Yesterday I took another shot at the orchids that I bought a couple of weeks ago. They make great photo objects and the fact that they bloom for a few weeks is awesome. In this floral macro photograph I used indirect backlight from the sun streaming through the windows for a more attractive natural lighting. Backlight makes for great and enhanced flower photography but the drawback is an underexposed front. I improved the lighting in the center of the orchid by using another white cardboard directing passing sunlight into the inside. As a backdrop I used white cardboard that I placed 10 through 15 inches behind the orchid to ensure it stays out of focus when I release the shutter. Once tightly composed I release the shutter bracketing the image in 1/2 stops. I used the 1/2 overexposed image in the digital darkroom process since this one provided the best quality of light in the center of the orchid. In the post-processing I applied minor adjustments to saturation, light and lastly sharpened the image.
Award Winning New England Fine Art Photography by Greater Boston photographer Juergen Roth. This photo blog provides photo tips, stories behind photography images, and plenty of inspiration.
Feb 21, 2010
At Home
Yesterday I took another shot at the orchids that I bought a couple of weeks ago. They make great photo objects and the fact that they bloom for a few weeks is awesome. In this floral macro photograph I used indirect backlight from the sun streaming through the windows for a more attractive natural lighting. Backlight makes for great and enhanced flower photography but the drawback is an underexposed front. I improved the lighting in the center of the orchid by using another white cardboard directing passing sunlight into the inside. As a backdrop I used white cardboard that I placed 10 through 15 inches behind the orchid to ensure it stays out of focus when I release the shutter. Once tightly composed I release the shutter bracketing the image in 1/2 stops. I used the 1/2 overexposed image in the digital darkroom process since this one provided the best quality of light in the center of the orchid. In the post-processing I applied minor adjustments to saturation, light and lastly sharpened the image.
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Beautiful and thank you for the tip :)
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a useful tip for everybody ... thanks for commenting Beth!
ReplyDeleteI'm always stumped when it comes to lighting with Macro, I'm gonna try the cardboard, have you ever tried one of those Macro ring lights? I was thinking about investing in one myself.
ReplyDeletePeyton
I haven't Peyton ... I always prefer the natural light but if you really getting close you would need them to get the lighting going. The cardboard works well if there is still room to direct the light towards the object. Hope that helps. Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to capture snowflakes in macro, which is proving to be very troublesome.....they melt VERY fast when out in the light, or close up where your breath hits them, or the wind will blow them off, just when you get the focus right....lol.....but the fun is getting the perfect capture, even if it isn't easy:)
ReplyDeletePeyton
I never really tried but this guy really has a whole system going: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/photo2/photo2.htm
ReplyDeleteGood luck Peyton and please share ... they make wonderful objects!
I actually captured one that I have up on FAA you can take a peek at if you like;)
ReplyDeletehttp://fineartamerica.com/featured/crystalline-peyton-imes.html
Peyton