I believe that the fleshy seeds here are actually Golden crabapples, but not 100% sure.
The goals here included the following:
Create an image that took the DOF on both the horizontal and vertical planes into consideration
Create a stacked image that included only the FG seeds (12 images were included at f/8, -1 EV, ISO 200, 1/20s, 110mm, 500D diopter, tripod, MLU, cable release.
The composition was planned with 3 groups of 3 seeds carefully posed on that piece of non-glare glass (you can see the glass pattern in the FG as well as the mirrored seeds). Beneath the glass, a spray of foliage was placed to assist in providing a dark pattern in the background rather than just plain white or off-white.
Shoot across the image; however, that view was very non-interesting so I shot slightly down and across.
I need to visit my friendly hardware store to see what I can find to create a home
cheep version of a soft box with some kind of lighting. Ideas are more than welcome as are comments and critiques on composition and shooting techniques.
Carol
Comments
14 commentsWhoa, this is a graphic treat. (I bet it would look good in B&W too, but I am really enjoying these colors.) I find it interestingly confusing because at first glance it appears to be a "nature" shot of the little pomes in the wild, but then my eyes wander down to the texture and reflections in the glass. Great choice leaving the far group OOF, and the foliage below the glass is a nice finishing touch.
I have no experience making a softbox, because virtually all my photography is outdoors, but the few times I did want soft light indoors, I just bounced light off a big piece of matt board or foamcore. I wonder if stretching some fabric over a frame would work? For a cheap lighting source, I have usede goose-neck lamps with compact flourescent bulbs -- they come in various shades, including some that are pretty close to daylight. Good Luck!
For my tastes this is superb. Love the comp, the grain from the glass and the arrangement you used to accomplish the shadow effect. Masterfully conceived and executed.
I considered a box but given my most excellent photographic assistant, I decided to go with a couple of large diffusers instead and continue to use light coming in from the skylights and glass door. The diffusers seem to work pretty well for me and they give me a lot more latitude with regard to subject placement and positioning - for the subject relative to the light source and for the positioning of the camera. However, I probably spent as much on the diffusers as I would have on a light box.
Pat
Clever thinking there, Carol
Great previsualisation, well planned and executed. Like the reflection on the glass and the mixed for focus and OOF elements in this stack.
dont know anything bout soft boxes as i shot only outdoors
May
Peter
Albert Darmo. Canada