Will Milne

Ty all- After a bit of poking around I think this is actually an Alderfly Larva - the adults look a bit like a Caddis. Not sure we have Helgrammites here, will have to investigate- they look like fun to photograph:) Will

Ooohh my these little guys are wild- Predacious Beetle Larvae - River is full of them right now. Will

Hi Do the parents leave them for long periods or are they around when you visit? Will

Hi To be honest - I'm not sure how much I will invest in this - though it does seem to make a difference on high dynamic range images with respect to keeping highlights from blowing. The other thing that can be added to the mix is a custom curve that is linear and does not transfer gamma/contrast info to the embedded jpeg. Now the LCD is VERY dark but the histograms are an even more accurate reflection of the the Raw data. Sucks for checking composition though- lol. Will

Hi Been playing around with using a UniWhite Balance in my D200- interesting concept. Problem- The Histograms displayed on the LCD are an approximation of the RAW file info . There are adjustments made to the individual colour channels when the camera creates the embedded JPEG on which the camera's histogram is based. So any adjustments ( compensation/ETTR- expose to the right approach) made based on the dislayed histograms are based on the jpeg data not the Raw data. White Balance is acheived in camera by multiplying the values of RGB( simple explanation) by a set amount for each channel. so that white/grey appear white /grey in a given lighting condition. This is a problem because a channel can display blown in the interpolated Jpeg histogram that is not in the Raw file. Solution- Set a custom white balance that causes the camera to display histograms on the LCD that reflect the Raw data by feeding it multipliers of 1,1,1 for each channel. Now the Histogram is displaying more accuratlly the data in the Raw file instead of the interpolated Jpeg. The white balance is corrected to normal in the Raw editor of choice in post. I've been playing with this a fair bit and there are subtle but real differences in images shot/processed using a UniWB versus the same scene shot/processed with a standard in-camera Wb setting. Anyone else playing with this??? There is a discussion here ( mostly Canon Based)- http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showth...5349&page=2 Will

Looks pretty:) Our Crocuses are blooming which is always a nice harbinger of better to come soon. Will

Yep Flytyer- The first couple are pretty loose in terms of quality. I tend to get excited and then work out the kinks as I move along.) I like John's idea of a coloured translucent background as well, just have to sort out what look I want. I'm timid with color. Will

Ty all- these are the toughest images I've played with in ages- it's very hard to hold onto the transparancy and subtly of the leg structures. One processed with a different approach and a weeee baby in the pic:)- Will

Hi John- The RRS bracket looks great- they dooooooooo make nice stuff:). If your looking at the Lightsphere you might also want to check out the Wescott Micro Apollo Softbox- 6x9" Silver lined and very nice light modifier for macro work. I,m betting you'll be buying a second bracket for another flash soon though:) or adding a side Reflector to balance the light a little. Will

Ty - the caddis pupa image is very usefull:) Will

Sorry Mike:) a couple less torrid pics:) and Will

Need to play with the lighting to get a better balance of translucency and contrast up front I think. Any thoughts? and Will

Hi John New Toys!!!! funny how they insoire:))))) Great looking work. Are you diffusing the flash at all? Will

Hi Lynn Yep- agreed the April column should go , except where it is relavent. If you have a chart I would love to see it thanks Will

Hi Lynn Thanks for the suggestions , I will see how I might work those in. We usually have very little open water in April - consequently little hatching other than Winter Stones and the odd Caddis. Will

Hi Nice fish/pics and daughter:) Those are the types of situations where some diffuse fill flash can really help to open up the tonal range. It is often helpfull to practise some slow shutter speed stuff at home. Try squating down hold the camera with your elbows on your knees and push down till you feel pressure on your knees . Basically turning your body into a tripod of sorts. Might want to think about a system for fish pic taking. Leave the fish in the net till your organized and then lift and shoot. As long as the fish is not out of the water longer than you can hold your regular breathe - is a decent rule. hope that helps Will

Hi Some years ago I did a hatch chart for Southern Manitoba Canada. Recently, I was inspired by some very helpfull and generous input from Roger Rohrbeck ( Taxon) at http://www.flyfishingentomology.com to take a second look and correct some very serious errors. Here is a rough draft of the revised Chart/s . I was curious if anyone had suggestions for improvements re- style/layout/info depth etc. before I finalize the spell checking. Or even more generously, any sources or data to fill in some of the blanks. What additions might be usefull as fly fishers using such a document? http://www.watersidemb.ca/Hatch%20Chart%20V4.pdf Will

