Biography:
Hi. I'm a grad student at UCLA, pursuing a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, with a focus on insects and the birds that eat them. I have broad taxonomic interests within entomology; my favorite "bugs" are bees, springtails, beetles, true bugs & hoppers. I also enjoy birding, backpacking, and kayaking; pretty much anything outdoors!
Photos prior to Mar 2010 were taken with a Canon Rebel XT and an EF-S 60 mm macro lens. Photos Mar 2010-Nov 2016 were taken with a Canon 7d, an MPE-65 mm lens and a macro twin lite MT-24EX flash in addition to the 60 mm. Photos from 2017 onward were taken with a 5d Mk iv camera body, with larger insects being shot with the 24-70mm f/4.0, which has a macro mode. I have recently gotten the Kuangren KX-800 after my MT-24ex died for the last time -- still getting used to it, but my impression is generally positive.
If you want to use a photo, send me an email; I almost always lend photos for nonprofit and educational purposes. I just like to know where they're being used.
Thanks to everyone who uses the site (photographers, experts, etc). I wouldn't have such an interest in entomology without it.
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My photography setup:
The MT-24ex is a powerful flash with harsh light; diffusing it makes your shots look much better. After trying a lot of different diffuser setups, I finally ended up using lambency diffusers and velcro after seeing what Matt Cole came up with here:
http://mattcolephotography.blogspot.com/2011/10/macro-flash-diffusion.html
For a white background, I use stacked "weighboats" (used in chemistry labs for weighing materials, available from any online science supply store) made of white plastic with sloping sides that many/most insects can't escape from. It works pretty well, but I'm not totally satisfied and am always looking for new ideas.
Best,
Graham
