Wide Angle Herp shots

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orionmystery
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Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

So I have been poking the Laowa 15mm at every creatures I come across in the jungle at night!


Up close with a Malayan Bridle Snake (Dryocalamus subannulatus). Venus Optics - Laowa15mm on a 70D, diffused 270EX on hot shoe, Malaysia.
ImageDryocalamus subannulatus IMG_9001 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageDryocalamus subannulatus IMG_9020 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close (too close!) with a male Great Anglehead Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis). Taken with the Venus Optics - Laowa15mm, 70D, diffused 270EX, Malaysia.
ImageGonocephalus grandis IMG_9055 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close with a female Great Anglehead Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis). Malaysia.
ImageGonocephalus grandis IMG_9057 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

White-lipped Frog (Chalcorana labialis). Venus Optics - Laowa15mm, 70D, 270EX, night macro. Malaysia.
ImageChalcorana labialis IMG_9033 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close with a Corrugated Frog (Limnonectes khasianus - formerly L. laticeps). Taken with the Venus Optics - Laowa15mm 1:1 wide angle macro lens, 70D, diffused 270EX, night herping/macro. Malaysia.
ImageLimnonectes khasianus IMG_8978 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close with a Earless Agamid (Aphaniotis fusca). Taken with the Venus Optics - Laowa15mm 1:1 wide angle macro lens, 70D, diffused 270EX, night herping/macro. Malaysia.
ImageAphaniotis fusca IMG_8968 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
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dwakefield
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by dwakefield »

Very cool! I especially like the first snake shot. What is the closest focusing distance of your 15mm lens?
MonarchzMan
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by MonarchzMan »

I've been giving more and more thought to this lens. How easy to do you find it to use? It's completely manual, right? I've also been concerned about lighting since you have to be quite close to the subject. How close, generally, do you get to these subjects? I know if you go 1:1, you basically have to touch the animal to the front element. I assume you're not doing 1:1 for most of these shots?
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

dwakefield wrote:Very cool! I especially like the first snake shot. What is the closest focusing distance of your 15mm lens?
Thanks. The working distance at 1:1 is 4.7mm , front of lens to subject.

Image
MonarchzMan wrote:I've been giving more and more thought to this lens. How easy to do you find it to use? It's completely manual, right? I've also been concerned about lighting since you have to be quite close to the subject. How close, generally, do you get to these subjects? I know if you go 1:1, you basically have to touch the animal to the front element. I assume you're not doing 1:1 for most of these shots?
Yes, fully manual. See the pic above for working distances at other magnifications. Not the easiest lens to use but it's a lot of fun to play with, and I love the images i get with this lens.
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Antonsrkn
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by Antonsrkn »

Not the easiest lens to use but it's a lot of fun to play with, and I love the images i get with this lens.
I love them too! :) The details are simply incredible.

Fantastic work as always, this is a lens I have been curious about and may get yet. A few things I'm saving for first.
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

Antonsrkn wrote:
Not the easiest lens to use but it's a lot of fun to play with, and I love the images i get with this lens.
I love them too! :) The details are simply incredible.

Fantastic work as always, this is a lens I have been curious about and may get yet. A few things I'm saving for first.
Thanks, Anton. For now, it's either the Laowa15mm (fully manual but 1:1), or the Tokina 10-17. Only 0.4X but automatic diaphragm.
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Roki
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by Roki »

Beautiful post as always.
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

Roki wrote:Beautiful post as always.
Thank you, Roki.
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

Adding more shots to this thread:

White-lipped Tree Frog (Chalcorana labialis). Venus Optics - Laowa15mm. Night macro.
ImageChalcorana labialis_MG_1573 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageChalcorana labialis_MG_1572 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageChalcorana labialis_MG_1554 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageChalcorana labialis_MG_1535 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Juvenile Great Angle-head Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis), Selangor, Malaysia.
ImageGonocephalus grandis_MG_1550 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageGonocephalus grandis_MG_1549 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Male Great Anglehead Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis), Malaysia. Taken with the Venus Optics - Laowa 15mm, 70D, diffused 270EX.
ImageGonocephalus grandis_MG_1529 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close with a Blyth's River Frog (Limnonectes blythii), Selangor, Malaysia. Venus Optics - Laowa15mm, diffused 270EX on 70D hotshoe, handheld.
ImageLimnonectes blythii_MG_1568 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

All taken with the Laowa 15mm, 70D, diffused 270EX.

