Lighting Techniques, Macro photography

In todays lesson with Andy, we learnt

about Macro photog-

raphy, and the use of extension tubes and macro lenses. We got into groups of four and in our group we used a Macro lense to take our images.

This is the first image we took, simple to work out the correct F stops and shutter speeds we would be using.

This is the second photograph we too

k, with depth of field created as the pearls in the background aren't in focus. The composition of the image doesn't work too well as I feel the center piece of the necklace should be placed a little more to the left of the frame to make it more effective.

This next image is very similar to the one above although with a little change of composition and angle. The use of drop focus in this image makes it stronger as both the foreground and background are blurred, and only the center line is in focus, a useful technique in macro photography.

After takin-

g photo-

graphs of the first neckla

ce, we moved on to another with different materials, colours and textures. The metals have a nice effect and are lit well with both highlights and shadows enhancing the photograph. Although, this necklace is handmade, and you can see all the bits of glue, I feel the image would be stronger if you couldn't see this.

Again, you can see the drop focus technique in this photograph, although only faint as their isn't much in the foreground, but the chain is actually blurred and only the flower jewels are in focus. Although the textures of the materials make the image quite appealing.

We then changed object again, this time to a small decorative hat, with many different materials and textures to capture. The materials all have a different look to each of them, although the depth of field and drop focus isn't very apparent in this image and I feel it is the weakest.

This next image, again of the hat has a shallow depth of field that makes this image one of the strongest I feel, as also the composition works really well using the rule of thirds. with only the chain in focus, you cannot really tell what is in the background and I quite like this effect.

This final image, is of the feathers off the decor

ative hat. I feel the small amount of green on one of them is really effective in this image and i feel without it the image wouldn't be as strong. I also feel that the composition works really well in this image though to make it better I think more of the top feather should of been in focus.