva yeah. Once adult it'll be green, or green with brown

[@Phantomias7]

Not the larva ;) a larva has to pupate before becoming the adult form and looks very different to the final insect. With stink bugs and many others, they don't do that and gradually morph from what they hatch as to their adult form, in which case the intermediate stage seen here is called a nymph

[@IanWilkinson]

More accurately, it's either the 1st or 2nd instar stage of the Common Green Shieldbug _Palomena prasina_

[@samsen3965]

11:29 You're again right. Red velvet mite a.k.a Trombidium Holosericeum.

[@fieldphotoIDforflies]

Identifiable to species?! That whole family all look the same to me. I though you needed a microscope to dissect...

[@kariossyr6018]

Nice video as always, I really like how your videos are to the point. Even your replies to comments are comprehensive, adding to the valuable knowledge you present. Also great compositions, which is another challenge in macro photography to preserve a decent crop. What is the name of the insect used in the thumbnail? Its photos are the best in this video, specially the one at 13:33. Keep this good work up, I wish much joy and blessings for you and your family.

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you for the kind words :) I don’t know the name of the insect in the thumbnail unfortunately.

[@kariossyr6018]

@@MicaelWidell Welcome, Have a nice day

[@mike.k]

Hi. Is focus stacking possible when using lens Laowa 25mm 2.5-5x macro? Cuz for focus I need to move the lens so also perspective will change right? I bought this lens but depth of field is too shallow and also cannot use aperture more than 5.6 cuz of diffraction!

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes see me do it here: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZibnXiiratrm6M

[@eust785]

Do you use manual flash or TTL?

[@paulcollingridge8387]

The passive white moth on the wall is a Bird Cherry Ermine moth

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you 😊

[@henri.witteveen]

I have a macro lens with a filter thread of 62 mm but I'm thinking about getting a macro lens with 67 mm filter thread. Now I'm also interested in getting a pope shield. Do you think that getting a pope shield 82 mm and then using step up rings to adapt the pope shield to various lenses a good idea?

[@MicaelWidell]

Sure why not. However a price you pay is the wider your lens is (wider with step up rings..), the harder it is to photograph insects from the side, as it will push into the surface the insect is sitting on.

[@Roby0593]

To take these insects pictures, what magnification do you use ?

[@MicaelWidell]

2x

[@jahangirsob1580]

I have canon 200D. what lens is good for macro ?

[@MicaelWidell]

Please consult my lens guide: lensguide.micaelwidell.com

[@deathfromabove9888]

Hi Micael WHat lens are you using in this video ? I thought you a laowa man . Thanks

[@MicaelWidell]

I always link the exact gear in the video description

[@deathfromabove9888]

Thanks Micael I see that now . Cheers

[@DMAAUK]

Great video as always! Quick question - do you use focus peaking? I tend to, but I'm not convinced how accurate it is and wonder if I miss a lot of focus as a result. Thanks!

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes I use it sometimes, it can be very helpful. Try adjusting it between high medium or low to see what gives the best results for you.

[@DMAAUK]

Thanks for the reply - I will experiment further... and keep up the good work! Your videos are inspiring :-)

[@CapeFearFilmVideo]

DOF Calculator APP could help here

[@GadgetLuv259]

I fly fpv too!

[@xinqiwang3301]

Who is that expert drone pilot?

[@Iamelmerworld]

Hi... I'm just curious, do flash harm insects?

[@MicaelWidell]

I have not seen any evidence that they are harmed or even care about the flash

[@Iamelmerworld]

@@MicaelWidell thanks a lot, it concerned me especially spiders. By the way your macro shots are awesome! 📷👏👏👏

[@cameraprepper7938]

Do you never take macro shots without flash ? I never use flash for macro (since 1979 to 2022), I love natures own light 🙃

[@MicaelWidell]

I do sometimes. But at 2x magnification it is pretty much impossible without a flash.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@MicaelWidell I know it will be slower with a tripod, but it can be very rewarding, A friend of mine nearly always use tripod and he takes amazing images, I am more "lazy" and only rarely use tripod. I think to get handsfree good images for macro are a great challenge and you get very happy when it works and you got a really good shot

[@FlappySock]

Do you have any minimum requirement of how strong the flash should be? Do you use TTL or manual on the flash? Interesting challenge however, fun to see :)

[@MicaelWidell]

I think any external flash with 2 AA batteries or more is strong enough. I use manual mode and around 1/4 -1/16 in strength depending on diffuser and ambient light.

[@gerhardwiesinger]

Which do you recommend more for 2x and why: Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO or Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro?

[@MicaelWidell]

The 90mm is better in every regard

[@gerhardwiesinger]

@@MicaelWidell Thnx. BTW: Any 2x AF Macro Lens for Sony available (didn't find any yet)?

[@MicaelWidell]

@@gerhardwiesinger there are no af lenses with more than 1x for Sony

[@ItRainsSmiles]

Would you still recommend the 90mm over the 60mm for APS-C (Canon R7)? Thanks in regard and have a great day :) Superb video, it's impressive to see you take these shots handhold :)

[@MicaelWidell]

@@ItRainsSmiles yes I would get the 85mm or 90mm for R7

[@hoffmannolsen]

The Lars von Trier of Macro photography, „you should always set yourself obstructions when filming - Lars von Trier“. It forces you to thinks different and the results are further away from normal and often stands out. Your next obstruction: no flash!

[@noosebrother]

you must have very steady hands and docile bugs because most of my photos at that speed turn spiders into brown streaks. (little zebra striped jumping spiders a.k.a jittery little fast buggers)

[@MicaelWidell]

As I explained, it has nothing to do with steady hands or slow animals. The flash shines for 1/20 000 s, and that is effectively your shutter speed for the exposure. If you still get blurry photos, either you focused wrong, or you had too strong ambient light in relation to the flash.

[@lp67O]

It makes little sense, because 99% of the exposure is not in 1/20, but in the time of the flash pulse, which is much shorter and allows you to freeze the shaking. Try shooting without a flash and you won't get any sharp shots. Edit: Ok, I watched up to 2:30 and found you understand this thing :D

[@MicaelWidell]

I commend you for the patience of steel to wait that long for the full explanation 😆

[@samsen3965]

Micael is the ultimate Master of Macro. Never ever doubt him 😂

[@MichelleObamaOffical]

Hi

[@markifi]

using a flash? clickbait title then

[@whitefatdude]

I always enjoy your videos, they are educational to me since i just started macrophotography a year ago and i have seen all your videos on youtube, but here your are identifying the berry as Raspberry isnt that "Hallon in swedish i think that is a wild Strawberry, isnt it?

[@MicaelWidell]

You are right! I translated it wrong in my head. It is a wild strawberry, or “smultron” in Swedish.