Getting good DOF and few shadows..

[arlon]

Here's a shot of a very small flower I really wanted in full focus. Conventional methods didn't give me what I wanted so I tried "light painting" . The exposure was 2 seconds at f32 with a 1:1 105mm Dine lens (yes, I used a tripod). Light comes from about 5-6 flashes from a hand held flash at various points around the flower (pushing the test button the flash). This work well if you have a nice cooperative static subject. Even you canon guys can use this method.



larger image: http://fototime.com/217F9EAE19CE764/orig.jpg

[lextalionis]

nice shot and good idea using longer exposure times with multiple flashes. i'm confused on how the flower wouldn't be overexposed at certain points with multiple flashes? take for instance the 2 second time-line and the foremost pedal of the bloomed flower. each flash on that pedal gets exposed right? maybe it took multiple exposed flashes to get the correct exposure?

any way, I really want to experiment with focus stacking with combine-z...this is the "trick-photography" way to get near infinite subject focus with macro.

thanks for sharing,
roy

[ttusa]

Like this shot-nice contrasting colors!

[arlon]

At f32 in poor light, overesposure wasn't the problm. My first three or four tries where underexposed (back before I discovered the virtues of RAW). I was also using flashes at 1/16 power. More smaller flashes from more directions was a lot better for this shot than fewer stronger ones. with a single flash, you could hardly see the flower. It's not rocket science but it's very cheap and simple for about anyone to do without buying anything new. DOF at f32 is pretty good. Not as good as some stacked pictures I've seen but a lot easier and cheaper.. Works well with a P&S too..

The stack guys that have to set up multiple shots often freeze or otherwise kill thier subjects (bugs). I refuse to do that for a cool picture..

I posted a Rose picture in the IR gallery that is a low exposure "painted" shot too..

Here's a stacked image but it was stacked for depth of color, not focus..

[flynnj]

Really like the stacked image.

Regards!
J.

[snidow]

Both are lovely but I really like the first one.