Some years ago I did a hatch chart for Southern Manitoba Canada. Recently, I was inspired by some very helpfull and generous input from Roger Rohrbeck ( Taxon) at http://www.flyfishingentomology.com to take a second look and correct some very serious errors. Here is a rough draft of the revised Chart/s . I was curious if anyone had suggestions for improvements re- style/layout/info depth etc. before I finalize the spell checking. Or even more generously, any sources or data to fill in some of the blanks. http://www.watersidemb.ca/Hatch%20Chart%20V4.pdf Will

I'm currently in the process of setting up/designing a workflow that I can live with. I'm looking at Extensis Portfolio as the management tool hub. Curious what other folks are using.??? I just sorted over 40 gb of tests/duplicates/versions etc etc down to 8 gb of usefull and worthy stuff. Now I need a way to sort/catalouge/order/search/access etc etc etc. I looked at lightroom but I have no need for /or interest in the image editing aspect. So I am looking for a straight ahead solution. Will

My humble addition to the thread- some Manitoba Pelican portraits- and Will

Al- yep it is a forest fire>>>> The burn was 100 yards to the right, and about 20' high. We were scouting an area that is a remnant of an ancient beach ( 20,000 years ago) - Sandhills/Dunes and scrub brush now. Quite remote so no danger to humanoids. Actually it was one of those days where you look back and think hmmms now that was intriguing:)) We started the day visiting a spot where geese/ducks gather and slough off their migratory feathers- massive piles of down and usefull stuff for tying. Met a wonderfull lady from about 300 miles north of there who makes the trip every year to do what we were doing- gather feathers. She was about 70 and a writer of books that teach children the basics of Anishnabay/Cree/Ojibway language. A half hour stop turned into a 3 hour visit and cost me a bunch of cigars-lol. Next was a trip into the Sandhills where I had never been and our encounter with the brush fire . Last stop was a visit with some Native folks who net one of the rivers during the sucker run. I had been there to the river a few days before to see if the Willowflies were hatching and after a few cigars and some coffee , they mentioned they would be netting soon - so I went for a visit and shared a few cigars:))) All in all not very productive photographically but a great day of hanging out on the Prairies in spring with some nice folks:))) Will

John- The first pic is superb, it conveys that feeling of getting going after that coffee stop, anticipation !!! hopes for the day!! Could it have been better? Methinks your too hard on yourself:))) It's a great opener image!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would I have done things different- well nope I was'nt there.!!! From the comfort of my puter- maybe some fill to open up his back. Maybe a low angle up shot with the moon blocked by his body to create a glow around him. Maybe a soft transition Graduated ND filter to hold back the moon. Problem is seeing/thinking of these things when it's happenning. I'll toss this out , because I have great respect for your skills and also because I know it is a trap that I fall into ALLLLLLL the time. It seems that a lot of the pics are very straight on/upright/eye level/frame contained/ tight.... hope that makes sense. I get that critisism over and over and over and I know it's an issue. Those types of tight images are great but they dont add/lend tension to a image secquence. Tossing things off axis or from high/low angles coupled with the kind of technical skills you bring can bring a lot of narrative nuance to the image essay. I,m so often so concerned about getting it right , and staying safe , that I end up with a lot of "correct "images that dont always express the event very well. I hope this makes sense:)))) I think its seriously cool you have an assignment upcoming and I also think its a testement to your pro approach that you would actually go out and practise beforehand .... I dont doubt it will look great. Will

Flyty_ My own macro lens is a 105mm f2.8 VR Nikon - for me a dedicated fixed focal length macro lens is really the best option in terms of image quality. Zoom adds flexibilty but at a cost. Macro scale work is very demanding optically, so the dedicated lens was really the best option. 105 mm was the shortest lens I considered- simply because I knew I wanted to work with flash and wanted the working distance to be able to pump light in. 150 would be nice and 200 very nice. My other macro/closeup lens is a 300 mm f2.8 AF nikon with a PN-11 extension tube . Nice for butterflies/hathces/dragonflies/depth compression ect. Drawback is you lose infinity focus , actually the lens with tube focuses from about 4' to around 6 or so feet so the range is limited but the ability work at that distance with close to macro scale - close up work rather than macro- is nice. hope that helps. Will

Went for a wander and bumped into this- hot! hot! and Will

John - the next couple of days has me installing a new window in my bathroom. I'll take some pics of my rigs I have a few variations you may find usefull. In the meantime- since we talking about making run and gun images during hatches- if this does,nt get you inspired - what will:))))))) http://www.hatches.tv/play.php?vid=258 Jose , the kids and I justed watched this- astonishing- bring it on our Hex and Epheron albom hatches can make that one look sparse:))))))))) Will