RagEs 2007 Summer Photos (images restored Aug 29th)

PS-RagE · Jul 10, 2007

The DB seems to be running smoothly so I'll try this again. The host server doesn't always like image hotlinking so if any display as a red x hit refresh and the image should come up.

So once again, I’m going to put all my photos into a single thread and add to it throughout the summer. Hope you like ‘em!

Here is a cool little Wolf Spider. I love the faces on these guys:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/22, handheld with flash

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Some kind of caterpillar. Identifying these is such a challenge since there are so many different types:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/20, handheld with flash

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An ant climbing a fern. I used a Nikon 6T diopter (closeup filter) on my 200mm for additional magnification:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4 w/6T, 1/60, f/22, handheld with flash

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Lots of these emerald beetles this year:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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A 100% crop of the above image:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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A spider shell sitting on what I think is an egg sac. I found this when I peeled some bark from a stump:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/22, handheld with flash

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This strange looking fellow was also under the bark. He was really flat and hugging the stump tightly making it difficult to get a good view of him:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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This tiny little butterfly sat perfectly still for me:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/16, handheld with flash

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Another 100% crop:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/16, handheld with flash

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Not a good day to be an ant:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/20, handheld with dual flash (crop)

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/20, handheld with dual flash (crop)

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A little toad in the sand:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/160, f/7.1, handheld with flash

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Another caterpillar:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with dual flash

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This Ichneumon Wasp looks like he is surveying his domain:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with dual flash

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I haven’t seen many of these up here yet – an Assassin Bug:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/16, handheld with dual flash

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Looks like someone might have taken a bite at this little guy:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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A Dragon sitting in the lichen:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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I find birds incredibly difficult to photograph. They won’t sit still long enough to focus and are often concealed by branches. I got two pics of this guy before he flew off with his lunch:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/80, f/6.3, handheld with flash (crop)

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A Tachinid Fly:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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Truly some “itsy-bitsy spiders” they were so tiny they didn’t look like much more than sand caught in a web. I’m assuming this is a “right time, right place” photo to catch a hatching:

Nikon D2X, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 with 158mm extension , 1/60, f/20, tripod mounted with focus rail and flash plus reflector

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Beetle on a dandelion:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/22, handheld with flash

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We have Lift Off!

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/14, handheld with flash

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Another Dragon face:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/20, handheld with flash

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Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/125, f/4, handheld with flash

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The mosquitoes are really bad this early in the season. I was taking a picture of a wild orchid when this guy landed on it:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4 with 6T, 1/60, f/22, tripod mounted with focus rail and flash

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A tighter grouping of the baby spiders:

Nikon D2X, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 with 158mm extension , 1/60, f/20, tripod mounted with focus rail and flash plus reflector

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This little guy struggled to get that wasp out of the web but gave up in the end:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with dual flash

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Another little butterfly:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4 , 1/60, f/16, handheld with flash

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These guys are really difficult to photograph – they just won’t stay still!

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4 , 1/60, f/18, handheld with flash

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And finally, my favorite of the batch - an Ichneumon Wasp sitting on a Bunchberry:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/18, handheld with dual flash

svet-am · Jul 10, 2007

very nice. i normally wouldn't pick insects for my primary subject, but you definitely do them justice throughout. props, man.

bashPenguin · Jul 10, 2007

Ah, here we go, the photos are back.

Nice shots Rage.

I think you should name your thread "The Summer of Rage 2007"

J-Mag · Jul 10, 2007

Great shooting and nice camera.

Whats the largest resolution of these that you have?

PS-RagE · Jul 10, 2007

J-Mag said:
Great shooting and nice camera.

Whats the largest resolution of these that you have?

If you'd like a larger version I can make it pretty much any size. The original NEFs are huge: 4288x2848.

P3N1X0R · Jul 10, 2007

i dont think those are butterflies, i think theyre moths

either way, spectacular pics man

good job. insect kingdom really makes us feel so small and insignificant in a way

Kadath · Jul 11, 2007

Awesome, glad to see these back again! Rage, any chance I could get a look at full size versions of the wolf spider and baby spider pics? If you'd rather email em than post em [email protected] works. Like I said before the db went down, I'd pay for prints, but if you are cool with me burning my own at costco that's easy enough...

Sam

young wing · Jul 11, 2007

Cool spiders man. I have a few tarantulas. Are you on AB or VL?

piako · Jul 11, 2007

So how far are you away from the subjects like the spider nest when you take your pictures?

PS-RagE · Jul 11, 2007

[ T ] A C O;1031250681 said:
Cool spiders man. I have a few tarantulas. Are you on AB or VL?

I guess not. What is "AB or VL"?

PS-RagE · Jul 11, 2007

piako said:
So how far are you away from the subjects like the spider nest when you take your pictures?

Working distance varies by lens of course. With the 200mm it is about 18" at 1:1. The 90mm is about 11" - with all the extension working distance was about 3-4".

Kevlarman · Jul 11, 2007

We should have a "post your bugs and insects" thread!

PS-RagE · Jul 15, 2007

Not a very nice summer so far. Cool and rainy.

