I’ve tried several different cameras ranging from 3 to 5 megapixels all with the same results, so the common denominator is me.
Any suggestions?(That was dangerous)
Greg
Greg,
Your camera has to have a macro feature, no matter what the megapixels are. That feature allows you to focus on items that are very close to the front lens element. Make sure you read the manual for your camera and get to know that macro.
For taking pics of flies I use a Nikon Coolpix 4800 and a Pentax Optio WP10. Both allow me to focus on items less than 1/2 inch from the lens. That close and a size 20 fly files the frame.
Also, get a tripod. I use a small table top model for taking pics of flies. When focusing that close any camera shake is multiplied.
Also suggest you glance through Al Campbell’s articles on fly photography.
REE
Check out Paul Dieter’s website. http://homepage.mac.com/riverwader/tying/Personal24.html
plenty of light
turn off the flash
use a tripod (gets rid of the shakes)
set your camera to macro (its the tulip symbol)
focus on the subject by depressing the shutter button 1/2 down while looking at the lcd and when focused then push it the rest of the way down to take to foto
check your white balance for the type of lights you’re using
use a background color that is pleasant to view and highlights the fly. people don’t want to see your tying desk blurred out in the background
have fun. its not that hard.
REE nailed it by suggesting to read your manual, and Norm’s tips clinch it. It’s really not hard, but you need to educate yourself to get good results.
Joe
I’ll take 2 doz each of the emergers.
Philip
If you want 2 dozen of each, you better get busy tying. …and would you like fries with that order…a jamoca shake perhaps? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sorry, I don’t have time to tie for my #1 customer…ME!
Joe
Hi Greg…
The suggestions that you?ve gotten so far are all good.
Turn off the flash and use plenty of light.
Some of the best is good old incandescent, but remember to set the white balance on your camera for incandescent light.
They are tack on about using a tripod.
They only thing that I can add is to also set the camera for a delayed, (I use a 2 second delay), shutter release. In this way there is nothing to shake to camera.
For a background, I have found that the old grey neutral density cards are best. They don?t add any unwanted color to the image of the fly and the colors of the fly look highlighted.
Good shooting,
DickM.
One other suggestion to add to the great ones before…is to avoid trying to get too close to the subject. Some cameras are cool with getting really close, but others will tend to blurr more. Remember, after you load the photos onto your computer, you can zoom in on the subject quite a bit (especially with the higher MP cameras).
Joe;
Absolutly beautful photos(a little large) What camera are you using? (I wonder if Betty knows what she started with her Hummingbirds?).
Another “trick” for shooting small flies is the tie and shoot a larger version of the same fly.
It is much easier to shoot a size 10 or 12 something than a size 20 something.
Also I use multiple light sources, typically three, to eliminate shadows. Play around with positioning till you get something you like.
Some cameras focus better if you set the focusing mode to Spot AF and make sure your fly is centered.
One other thing that helps is to take lots of shots. I will take a dozen or more pictures of the same fly with small variations in the lighting, backdrop, camera angel, flash setting and distance to the fly until I get one that is satisfactory. With no film to buy or develop there is no reason we amateurs can’t use this technique that the pros have always relied on.
Greg,
THANKS! This is one of the best posts I’ve seen in a long time.
Doug 
Jack,
I’m using a Canon Power Shot S50, 5.0 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, 4.1x digital. It does everything I need it to. I picked it up a year ago for $300 ($499 new), and today they are going for under $100 on e-bay. It’s part of the great megapixel war, but as you can see, 5.0 mp does an excellent job, so I’m not upgrading anytime soon.
I gave a few of those humingbirds as Christmas gifts in clear glass ornaments. It’s a neat and unusual fly. Thanks, Betty!
Joe
Aside from the afore mentioned points, I get my best pictures by shooting near the patio door. The natural daylight (although it’s not the only light source) has totally changed my pictures.
Be careful with the pictures though!!! When you see them blown up with a good macro setting, you start to see all of the imperfections that you didn’t notice before.
When I take mine for swaps, I usually trim the photo. It allows me to do a couple of things. First, I can put some multi-colored items in the outer areas of the picture. It helps to keep the color balance. By trimming, it will bring out the fine details of your subject when you post it on a bulletin board or online. It gets larger instead of smaller if that makes sense.
I am able to use my flash very often, but there are a few colors (like yellow) that will completely wash out if you aren’t paying attention.
Also, when I bought my canon powershot, I tried all of the macros out there, and liked the canon the best.
My keys: Lighting, tripod, macro lens.
Thanks everyone. This is the best picture of a fly that I’ve taken to date. Sorry about the size, still trying to work everything out. This is a little Clouser that I tied on a #10 Std. Nymph hook for panfish that is quite affective and simple to tye. The eyes are from a brass bead chain. Total length 1.5".
Greg
One final question. What is the best way to changes the size of my pictures? Should I reduce the resolution or use an editing program?
Greg, no expert on this at all…but I see you are using photobucket…they give a choice for down sizing …looks like you may be at 50%…try 25%…frankly I like to see the larger size…also you can just post the link and we can go to it…
As a rule of thumb I’ve been told not to downsize the resolution of your original since you can’t go back and it is degraded…always save the original somewhere.
Hi Greg,
You mentioned changing the size of your pictures. A highly recommended graphics program, and one that’s also free, is Irfanview. It’s found at
Enjoy!
Bill