Triangle Keelback (Xenochrophis trianguligerus), Malaysia.
ImageXenochrophis trianguligerus_MG_1514 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Male Great Angle-head Lizard (Gonocephalus grandis), Selangor, Malaysia.
ImageGonocephalus grandis_MG_1469 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageGonocephalus grandis_MG_1479 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Earless Agamid (Aphaniotis fusca), Selangor, Malaysia. Shame that I clipped her claws.
ImageAphaniotis fusca_MG_1440 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageAphaniotis fusca_MG_1446 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

White-lipped Tree Frog (Chalcorana labialis), Selangor, Malaysia.
ImageChalcorana labialis_MG_1496 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda sp.) with cockroach prey, Malaysia. Taken with the Laowa 15mm.
ImageHeteropoda sp._MG_1484 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Larut Torrent Frog (Amolops larutensis), West Malaysia.
ImageAmolops larutensis_MG_1420 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
MonarchzMan
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by MonarchzMan »

What sort of f-stops are you using for these photos? I imagine you need a pretty high f-stop to get a decent DOF. How high can the laowa go?
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

MonarchzMan wrote:What sort of f-stops are you using for these photos? I imagine you need a pretty high f-stop to get a decent DOF. How high can the laowa go?
No idea. It's a manual lens. I focus wide open at F4 and dial the aperture ring anything maybe F11 to F22 before pressing the shuttle. Smallest aperture is F32.
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Gary N
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by Gary N »

I'm surprised you get such great shots given that putting the lens so close to an animal usually scares them off and also since your options for flash are limited at that distance. I don't see any flash highlights in the eyes. How are you lighting the subjects?
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

Gary N wrote:I'm surprised you get such great shots given that putting the lens so close to an animal usually scares them off and also since your options for flash are limited at that distance. I don't see any flash highlights in the eyes. How are you lighting the subjects?
Thanks, Gary. No way I could get close to them during the day. All the shots were taken at night.

Single 270EX on hot shoe with a big DIY diffuser.

Up close with a gorgeous Jasper Cat Snake (Boiga jaspidea), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ImageBoiga jaspiedea_MG_1783 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageBoiga jaspiedea_MG_1755 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageBoiga jaspiedea_MG_1739 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Giant Forest Scorpion / Giant Blue Scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer), Malaysia.
ImageHeterometrus spinifer_MG_2130 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageHeterometrus spinifer_MG_1914 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Posing like a boss! Blyth's River Frog (Limnonectes blythii), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ImageLimnonectes blythii_MG_1810 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Up close with a Norhayati's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus norhayatii), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
ImageRhacophorus norhayatii_MG_1849 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus norhayatii_MG_1830 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
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Gary N
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by Gary N »

orionmystery wrote: Thanks, Gary. No way I could get close to them during the day. All the shots were taken at night.

Single 270EX on hot shoe with a big DIY diffuser.
I use that same flash, but I've had trouble coming up with a good diffuser since it's so small. What kind did you make - is it a softbox or a bounce reflector or what?
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orionmystery
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by orionmystery »

Gary N wrote:
orionmystery wrote: Thanks, Gary. No way I could get close to them during the day. All the shots were taken at night.

Single 270EX on hot shoe with a big DIY diffuser.
I use that same flash, but I've had trouble coming up with a good diffuser since it's so small. What kind did you make - is it a softbox or a bounce reflector or what?
Something like this. Diffusion layer is packing foam (PE polyfoam)

http://orionmystery.blogspot.my/2012/12 ... o-rig.html
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Gary N
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Re: Wide Angle Herp shots

Post by Gary N »

orionmystery wrote: Something like this. Diffusion layer is packing foam (PE polyfoam)

http://orionmystery.blogspot.my/2012/12 ... o-rig.html
I'll have to try that.
It's cool how all those homemade diffusers use free materials (trash, really) along with expensive camera gear.
It's the results that matter.
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