Macro Photography of Insects and Spiders

by Thomas Shahan
December 22, 2011


Photographs by Thomas Shahan ©



What camera/equipment do you use?

I’m currently using a Pentax K200D with either a vintage 28mm or 50mm prime reversed to the end of extension tubes. In the rare chance that I have a highly cooperative subject, I may bust out my macro bellows for some really high magnification shots.

Adult Male Phidippus mystaceus Jumping Spider by Thomas Shahan ©



Adult Male Phidippus mystaceus Jumping Spider 

-How do you get bugs to sit still for your photographs?

I don’t “get” the bugs to do anything. The vast majority of arthropods I try to photograph vanish before I can even get a single shot! The two keys to successful macro photography are in understanding the behavior of different arthropods and taking an incredibly large amount of shots (with a considerable emphasis on the latter).

Female Horse Fly - Tabanus lineola by Thomas Shahan ©



Female Horse Fly - Tabanus lineola

-You’re just too good! There must be some sort of trickery going on… did you freeze or gas these bugs?

No! I obviously love working with arthropods quite a bit and would never intentionally harm a subject just to get a good photo. Very early on in my experiments with macro photography I did pop a few bugs in the fridge in an attempt to get them to slow down, but after I had one or two die on me, the guilt got to me and I haven’t “chilled” any subjects since. I can assure you, all the subjects in my photos are quite alive and in good health unless I state otherwise!

Adult Male "Apache" Jumper - Phidippus apacheanus by Thomas Shahan ©



Adult Male "Apache" Jumper - Phidippus apacheanus


-I’ve somehow developed the idea that it’s impossible to successfully focus-stack images of a live animal. These bugs are dead, aren’t they?

Once again, no! I do not immobilize or physically restrict the movement of my subjects in any way. If it’s an option I always try to photograph subjects in their natural environment (or at least outside), but occasionally I will bring an arthropod indoors to photograph (usually Salticids as they can disappear if not watched).

As for the focus-stacking, sometimes I just get lucky and the bug/spider will sit still enough for me to fire off a couple shots from the same angle. I do all my focus stacking manually in Photoshop with great care to not alter or misrepresent the form of the subject.

Anterior Median and Lateral Eyes of a female Paraphidippus aurantius Jumping Spider by Thomas Shahan ©



Anterior Median and Lateral Eyes of a female Paraphidippus aurantius Jumping Spider


-Do you sell prints? Do you have a book?

Sorry, I currently don’t sell prints (though I would like to soon) or have a book out yet. If you’re a publisher and interested in working something out with me – contact me.

-These bugs are beautiful! Where do you live?!

Oklahoma, USA.

Male Habronattus coecatus Jumping Spider by Thomas Shahan ©



Male Habronattus coecatus Jumping Spider


-I ‘d like to get into macro photography. What lens/camera/flash should I buy?

Equipment is secondary – you can do a lot with a little.

Just get out there, have fun looking for bugs, and take as many photos as possible!

Compound Eyes of a Holocephala fusca Robber Fly  by Thomas Shahan ©



Compound Eyes of a Holocephala fusca Robber Fly 




Video Showing Thomas Shahan photographing in the Field






Sub-adult Female Phidippus putnami - Tulsa, OK  


Editors Comment: I came across Thomas's photographs and was so impressed with their beauty that I have contacted him several times and from above you can see why. I recommend you visit his web site to see more of his photography, artwork and also listen to some of his music. The videos above show how he captures these amazing photos and I hope it will inspire more photographers to get out and take a closer look at this "invisible world" of small creatures. RB


Thomas Shahan portrait

 

Bio: Thomas Shahan of Oklahoma is a master of close-up arthropod portraiture. I use a Pentax *ist DL DSLR with various 1960's-1970's Pentax prime lenses reversed on extension tubes or a macro bellows. For lighting I use an old Vivitar Thyristor with a home-made softbox.



E-mail:
opoterser@hotmail.com 
Website: thomasshahan.com

More Videos: thomasshahan.com/videos
Thomas Shahan Flickr Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser

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