DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Using Lasers To Take Insane 3D Macro Photographs Of Flying Insects

Nov 10, 2011 by Udi Tirosh Leave a Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

fotoopa_D100_0871 macro 3D high speed setup

If taking high end macro shots of insects strikes you as hard, how about upping the level by taking the pictures while insects are in buzzing around mid-flight. Too easy you say. Let do this 3D.

Photographer and designer Frans Fotoopa (photo grandpa) built a monster futuristic camera rig that does just that. Taking 3D images of fast flying insects in mid air.

fotoopa 20100729_7802 Landkaartje - Araschnia levana

This unique camera system uses a few ingenious ideas. Instead of finding an insect, placing the camera and then slowly focusing, the camera has two built in IR laser pointers and the place they meet marks the focus point.

However, no one has to hit the shutter once the insect is in focus, a lens equipped with a photo-diode picks up the reflected laser and triggers the shutter.

And just to make this a little be easier on the Frans, bright green lasers mark the pint of intersection. So basically all Frans has to do is place the insect on the green x and a photo is taken. (Well, all that he has to do aside building the rig).

Well, the shutter is not your average shutter too, it is a dedicated Uniblitz VS14 shutter that reduces the oh-so-long 53 milliseconds lag of a regular shutter to mere 3.3 milliseconds. Those 50 milliseconds are crucial in when you are photographing a fast flying insect from that close.

Two camera are used a D200 and a D300 mounted so the two AF105/2.8D micro lenses are facing sliding mirrors that are aimed at the focus point.

fotoopa_D100_0868 macro 3D high speed setup

And just so the lighting is right, two strobes are attached to the rig to provide better lighting.

The build instructions are here and here, if you dare make one yourself.

[Fotoopa’s How to take insects in-flight]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailThe Arnosync Takes On Spot Photographs Of Flying Insects Using A Homemade Concave Macro Diffuser For Shooting Insects Default Thumbnail$20,000 Red Epic Sensor Burnt By Show Lasers This Camera Uses Lasers To See Around Corners

Filed Under: Tutorials

About Udi Tirosh

Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

« Your First High Speed Photography Accessory – A Contact Trigger
How To Recreate The Aurora With Paper And LEDs »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Sony’s ZV-E1 is a cut-down FX3 in a vlogging form factor
  • Watch: How good (or bad) is an $8.50 tripod?
  • How to light and photograph Lego building interiors
  • Lighting Setup: How to light your portraits with £50 LED tubes
  • Review: Insta360 announces its first gimbal – The AI-tracking Insta360 Flow

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy