For burst shooting, one method to get the flash to not miss is to switch over to Multi-mode or Multi-flash mode. It is often used for multiple flashes per exposure, but it can be set for single flash per expose too. What you can do, once you know what burst speed you will use, is to sync the flash Hz to match. So, for example, if your camera has the ability to select a burst firing rate, say 8 fps or 12 fps, then you can set the flash Multi-mode to match. Set the Hz level to match the burst mode and then the frequency to 1, for a single flash per frequency, or per Hz. For a 10 fps burst, set the flash (in Multi-mode) to 1 (for the number of flashes) and 10 for the Hz. I think with Godox, you set the Hz first, then the frequency. You change the power (1/16, 1/32, 1/64...) to get the exposure light level the way you want as with any other flash photo. The only "catch" is the same with all flash sync setting, if you need the power high (1/8, 1/4, 1/2...) the flash re-cycle power level has to be high enough to keep up with the shutter fps. So, it's a balancing act....or you need to buy a flash with higher power output...ie, more expensive.
You can try early morning or night insect photography, the insects are usually in deep sleep. It is a lot easier to take insect photo during these period.
The predatory fly is a robber fly (family:asilidae) eating a long legged fly (family:dolichopodidae). Your fly standing on hind legs is a snipe fly (family: rhagionidae). Flies are not easy to identify down to species from a picture and even with the animal under a microscope. Probably best to just look up the families to learn more about them.
After originally seeing this video, I bought the AK diffuser. Just got it today so I’m excited to use it. However the timing is terrible now that it’s cold, the bugs are going away 😂. I’m using Sony A7Riv, Laowa 100mm 2X macro, and Godox V860ii. I want to get into focus stacking but, I guess it’s this particular flash, it fails to fire soooo much even after it is recycled. And since my AK diffuser is tailored for this specific setup, I’m not sure a different flash would still work with this diffuser. But I’m gonna go with what I have, even if I don’t stack at all. Thanks for the tips and great videos!
With identifying insect, what I do is take a snippet (with the snipping tool) in my PC and then drop it into Google Image search (you can search with a jpg) and usually it will do a good job of finding the insect.
I'm pretty new to macro and focus stacking but what i gathered for using burst mode you need to figure out the right flash power and camera settings combination to get the perfect flash recycling time. For me using the a7iv with a godox v1 it's: SS 1/200, A f11, ISO 200, drive mode set to HI and flash power at 1/32 +0.9. I rarely get a flash miss fire on my bursts with that settings. If i go any higher on the flash power i start to drop some photos. And for identifying bugs iNaturalist is the way to go.
Awesome! Thanks for the information 👍 I was doing pretty good around 1/32 power for not missing photos but then I'd get into a darker area of a bush and then it would be to dark and I'd need to increase power.
Hi Jack. Terrific work! Which Laowa lens did you use on which Sony camera? I use the Sony 90 mm macro with A7RV, but sometimes it struggles in getting the focus and hunts a lot
Thank you! I edit all of my shots. Most of the time it's adjusting exposure, shadows, contrast, saturation but I also play with the colours a little sometimes.
