Playing with refraction macro photography

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

Viathelens

Viathelens

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Marketplace
Member's gallery
Learning a new technique, refraction macro photography. A good way to pass a rainy day.
CCassinetto-Refraction-1580.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
Thanks, still playing with it this morning, loading images right now. I'm having trouble getting the flowers in the drops as sharp as I want. I'm using a Nikon 105 macro with a Vello ring to enlarge it further. I'm using manual focus and I'm the correct distance away for the lens...any ideas?
 
Member's gallery
Viathelens said:
Thanks, still playing with it this morning, loading images right now. I'm having trouble getting the flowers in the drops as sharp as I want. I'm using a Nikon 105 macro with a Vello ring to enlarge it further. I'm using manual focus and I'm the correct distance away for the lens...any ideas?
Click to expand...
Yeah, I focus stack my water droplet refraction images. It's a lot more steps but the results can be great.
 
Member's gallery
Viathelens said:
I thought about that and I am familiar with the technique, I use Helicon, so will give that a try, too. Thanks.
Click to expand...
FWIW, here's a water droplet refraction shot I captured a few months ago. It's water droplets on a glass plate suspended above flowers but it was a 40 image focus stack.\
2021-09-08-15.00.29 ZS PMax--20210908-Web.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
Viathelens said:
I love it! Wow!! What kind of light? Natural or added?
Click to expand...
That one was natural daylight coming into the room, you can actually see the windows in some of those water droplets :)

But I've also done these at night with a slightly darkened room by laying a small led panel (Lume Cube Panel Mini) face down on the glass a bit out of the frame to light up the flowers below. That eliminates any chance of lights reflecting off the glass or seeing things like those window frames in the water droplets.
 
Member's gallery
This image is from today, still playing with it to learn more about lighting, setup, background, which flower and stems to use. It's fairly involved but fun to do. Nikon D850, Nikon 105 Macro with a macro ring.
CCassinetto-1678.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
For anyone interested in this type of photography look up Komarechka, I think it's Don but not sure, but the last name for sure. He is sort of the guru on this.
 
Member's gallery
RichF said:
was the stem and dew drops natural or are you able to create the scene? If so, HOW?
Click to expand...

Hi, if you check out the person's name I've posted above and the video link I'm now posting, that will give you some insights. The scenes I've done were all set up indoors on a counter. I had to experiment with several stem pieces to find one where the drop would stick for a sufficient time for me to compost for the shot. Something like a pine needle would work well I think. You can use plain water or glycerin and maybe both as needed, spray the front subject with water and see if the drops form: if not, try the glycerine. You will need to purchase a needle to drop the glycerin, none of the pharmacies would sell me one but a friend had a package and gave me one, she had been experimenting, too. You can buy needles online. The flower in back is set up on a "helping hand" type of device and the very small piece of stem in front was set up on an individual stand. I used a macro lens with a macro ring to get close enough. You set up the front subject, focus, then set up the back subject and move it around until it fills the drops the way you want and then refocus on the drop or drops. You can use natural or artificial light but the water drops will reflect the light and whatever else is in the background so you have to look for that. You can remove some stuff in PS. It takes a bit of time to figure it all out. Use a very large flower for the back subject. Watch the videos.

 
Member's gallery
Viathelens said:
Hi, if you check out the person's name I've posted above and the video link I'm now posting, that will give you some insights. The scenes I've done were all set up indoors on a counter. I had to experiment with several stem pieces to find one where the drop would stick for a sufficient time for me to compost for the shot. Something like a pine needle would work well I think. You can use plain water or glycerin and maybe both as needed, spray the front subject with water and see if the drops form: if not, try the glycerine. You will need to purchase a needle to drop the glycerin, none of the pharmacies would sell me one but a friend had a package and gave me one, she had been experimenting, too. You can buy needles online. The flower in back is set up on a "helping hand" type of device and the very small piece of stem in front was set up on an individual stand. I used a macro lens with a macro ring to get close enough. You set up the front subject, focus, then set up the back subject and move it around until it fills the drops the way you want and then refocus on the drop or drops. You can use natural or artificial light but the water drops will reflect the light and whatever else is in the background so you have to look for that. You can remove some stuff in PS. It takes a bit of time to figure it all out. Use a very large flower for the back subject. Watch the videos.

Click to expand...
Thanks. I will do this afternoon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top