A few composition errors and other minor flaws, but this came out 'tolerably' all the same - IMO of course. Roughly 150 images in the stack, taken with 5x Mitty on a 135mm tube lens for 3.375x on FF sensor. Slight edge crop so final FoV is a 7mm square.
Grasshopper portrait
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
I realy like the light - controlled and professional.
Regards Jörgen
Regards Jörgen
Jörgen Hellberg, my webbsite www.hellberg.photo
Very well done -
but more important for me: It's really so funny!
but more important for me: It's really so funny!
Troels Holm, biologist (retired), environmentalist, amateur photographer.
Visit my Flickr albums
Visit my Flickr albums
Thanks for the generous comments all. Here's another view of the same critter. Just a quick stack, dmap, no retouching. Yes, I'm test stacking again - trying to figure out of there's such a thing as "too much diffusion" - which in itself is a waypoint on the way to (hopefully) re-introducing some directional light for nicer shadowing around raised details and enhancement of surface contours.
I've always wanted to light insects the same as I would for "human portraits" but it's not that straight-forward. I could be on a road to nowhere. Tests show that the point where shadows appear (removing light from certain directions) is also at or very near the point where specular highlights return. Yuck! But I've not exhausted all avenues - there could be a "perfect balance" to be had, I just haven't found it yet...
I've always wanted to light insects the same as I would for "human portraits" but it's not that straight-forward. I could be on a road to nowhere. Tests show that the point where shadows appear (removing light from certain directions) is also at or very near the point where specular highlights return. Yuck! But I've not exhausted all avenues - there could be a "perfect balance" to be had, I just haven't found it yet...
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Just one to finish the thought. Slightly more directional light from the right side (diffused with half a ping pong ball) and some fill bounced in from the left and front. Some specular reflections, but acceptable levels IMO.
Not sure I like it. Looks completely different to the first one in terms of surface colouring but shows a bit more surface contouring. Still think I prefer the first though. Hmmm...
Not sure I like it. Looks completely different to the first one in terms of surface colouring but shows a bit more surface contouring. Still think I prefer the first though. Hmmm...
For artistic impression I prefer the first portrait.
As a precise and beautiful desription of the shape and relief of the face I prefer the last portrait.
Thanks for giving us both!
As a precise and beautiful desription of the shape and relief of the face I prefer the last portrait.
Thanks for giving us both!
Troels Holm, biologist (retired), environmentalist, amateur photographer.
Visit my Flickr albums
Visit my Flickr albums