NikonGear'23
Images => Critique => Topic started by: rosko on February 17, 2016, 23:01:29
-
Not easy to take picture of the heart of this delicate flower without lay on the ground as the peduncle is very thin and flexible, so these flowers always hang downward...Except if you use a small mirror !
Df + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 (on tripod)
5 sec @ f/22
100 isos
Any comments are welcome. :)
Cheers, Francis.
-
Noone ever beats Michael Erlewine on this topic.
It is just crazy how specialized this community is.
Of course I love this shot. Still.
-
Thank you for your visit, Frank !
-
That comment does not seem necessary Frank.
-
Admiration is a good thing, keeping your tongue in cheek another.
-
Francis: an ingenious solution leading to a very interesting picture. Not likely these flowers appear anytime soon around here in my part of the world, though.
-
Francis: an ingenious solution leading to a very interesting picture. Not likely these flowers appear anytime soon around here in my part of the world, though.
Thanks for commenting, Bjørn !
Here, in South England, snowdrop bloom is ending...
-
Noone ever beats Michael Erlewine on this topic.
Just few words to clarify what Frank might mean :
# Michael works mostly full aperture set up; my image is f/22;
# Its images show, most of time (if not always) a textured background (bokeh). The one posted here have not.
# Michael uses stackshots (I reckon he's a master in this technique which I am not); my image is a single shot;
# My image is a macrophotography (life size), while Michael's work consists mostly in close-up shots.
# I do macrophography since the seventies.
The only similar fact is that my picture was made inside (studio work) as it wouldn't be possible in the field due the permanent wind or breeze in my area and of course the tiny aperture (f/22).
So, no challenge or even any plagiarism intended... ;)
-
No harm meant. Sorry Francis, if my words were no good choice.
I am very spontaneous and just saw the flower studio pattern.
After contemplating I see that it is not nice to compare different
expressions of creativity. Either should be seen for its on worth.
apology.
-
Francis, I always it difficult to shoot white flowers without blowing up the detail in the petals.
I like the black background too! That CV125 is sure a peach of a lens, especially in good hands.
-
No harm meant.
No worries. Let's forget it.
I didn't react yesterday as I was about to go sleeping.
I know you are spontaneous, so in the future, just follow Bjørn's advice... ;)
-
Francis, I always it difficult to shoot white flowers without blowing up the detail in the petals.
Very true.
Underexposing can be a solution.
You can also retrieve some details with your favorite processing software.
I do it with the help of ViewNX. simple and efficient... ;)
Thanks for your comments,
Francis.
-
So you pick the flower before you shoot, i should adopt that approach as well, lovely image Francis.
-
Most difficult thing about flowers in the field is wind, although there are guides on how to control wind. They all require to change what you find significantly, which does not feel right for me.
In the studio, flower shots are easier, because lighting ist under full control and wind is no issue. Limits in the studio are only the photographers own imagination.
When I shoot picked flowers in a studio setting I personnaly feel like a cheater ... analogoues with food: I shoot edible food and the food will be eaten later. All "tricks" to make the food look nicer and thereby turning it to waste I do not employ. There is the strong feeling of authenticity that is my guide. Real, fresh food, living flowers in the field. Both can be very challenging at times, but I see others do it and I intend to get to the point where I can be proud of what I produce.
I do not know if this makes any sense to anyone but me.
-
The problem with a very puristic approach is that it doesn't show on the photos as such. There is no immediate reward of your tribulations. A picture is a picture standing on its own.
When I have the opportunity and am working near my studio, I often bring flowers back for detailed UV documentaries. I can get superior footage in that manner and light the flowers with studio flashes. In he field, I can use the boot of my car for an improvised studio set up and shelter against wind.
-
So you pick the flower before you shoot, i should adopt that approach as well, lovely image Francis.
Yes, Fons, this shot was made indoor, as I wanted to show the heart of this flower. No feasible in present weather condition whatsoever in the field as the smallest draught will ruin your shot.
But I am sure is possible in the field early in the morning in a sheltered area, if you like laying on the dew... ;DDon't forget the mirror !;)
Thanks for your comment,
Francis.
Nota : below, how I made the picture. Using the floral foam is the best as it's very soft material and you can make a hole before insert this very fragile stalk in it. If you want any background just hold a piece of painted cardboard above the flower.
-
When I shoot picked flowers in a studio setting I personnaly feel like a cheater ...
Well, I sometimes adopt a pragmatic approach. Why not ?
There is not cheating when you explain how you made a picture.
You should ask Michael Erlewine what is his opinion about that. ;)
-
Creative approach and beautiful result, Francis !
-
Creative approach and beautiful result, Francis !
Thanks for your kind comments, John ! :D
-
Nice, Francis. I will keep the mirror option tucked away for retrieval when necessary.
-
Nice, Francis. I will keep the mirror option tucked away for retrieval when necessary.
I always keep a small one in my bag, even if I don't use it often. ;)
Thanks, Gary, for passing by.
-
And I'll even print out the sketch for reference. ;)
-
lots of food for thought in this thread. Until now I used Mirrors to get better perspective on skies in cluttered envionments. But this idea in close up work is special. Thank you.
-
And I'll even print out the sketch for reference. ;)
Please, feel free, gary ! ;)
-
But this idea in close up work is special. Thank you.
It can apply for crawling creatures like caterpillar. Using mirror attached to an arm clamped on tripod..
-
I might suggest that if you are planning to shoot through a mirror you may want to use a front/first surface mirror. Most mirrors are back/second surface mirrors where light refracts through glass on its way to and from the mirrored surface which adds a doubled reflection, as seen in the snowdrop picture here.
Small front surface mirrors can be found at places like surplusshed.com
Large front surface mirrors can be salvaged out of those big screen rear projection televisions that people leave on the sidewalks these days.
-
as seen in the snowdrop picture here.
I see what you mean. I can't notice any ''parasite'' image even while scrutating around the flower. Perhaps your screen is better that mine.
Optically, your analyse makes sense as there are 2 surfaces which create reflections inside the glass blade, hence a second image coming by refraction.
The small mirror used here is very thin, so I think that minimizes this issue.
Thanks, Charlie, for pointing it out, :)
Francis.
-
Great thread - thank you for the original image and also the clear explanation of your technique Rosko.
And I've never come across the word peduncle before!
I'm glad Charlie raised the question of standard glass-fronted mirrors too.
For those of you who bring plants back home, how do you support them if you don't use the "oasis" foam?
If anyone else wants to post more technique-based threads, please go ahead. I'm always happy to consider a new approach to something I'd never considered trying before, or something I thought I had sussed out.
-
Thanks, Colin, I am glad you like this thread !
You can use a glass filled with fine sand.
I use sometimes ''blue tack'' to stick my subject on any support. handle with care when you kneed the blue tack around the stalk of your plant. ;)
-
I see what you mean. I can't notice any ''parasite'' image even while scrutating around the flower. Perhaps your screen is better that mine.
It's very subtle, but if you look at the lower edge of the pedal that extends to the left of the frame I can see a slight doubling of the image. There is also a slight lens flare that looks doubled in the corner. None of this takes away from your lovely image of course, as it's only noticeable under OCD scrutinization :-)
-
It's very subtle
I had a look back on the raw file : before any processing, it is now more visible indeed. We can see a margin above the horizontal petals. I will see if I can see it after download it here... ;)
Note that the real flower was on the path of the optical axis : we can see a piece of petal (which a got rid of). You can also see the folding mirror' frame.