Springtime Macro Photography! - Macro Walks ep3

A recap of some of my favorite macro photos I took during the City Nature Challenge, as well as a new photo walk with more photos, tips & tricks.
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Gear used in this video:
📷 Fujifilm X-H2
🔎 Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
🔎 Laowa 25mm F/2.8 2.5-5x ultra macro
🔦 Nikon SB-900 Flash with Cygnustech Diffuser
Filmed on:
📷 Lumix DC-G91
🔎 Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8 pro
Music by Tobias Tinker, used with permission.

[@naturemha]

Lovely video as always

[@louisroth334]

Awesome shot of the luctator!

[@naturefold]

Thanks Louis! Really happy with how that one came out, and it's such a cool species

[@hermanmunster4949]

Nicely done.

[@BR-uz9nj]

I really enjoy your videos and your final images are outstanding.

[@danbernskoetter]

The closeups of the dragonfly are absolutely amazing.

[@alanbarlow8966]

Great video and even better images. I love the dragonfly cool!

[@aslater4385]

I do a lot of macro and know how hard it is. You make it look easy and your final images are simply stunning. I admit to being a little envious!

[@sandeelim5112]

I am just in awe of your ability to do handheld focus stacks! It’s something I’m working on my haven’t been very successful at yet.

[@capturingnaturewithsandip]

Awesome so lovely capture

[@cloudpandarism2627]

4:13min yeah nah that spade-food toad is a camouflaged sauron from lord of the rings!

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Some tremendous portraits and stacks, wonderful...

[@jimeverett8607]

Thanks for your time with these videos. Have me motivated to delve into this world. Any chance your going to educate your stack processing??? Thanks again!

[@naturefold]

I am definitely planning on doing a video on processing stacks

[@naturefold]

I am definitely planning on doing a video on processing stacks

[@SIBIRIAKcom]

dude with a camera : wow, magnificent creature, let me make a photo of it! the bug: oh, my God! The second coming is here, such a bright light, what's happening? The heavens are falling!

[@BHKalabaw]

great work! I'm starting to learn macro photography and your channel is one of those that I look at for ideas. Btw, do you have a video on how to do focus stacking on manual lens?

[@naturefold]

Thank you! I don't currently have one but I am definitely planning on making a video on focus stacking manually.

[@BHKalabaw]

@@naturefold Thanks. I'll be waiting to see that. I tried it few times but I'm getting smudged images when I tried to stack them in Photoshop. I was moving the camera back and forth. I probably moved it a bit out of angle which resulted to a bad stacked image.

[@naturefold]

Changes in angle are definitely the biggest factor behind failed manual stacks along with missed focus slices, it just takes some practice to keep the angle really consistent. I would try moving forward more slowly and in one movement rather than back and forth, as that makes it a bit easier to keep the angle consistent

[@BHKalabaw]

@@naturefold gotcha, I'll try that.

[@jasonjakober2267]

Your images are amazing! What flash are you using that allows such fast burst shooting?

[@naturefold]

I always put my equipment in the caption

[@ldb_photography_uk]

Great video. Quick question, what is the attachment you have on the diffuser to attach the raynox to? I have the cygnustech diffuser but it didn't come with this so was wondering if it was something separate?

[@naturefold]

Oh weird it came with mine, you could try using a step up ring and stick it to the side of the diffuser for the same purpose

[@ldb_photography_uk]

Yeah I was thinking of maybe doing that thanks 😊 Keep up the great videos 👍🏻

[@lakislambrianides7619]

How did you focus bracket with the laowa 65mm macro lens which don't have an auto focus mode

[@naturefold]

I stack manually by moving the camera forward while shooting in burst mode.

[@paolograssi2221]

Another question Alexis, your Laowa 25mm is adapted to Fujifilm using an adapter ring because in reality the 25mm for Fuji does not exist. it's correct?

[@keef78]

These poor little creatures getting repeatedly stun blasted by a huge flash

[@ahmedsheraz8454]

Nature i really like you.i want to with you photography

[@johnwood6750]

Some amazing shots there - I especially like your Damsel Fly and Dragon Fly shots.

[@noreoalles]

I love your videos, they inspire me to go outside and take some pictures myself.

[@dextervandendowe8329]

you are going to have to do a kit explanation ... a how to with flash etc

[@DavidBrown-if8vn]

I was glad about your lens change towards the end. I got one of the AK diffusers, and it's new to me so I don't have a work flow down yet. There was a day I was shooting that I wanted to switch lenses that I anticipated removing the AK before hand, and didn't want to be bothered with that, so I kept with the same lens. Seeing you just flip the flash head up out of the way to change the lens, made me laugh at how simple the solution was, and why I didn't think of it. Thanks!

[@Trish12303]

Amazing shots!! And, how you know and remember all of those bugs scientific names is mind boggling. Great work!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Awesome video and channel! I currently make aquarium and paludarium content (Vampire Crabs) and am looking for a good macro lens (mostly video) Would the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO do a decent job? It would be mounted on a tripod 99% of the time on a Sony ZV-E10. Cheers! Keep up the awesome videos!

[@renatosp_]

Your photos are amazing. Taking good macro photos is difficult as you showed in your videos. Keep up the amazing work!

[@mikolajrosollitzpasja]

Fantastic macro photography! Great channel

[@Dan-C-71]

Some amazing work as always, and was happy to see you get a shout out from Micael Widell.

[@AccessiblePhotography]

Great Video Alexis. Just loving your Macro mastery. Courtney Victoria was having a go with the same or similar lens and not doing as well as you. I am really tempted to do more Macro and you are really inspiring me to do so. Was that Hover-fly portrait the result of all that chasing around? If so well done I was very impressed.

[@naturefold]

Thank you! Yeah I did eventually manage that shot of the hoverfly inflight, it didn't make it easy though

[@pentagramyt417]

So incredible. I still wonder if I should go to om-1 + 60 mm, and use internal focus bracketing mode, or stay with my A7-IV any get Laowa 2:1 90 mm and do focus stacking by moving my hand. I think you used technique of moving forward, not internal computational things. But I don't know if I could really be that steady to move forward without some slight left/right movement with 20-100 stacks.. Do you need to be REALLY STRAIGHT pattern on moving forward or helicon/zerene will have problems if you slighty get out of the way while doing that stack?

[@naturefold]

I'd generally say stay with your system, stacking by hand manually really isn't that hard once you get the hang of it. You don't need to be perfectly steady, software can make adjustments as long as the framing doesn't change excessively. The main thing to be aware of is keeping the movement slow enough so that you don't miss slices of your subject, and not letting the angle change too much.

[@pentagramyt417]

@@naturefold Thank you! :) There are also different things that comes to my mind, as I have back problems, and moving with eg. my 2-600 mm f6.3 is not as comfortable, the autofocus is most likely also hit or miss. Another thing is I connect macro with wildlife, and having something more steady with more handheld stabilization like Olympus 300 mm f4 gives a lot of possibilites at the worst light cases scenarios. I'd like to have both systems, but that is like 50/50 in decision making. The only one things that still keeps me out is a a little of "weak" colour rendition of M43 sensors.

[@naturefold]

@@pentagramyt417 in that case the om1 would be a good choice, and in my opinion one of the best camera bodies for macro, and especially with the 60mm it's a super lightweight setup. As for color rendition I can't really speak for the differences there, but I've seen plenty of incredible wildlife photography using m4/3 cameras

[@survivalmike]

Thx for this great video. I'm wondering what settings you use in your cameras flash menu as well as on the flash itself. Im new to using flash for my macro shots and so any detailed advice / information would help me a lot. Thx buddy, cheers, Mike

[@naturefold]

There isn't too much to say about flash settings, I shoot in manual mode and adjust the flash power to get a good exposure, and that's about it.

[@fingerdrummers]

Does cygnustech work well with Laowa 25mm or should I try AK diffuser?

[@Charissa-w8e]

Excellent images.

[@graemebrumfitt6668]

Rite Nature Dude, awesome pictures as always, maybe one day I'll get a decent picture, 🤔 stay safe n well. TFS, GB :)

[@albertadroer9112]

I'm absolutely flabbergasted seeing that you can take more than 60 pictures to stack with a live bug and only with a manual movement! One day you have to make a video showing us this. Frankly, you are the best in the web!

[@naturefold]

Thanks! I'm working on a video on my stacking process

[@naturemha]

Yeah the stacking got quite doable with high frame per sec cameras are available such as OM with 100+ fps which makes it quite easy to go over dozens of shots with manual movement. Continuous practice makes it really better and better

[@NEONWAVE3000]

That shot of the snakescales is just special. Glorious.

[@rexmundi9691]

The acorn weavel is just so wicked cool, the way they bore into the acorn is just... their entire head is a ball joint. It's crazy. I love them. Always worth waiting for your videos! Fantastic stuff.