Here is a few from last weekend:

I chased this pretty little sulphur butterfly for about half a mile before he would settle down to let me take his picture:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4, 1/60, f/25, handheld with flash

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This strange fellow has some riders. Not sure if they are young or parasites:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4, 1/60, f/16, handheld with flash

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A collection of lichens:

Nikon D2X, Tamron 90mm f2.8, 1/60, f/14, tripod mounted with focus rail

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I slowly belly-crawled towards this guy until I had him filling the frame. I would wiggle my fingers and he would stick out his tongue and I would take his picture. I'm sure it must have been amusing to watch:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4, 1/60, f/16, handheld with flash

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A wet soldier beetle on a daisy:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f/4, 1/60, f/14, handheld with dual flash

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Damsel flies are normally pretty difficult to get close to but when it is cool they are not as active:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4 with 6T, 1/60, f/22, handheld with flash

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Another attempt at birds:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6 @ 400mm, 1/80, f/6.3, handheld with extended flash

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A little skipper butterfly:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4, 1/60, f/14, handheld with flash

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Another of the sulphur:

Nikon D2X, Nikkor 200mm f4, 1/60, f/25, handheld with flash

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bashPenguin · Jul 15, 2007

I really like the snake and sulphur butterfly pics PS-RagE.

Quick question - what flash do you use for these macro pictures?

PS-RagE · Jul 15, 2007

I have an SB800 on an RRS flashbracket and remotely fire an SB600 on its stand to illuminate backgrounds.

PanzerBoxb · Jul 16, 2007

Those are some fantastic shots, Rage. Many kudos, especially for getting that close to a snake!

KodiakStar · Jul 17, 2007

Depending on his setup, I bet he still had 3-4 feet of lenses between him and the snake

PanzerBoxb · Jul 17, 2007

KodiakStar said:
Depending on his setup, I bet he still had 3-4 feet of lenses between him and the snake

Well, based upon his statement above and my personal experience, I imagined him a little closer. Add a couple of zeros on the end and I would be comfortable.

KodiakStar · Jul 17, 2007

http://www.houseofrage.com/images/photos/800gndpd.jpg

So maybe 3-4' is an over exaggeration, but still

PanzerBoxb · Jul 17, 2007

I would think he could take picture of the surface of Mars with that thing.

bashPenguin · Jul 17, 2007

I'd think RagE was probably within 1.5 feet of the snake, since he's using the 200 mm macro for these shots.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/66989-USA/Nikon_1989_Telephoto_AF_Micro_Nikkor.html

As long as it's not poisonous.

PS-RagE · Jul 17, 2007

There are no poisonous snakes in Northern Ontario. I was not quite at 1:1 so say around 20" from her. She wasn't ornery at all. Kept her eye on me but never tried to get away or strike.

piako · Jul 17, 2007

bashPenguin said:
As long as it's not poisonous.

You never know RagE may be a snake charmer.

DaVisionz · Jul 20, 2007

-from your site-
"If you like the macro images in the gallery, they are now available in print from Blurb.com. It is a very well made book and the print details are stunning! Please note that I do not get any of the profits from these books so buying one does not "support this site" in any manner."

I was wondering why you didn't want to get profit from your books? your photography is awesome!

PS-RagE · Jul 20, 2007

Photography is purely a hobby for me - something I enjoy doing. Every single time I have tried to make money from a hobby it turns from being fun to being work. I'm keeping this one fun.

PS-RagE · Jul 20, 2007

Kadath said:
Awesome, glad to see these back again! Rage, any chance I could get a look at full size versions of the wolf spider and baby spider pics? If you'd rather email em than post em [email protected] works. Like I said before the db went down, I'd pay for prints, but if you are cool with me burning my own at costco that's easy enough...

Sam

Here you go:

http://www.bugography.com/Gallery/Insects/spider19big.jpg (1.8M)

http://www.bugography.com/Gallery/Insects/spidernest1big.jpg (2.2M)

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JLangevin · Jul 20, 2007

Absolutely stunning photos! What does a rig like your camera run? I know there are attachments, how much are you invested in your photography?

As for you saying you took summer pics.. I was thinking maybe the beach, a nice field, some flowers, mountains, etc..... but the first pic, nearly scared me ****less! Having arachnophobia, the first pic instantly sent a shutter down my back, my shoulders and arms became slightly numb, and began to breath heavy!

This sounds SO silly to someone who is not deathly terrified of arachnids, but anyone who has the phobia, can tell you that even just a picture of a spider can make you have an attack, let alone one that lets you see all its detail and FACE!!!! RGHgripghrpighpoeigh

Anyways, I muscled through your pics... and the babie spiders hatching just gave me the chills, I hope to see more of your pics, but with a "Warning - Spiders Inside" note, lol.

Kadath · Aug 1, 2007

Here you go:

You Rock!!! Thanks sir!

BTW I purchased Dale's book and it's my second most favoritist Blurb book besides my own =)

bashPenguin · Aug 1, 2007

JLangevin said:
Absolutely stunning photos! What does a rig like your camera run? I know there are attachments, how much are you invested in your photography?

I'm sure most people drive cars that cost less than RagE's gear.

Take a look at his gear page, then check prices against a place like www.bhphotovideo.com. Or, off the top of my head, it's just very high in cost.

eat2na · Aug 1, 2007

I took this pic last spring here in NC.
http://images.dr3vil.com//files3/61/spiderincup_edited-1.jpg

PS-RagE · Aug 29, 2007

Here are the images that disappeared: