A Damp Disk

I recently tried a different technique with my macro photography.  I turned a CD upside down and lit it from the right side with a softbox.  Then I spritzed it with tiny drops of water.  The result is shown below. I think it produced a very nice image.  I hope you agree.

Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 micro lens, 4 sec., f/36, ISO 100

The Only Good Stink Bug . . .

I've started making close-up photos using photo stacking.  Photo stacking is a process of taking multiple shots of the same image, each with the focus at a different depth into the image, then combining them in special software to extend the depth of field.  When making extreme close-ups, this is a valuable technique to get an entire image in sharp focus.  To make the image below, I used a mechanical device known as a Stackshot, which moves the camera in tiny increments of distance so an entire image is in sharp focus.  In this case, I made 10 photos and combined them in the Helicon Focus software before importing it back into Lightroom for editing.  This was my first attempt at focus stacking, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome.  You can judge for yourself.

Dead stink bug.  Nikon 105mm f/2.8 lens, 1 sec., f/16, ISO 100, 10 stacked images combined in Helicon Focus.

Focus stacking is not without its problems.  It's important to be sure the depth of field from each image you make overlaps the ones preceding and following it, otherwise you'll have bands of unsharpness scattered throughout the final photo.  I discovered this when trying to make a lengthwise photo of a different insect.  But there are solutions to these issues, as I am finding out through trial and error.  I plan to report on my progress in future postings.

Norm

Extreme Close-Ups

I recently purchased an extreme close-up lens, the Mitakon Zyonghi 20mm f/16 lens.  It was on sale at B+H Photo for $149, which was too much to resist.  It's a strange looking lens, as the photo indicates.

Mitakon Zyonghi 20mm macro lens

This lens is intended for extreme close-ups and magnifies from 4X to 4.5X.  To get these magnifications, you have to position the lens quite close to the subject being photographed.   As usual with extreme close-ups, focus is quite critical and it is absolutely necessary to have the camera perfectly still.  For this reason, mirror-up or Live View shooting are essential, using either the self-timer or a remote release.

The results can be quite interesting, though, as this photo of the details of peacock feather indicate.

Peacock feather detail. Mitakon Zyonghi 20mm f/16 lens, 15 sec., f/16, ISO 100

There aren't many ways to get this level of magnification other than using a specialized lens like this one.  So, if you're interested in a high degree of detail in your macro photos, you may want to consider this lens.

Norm

Close-Ups of Household Objects

One of the fun things about macro and close-up photography is there is never a lack of things to photograph around the house.  Unlike landscape photography, where you generally have to travel to a photogenic site that may be many miles or hours from home, there's plenty of material around the house to photograph. 

The photo below is a simple composition of some colored paper clips I had in my office.  No need to buy special props or go anywhere to make this photo!  I did spend some time arranging the paper clips in what I thought was a pleasing composition and I made a number of images before settling on this one.

Photographing household objects is a good way to spend the winter months, when it may be too cold and uninviting to photograph out-of-doors.

Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 micro lens, 3 sec., f/32, ISO 100, tripod.

 What do you think?  What indoors photos can you make during these wintry months?  If you made such a photo, would you hang it in your house?  Where?

Macro and close-up photography are a lot of fun.  I hope you'll give it a try.

Norm