FLY

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Hot spots can be tricky to reduce if at all possible. UV (and IR) photographers are only too well familiar with this problem.

Adding black flocking material inside tubes, or making stray light traps, can sometimes alleviate the issue. The old M/M2 tubes for the 55 Micro-Nikkor had a rectangular cut-out at their rear, which can be removed and used elsewhere. It certainly solved a couple of my hot spot issues.

An old trick is surrounding the subject itself with black velvet or similar material to cut off stray light just outside the field of view of the taking lens.

[bobfriedman]

Problem is that I illuminate the subject through a diffusing styrofoam cup. Using the velvet flocking would not be an option in this case but it is a good idea in general.

I also wrap the metallic objective with black absorber to minimize stray reflections.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

You could still surround the fly with black velvet ? The basic idea is to cut down on light reflected from outside the field of view that still manages to contaminate your subject.

[bobfriedman]

i will think of way i can do that... may not be all that easy.. but if the dominant reflections are coming from the eyes, it may not do much good.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Won't hurt to try.

[Jørgen Ramskov]

I'm out of words. Incredible details, truly impressive work.

[bobfriedman]

i am wondering now if the hotspot was the reflection of the lens objective