Hay Fever.

Dear Circle (and any other who likes to join),

This is one of my recent efforts into the sub-life-size macro world.

I find very often to compose as some things you see small become

frame fillers. Not this case. Actually I couldn't see the shape of

this bursting stammen with bare eyes. It took a lot of sweat to find

an interesting focal point and compose to make it clear. Of course,

you can't see the sweat on the photo, so was the effort worth?

Is it too plain (-) or a clear, simple composition (+)?

What do you think?

 

BTW: About the title... yeap... I suffer from Hay fever :-(

Hi Gerard. Like you, I have hay fever, and think you have made a big sacrifice for your art!

 

I am impressed with the amount of magnification you are getting in these photos. In terms of composition I can only comment on how it strikes me. The subject is very interesting, and I could not have identified this photo without your explanation. Looking at the picture, my eye is drawn to the brightest feature that's in focus, in this case the opening vessel, then on to the brightest objects, which are a little out of focus in the background. It might be a stronger composition if the brighter objects were in the foreground, and in sharp focus. I know that's easier to say than to do. The dark features at the bottom of the picture just don't seem to hold my eye.

 

I like the other surface features, which convey an interesting texture. Now I know what the things that make me sneeze look like!

Aren't we a sorry lot with everyone being a hay-fever sufferer!!! Whatever the case, the detail of this macro shot is worth it. I agree that the yellow colors in the background tend to draw my eye, but the sharp focus of the foreground helps somewhat. Overall, the image is a bit "busy," but I think you've done an amazing job in retaining as much of the image in good focus as you have. I'm curious about your use of a flash on a bracket. Seems to me that your lens would be so close to the subject that a flash/bracket would be difficult to use with good control of the lighting. You've managed to pique my interest though, and I'm gonna have to give this exceptionally close macro work a try!!! Good job.

OK Gerard....now you'll hear me say it..WOW!

 

This macro has all the elements I like. Nice color saturation and the very smooth transition from critically sharp foreground to soft background....reminds me of a wide angled photo of a field of flowers. I see at least 5 mini-macro photographs embedded. Make a 50x75cm photo-poster and hang it on the wall.

I'll have to spend a moment or two looking at your technical details on this shot! Very nice, wow.. and well done!

Daffodils??

Blue marguerite daisy.

Beautifully done. The colors and detail are excellent. You have a lot of pateince. I don't know about you but it takes me ages and a lot of frustration to set up and execute a shot like this (and the results are never as good). Again nice job of focussing - however I wonder if you could have moved your plane of focus a little further back without compromising the focus of you central stamen - as it is all you forground is in focus. That would give a little more depth of focus to the image. (By the way having said that I know what a pain it is when you work at those magnifications especially if you're sneezing all over your subject). The bright background is a little distracting and might be better cropped out.

Ages and frustration? Aren't those the main ingredients for macro shots anyway? :-)

 

The setup for this photo was somehow complex: The bellows was fixed on a enlarger colum using an adaptor from Durst. It allows very fine up-down movements and by attaching the bellows in diagonal (and not upwards) you can have some better angles on your subject (to avoid the microscope look). The flower was in a small clamp and the flash was on a tripod up-left at about 4cm from the flower. Any further and there wouldn't be enough power to stop down. The cumbersome part was to focus. I used an halogen lamp to provide light for focusing, but the heat started moving the flower slowly, so it was a funny compromise... no light -> no focus, light -> no focus :-).

Thanks all for helping me with the distracting bits. I agree the background is too light and distracts from the composition. I'll try better next time.

I can't really help it with the focus as the 1/3-2/3 rule doesn't apply at this magnifications. You focus on your subject (or "dot") and push the remote release with crossed fingers.

Correctly crossing the fingers is the clue to nail the shot

 

-regards,

 

La idea es buena, a mi entender, no esta lograda. Donde esta el foco, el color no es atractivo pero si es atractivo el fuera de foco, no tiene un punto claro de atraccion.Casi no tiene profundidad de campo. Perdon por hacerlo en español.

Rodolfo,

Gracias por tu comentario. Mi idea era usar el pistilo que esta a punto de reventar como punto de foco. Que sugerirías tu para mejorar esta foto? Estoy muy interesado en este campo y realmente puedo usar buenos consejos. Estoy trabajando en próximas versiones y si tienes algunas ideas soy todo ojos y oídos.

 

-saludos,

I have already begun to itch just looking at it! It is beautiful, but deadly stuff!

stunning beautiful colours they look like individual flowers, just beautiful.