Photo of the Year 2008: Fly Launch

[morfa]

Fujifilm S5pro, Micro-nikkor 55mm f3.5, Speedlight SB-800 (in strobe-mode), hand held
Exposure: 1/10s, f16, ISO200

Species: Neurigona quadrifasciata (female)

This is a 1/10s exposure with the flash in strobe-mode showing the typical take-off pattern of this fly species. The time between the strobes is 0.01-0.02s (don't remember the exact frequency for each shot).

Their reaction time is incredibly short and I've always been fascinated by their ability to completely escape the frame during the short time between pre-flash and exposure. If you've ever tried photographing these flies with a regular pre-flash metering system you'll know how frustrating this can be.

Here is a another shot in this series. And here is one with the flash behind the subject.

Cheers!

/morfa

**EDIT: I've added some more info in a comment further down in this thread. Go to page 2 and scroll down!

[SteB]

Fantastic shot morfa. A real congratulations on this. Super photo. Your info is great as well. The pre-flash issue is something that I am aware of but I've only seen a few people mention it before.

I've always meant to have a go at this but for some reason I have never tried. Stephen Dalton is one of my macro heroes and you'll know why if you've ever seen some of his photos. morfa, you've spurred me on to have a go at this, although its a bit late in the season. I was never sure how well it would work outside and always thought it might need an indoor studio set up.

By the way it looks as if you might have included a link to another photo but its no showing to me.

[morfa]

Thanks SteB!

I absolutely think you should have a go at it! I used a SB-800 mounted on a gorillapod – quite flexible solution. Just prepare yourself for some trial and error. One problem I encountered is that anything not moving in the frame (typically the substrate) will get X times the exposure of the moving subject (where X is the number of strobes per exposure).

Yes, I linked to two other photos in the series. I wonder why the links don't work for you (works for me!). Perhaps it's just a temporary issue – otherwise cutting and pasting the following url's might work:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/290 ... 5c51_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/290 ... bc77_o.jpg

I checked out Stephen Dalton – now he's my hero too!

[Juza]

Wow! A very original photo! Excellent work!

[rosemarie]

Amazing and successful and impressive!

[fabzioi]

Wow! A very original photo! Excellent work!

Compliments

[Matt Cole]

that's superb, great work. Now I want a go at it too

Matt

[William]

I'm joining the choir. Amazing shot!

[darietto84]

Wow! A very original photo! Excellent work!

Excellent!

[mackay123]

wow, that is one cool photo!!!!!!!

[morfa]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments! Next year, when these flies reappear, I'll give it another go!

/morfa

[SteB]

morfa, I think you might have inspired quite a few of us to have a go at this. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[kelvinyam]

Wow!

[Juza]

Congratulations Morfa! This photo has been chosen as "Macro & Flora" Photo of the week 29/09/08-05/10/08 !

[SteB]

Congratulations morfa and a deserving photo of the week that I am sure will inspire many of us to have a go at this.