Thanks guys!
My meeting with the BIMBO’s certainly put me on the right track with macro photography. Prior to watching the boys at work, I used to “chase” the insects, dashing from bloom to bloom, shrub to shrub, (not quite park to park!) and had a very low success rate, despite my technically excellent rig.
After seeing how the guys got down and dirty, working a single stem or shrub at a time and waiting for the insect to drift in, I adopted this approach and my keeper rate has sky rocketed.
I’m still experimenting with the ring flash. Sometimes 2/3 stop under is still too bright and I get blown highlights dotted around the frame. I may experiment with the metering mode – maybe set it to spot metering although I figured if the insect was too dark this may blow the highlights even more?
Thanks to the BIMBO’s for showing me their techniques, approach and camera settings – you’ve changed the hobby from a bit of an ordeal to an obsession!
Cheers
Dennis