[@beatfarmerfan]

Great shots and stacks!

[@disjenmgn]

How can you focus teh insect right, looking in the screen, I can't manage it, one because of the light outside, and two IF I can see something how can you put the focus right??? I only use the evf untill now :-/

[@ioiocman]

What a delight to see your video release

[@kristianvrum8979]

Interesting that the flash seems to be unable to keep up with the camera...

[@douglasmulcahy1778]

I'm impressed with your knowledge of insects. Sometimes I cannot even find the ones that I need to identify in the half dozen books that I own. I'm curious as to how you attach your Rayon to the Cygnustech hood...looks like a handy way to have it on-hand. Thanks again for your informative content...keep it coming. Edit: I browsed thru the comments and found and entry about the using a step-up ring to attach the Rayon..I found an old (and mostly useless) UV filter in my trove of photography gadgets, and used some dbl-sided tape to attach to the hood. Problem solved!

[@marieta.s]

Are you on inaturalist? If yes what is your username?

[@paulm8157]

Enjoyable post, cool shots and practical tips. Final specimen in flight was a real bonus. Snake scales and toad eye also special. If weather is poor on the scheduled day of the nature challenge, do they re-schedule?

[@naturefold]

It is a global event with nearly 700 cities participating at the same time, so unfortunately if the weather is bad it can't be rescheduled. So far we've had good weather luck in Berlin for the last few years, hopefully it stays that way

[@w0lfyovi294]

Your images and stacks always blows my socks off.

[@hankfoto]

I have been checking your Macro work and want to say fantastic work plus you have given so very good pointers. Keep up the good work!

[@MadsHilde]

Howcome your english so good?

[@ahmedsheraz8454]

I want to learn whit you photography

[@jimjimgl3]

Try pointing your camera body down towards the ground when removing/changing lenses. Less chance of airborne dust settling onto the sensor.

[@naturefold]

I usually do it that way, in this case I just held it up to make the process more visible on camera. And in such a short time very little dust can get in anyway

[@vangxbg]

Amazing Channel…….

[@HansiM]

Hello. Great images you make. I see that you use 2 different Laowa lenses. What makes the difference between thes 2 lenses?

[@naturefold]

The 65mm is more of a standard macro lens and I use it for larger subjects, the 25mm is very specialized and only starts from 2.5x magnification. It's harder to use but if I find a suitable subject it's worth it for the higher magnification

[@georges64]

Another world, superb photos! Thank-you!

[@ezechielgoldstein]

After a long time - finally a good recommendation from KZbin!

[@josuecarrasco2678]

New sub bro!!!! 2:48 is 🔥

[@uralian]

Could you share the model of the flash diffuser you use?

[@naturefold]

I put all my gear in the captions of my videos, it is the Cygnustech diffuser.

[@PaulWhiteGoldEagle]

Very nice macro photography brother!

[@usernamemykel]

Do you have the camera in multi-shot mode to get rapid firing of the flash?

[@naturefold]

I shoot in high burst mode at 10fps

[@usernamemykel]

@@naturefold Thank you!

[@MrPeezySleezy]

I’m so glad that I found your channel! Always been super interested in bugs AND macro photography so it’s the perfect match haha. If you’ve never played the game Hollow Knight, I think it’d be your cup of tea! Your music also reminds me of it haha

[@cryptowill1611]

I really enjoy those "Macro Walks Episodes". I wish you already made tons of them to (re)watch them all over again and again... Everytime I am stunned by the quality of your shots. Would it be single image or multiple staked. Just wonderful ! Weevils are so funny and beautiful in their own way. The ending part of you tracking the hoverfly made me laugh. Then the shot was amazing too !

[@natureliker-ww4jo]

Wow, just wow. Your videos are not only inspiring for me. I love your voice too as well as every time you educate me. Thanks a lot from Hamburg, Germany. Realy great images!!!

[@andrewlamberson539]

I love your walks! I also very jealous of you being able to get the high magnification with the Laowa 2.3 -5x. I am just not steady enough to do it by hand!

[@marcmarc172]

Excellent work! Some of what you revealed was almost unbelievable. Thank you so much.

[@clausgiloi6036]

Great video, thanks! I grew up in Berlin and will be going there in a few weeks. You're inspiring me to bring my macro lens!

[@ghibli5111]

Do you use autofocus for the focus stackings?

[@naturefold]

Both of my lenses are manual focus only so no

[@ghibli5111]

@@naturefold oh ok, thank you

[@clissonplage]

another great video superb music the crab spider is crazy! a pleasure to follow you

[@jimwilson542]

Awesome video again some great photographs . And the tip on changing lenses flip up the flash how easy thank you :) .

[@LeeLong]

Wonderful video! Love the Hoverfly moment at the end, very familiar!

[@mikkiscott9995]

Thanks for sharing another cool video. I really enjoy them.

[@Upearly.Photography]

Great video's to watch. You make awesome photo's.

[@John37255]

I sure enjoy your work. Keep it up. You inspire me to get out and start macro photography again

[@MattGriffo]

This was awesome, I loved this

[@Decilaus]

Really nice photos!! Great video as always

[@paolograssi2221]

Dear Alexis, congratulations for your videos and images. I've been looking for a diffuser like yours but haven't been able to find it until now. Are you so kind to tell me where have you bought that kind of diffuser ? Moreover, since I have the same type of camera, would be nice a video with all your setting. Conglaturations again. Ciao. Paolo

[@crittanz]

Fantastic shots and a really nicely made video too!

[@allenharris1069]

Enjoy your videos. Photos absolutely stunning. But, "COOL" is giving me "The CHILLS".

[@naturefold]

I noticed while editing how much I said "cool"🤣 Will definitely try and vary my vocabulary a bit hahaha

[@d1m18]

Very nice. Inspiring me to get into macro

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

Beautiful images of teeny tiny creatures!

[@JohnMark61355]

I enjoyed the video. Thank you!

[@stephenhunt7655]

Loving your videos and the shots you have been taking. I'm new to macro and have yet to go out and shoot. One question or maybe a suggestion: Do you have a video on using the flash and its setting for macro. Thanks again.

[@naturefold]

I do not currently have a video on using Flash for macro but that is a good idea!

[@JoshxIZ]

Thanks for ur vids 😊

[@MegaFischfreak]

great video, awesome shots

[@davidh8258]

very nice work. does your camera auto stack? is it possible for you to do a equipment tour video?

[@naturefold]

My lenses are manual focus only so focus bracketing isn't possible, I stack manually. I may do a video showing my equipment at some point, or at least individual videos of some pieces of gear

[@orifoto]

I love all your videos❤

[@SGTPoopypants21]

Great stuff as always

[@Paul_Rohde]

You're a natural. Love your shots, your dialogue, your footage & editing, and music choice. I wish I could get that output from my X-H2! I'll have to get your diffuser. I've got Helicon Focus. It's that Ok?

[@naturefold]

Thanks! The X-H2 is great for macro but definitely not the easiest to use for this sort of shooting, once you get the hang of the technique the results are amazing though. Helicon focus and zerene stacker are the two best choices of stacking software

[@Paul_Rohde]

@@naturefold Thanks, I'm inspired!

[@CanWeSolveIt]

Great shots!

[@PhilipAusWien]

beautiful

[@DobromirManchev]

Great shots, as always! Are you actually German? Your English is amazingly good, even for a German person! Finally, a question: What lens would you suggest as a first macro lens for a Nikon Z shooter?

[@naturefold]

Thanks! My family is from Canada so English is my first language :) Generally the laowa macro lenses are really good and give great performance, the main disadvantage is that they have no autofocus.

[@DobromirManchev]

@@naturefold Ah, i see :) As for the Laowa - judging by the technique you've shown, and others too on YT, auto-focus isn't really all that important for this type of photography... so that's not a big concern. I am more curious about which particular focal length and magnification to go for, as a first (and maybe only) macro lens? And if i should go native Z or it's maybe better/cheaper to go for F + adaptor (i already have it).

[@naturefold]

@@DobromirManchev I'd go with a lens with 2:1 magnification just to have that option, even if you don't plan in shooting at that magnification right now. As far as the focal length, especially if you want to sit insects a longer focal length is good, so something like 90 or 100mm. The laowa lenses cost the same for all mounts so if you were getting something like the laowa 90mm I would just get it natively in z mount. Otherwise of course you could also get a used f mount macro lens with autofocus, which would probably be a similar price or less

[@DobromirManchev]

@@naturefold Thanks! What about the aperture? Usually we all look for "fast" lenses, that can open wide, but it seems to me that in macro it's actually better to keep "lower" (actually higher) aperture in order to get a deeper depth of field and you don't really care about the light much since you are using a flash anyway?

[@TheMickebostrom]

Amazing, as always!

[@naturefold]

Thank you!

[@yannistheodoropoulos3022]

I have ΧΤ3.