The dreaded black hole & window shopping, a theory
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The dreaded black hole & window shopping, a theory
This may be another one of my silly ideas,probably born dead because of my lack of knowledge about the behavior of light and optics
I have no means to test the idea at the moment, but hope somebody will try it out .....
Everybody knows the "black hole " problem when photographing shiny bugs, when the objective is reflected back by the shiny surface of the beetle
Ever tried looking into a shop window when it is brighter outside than inside? all you see is a reflection of the outside world
Even if the shop sells massive microscope objectives and there is one parked just behind the glass, you will never see it
If you cannot see it, you cannot reflect it back to be recorded on the image the guy in the shop is taking of you through this massive objective
So...given that, all we need is a little" shop window" between the bug and objective and a darker environment around the objective ,like the inside of the shop
Like this
Could this be a simple solution to a sticky problem?
I have no means to test the idea at the moment, but hope somebody will try it out .....
Everybody knows the "black hole " problem when photographing shiny bugs, when the objective is reflected back by the shiny surface of the beetle
Ever tried looking into a shop window when it is brighter outside than inside? all you see is a reflection of the outside world
Even if the shop sells massive microscope objectives and there is one parked just behind the glass, you will never see it
If you cannot see it, you cannot reflect it back to be recorded on the image the guy in the shop is taking of you through this massive objective
So...given that, all we need is a little" shop window" between the bug and objective and a darker environment around the objective ,like the inside of the shop
Like this
Could this be a simple solution to a sticky problem?
Daniel
oops...omitted the illumination , i guess any standard lighting would do as per normal operationChrisR wrote:I daresay Rik will answer you, but in the meantime, where's your illumination?
please note that the glass is not to scale , i don't think it has to be very much larger than the tube in case it interferes with illumination
Betty wrote:
That's one cool beetle that is!
I hypothesize he must be feeding exclusively on m&ms. Smile Wink
Daniel
Daniel,
The biggest issue I can see with this concept is that if standard glass sheet were used (say without anti-reflective coating), the amount of light that would bounce off of it toward the subject would be relatively low compared with the light illuminating the subject directly from the source (but this would depend on precisely how the source light was directed at the glass and subject).
One way to enhance the "fill light" effect would be to use a partially silvered mirror for the glass plate (at least in the portion that the lens looks through). This would act like beam splitter and have the effect of a neutral density filter on the lens, which will reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor thus requiring longer exposures.
If you used a large mirror as shown and only the center portion was partially silvered, I think this could work. However, there might be serious problems with flare and ghosting due to light reflecting between the mirror and the lens elements or sensor---tilting the mirror could help with this issue.
This is the concept is what Charles successfully tested a while back using a cube beam splitter in front of the lens. If memory serves, someone also suggested a half sliverd mirror.
The biggest issue I can see with this concept is that if standard glass sheet were used (say without anti-reflective coating), the amount of light that would bounce off of it toward the subject would be relatively low compared with the light illuminating the subject directly from the source (but this would depend on precisely how the source light was directed at the glass and subject).
One way to enhance the "fill light" effect would be to use a partially silvered mirror for the glass plate (at least in the portion that the lens looks through). This would act like beam splitter and have the effect of a neutral density filter on the lens, which will reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor thus requiring longer exposures.
If you used a large mirror as shown and only the center portion was partially silvered, I think this could work. However, there might be serious problems with flare and ghosting due to light reflecting between the mirror and the lens elements or sensor---tilting the mirror could help with this issue.
This is the concept is what Charles successfully tested a while back using a cube beam splitter in front of the lens. If memory serves, someone also suggested a half sliverd mirror.
Bob in Orange County, CA
Yes Betty, I vaguely remember reading about a study done on this beetle. Apparently, it originally evolved to feed on a specific bush which produced multi-colored berries and was endemic to just a few acres of land in what is now an industrial park. The hapless beetle was forced to adapt to a new food source when an m&m plant was built directly over its former range!Planapo wrote: I hypothesize he must be feeding exclusively on m&ms.
Bob in Orange County, CA
- Craig Gerard
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- Location: Australia
Daniel,
Thoughts regarding the characteristics of light are good thoughts.
I expect you would find the book 'Light - Science and Magic' to be a valuable asset. I'm looking at Diagram 6.2 page 131 Third Edition.
http://www.focalpress.com/books/photogr ... 98&sub=114
I like your analogy. It is similar, in some respects, to a one-way mirror.
The 'thin glass disk' in your illustration may cause more problems than initially anticipated (resolution).
'Tackling the "black hole"'. Basically the light comes in from the side, hits the beamsplitter and a portion of that light falls gently onto the subject.
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=10354
Another link: (using a vertical illuminator and polarisation... see diagram 2.)
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=10176
Craig
Thoughts regarding the characteristics of light are good thoughts.
I expect you would find the book 'Light - Science and Magic' to be a valuable asset. I'm looking at Diagram 6.2 page 131 Third Edition.
http://www.focalpress.com/books/photogr ... 98&sub=114
I like your analogy. It is similar, in some respects, to a one-way mirror.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question421.htmOne-way mirrors are coated with a half-silvered layer,
allowing the mirror to reflect half the light that strikes its surface.
The 'thin glass disk' in your illustration may cause more problems than initially anticipated (resolution).
I believe the term is 'axial illumination'?Bob^3 wrote:..snip.. Charles successfully tested a while back using a cube beam splitter in front of the lens. If memory serves, someone also suggested a half silvered mirror.
'Tackling the "black hole"'. Basically the light comes in from the side, hits the beamsplitter and a portion of that light falls gently onto the subject.
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=10354
Another link: (using a vertical illuminator and polarisation... see diagram 2.)
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=10176
Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"
That's it---and thanks for the links. I looked and couldn't find the beam-splitter thread. For some reason, I thought Charles had used a solid glass brightfield splitter, when it actually contained a semi-silvered mirror.Craig Gerard wrote:I believe the term is 'axial illumination'Bob^3 wrote:
..snip.. Charles successfully tested a while back using a cube beam splitter in front of the lens. If memory serves, someone also suggested a half silvered mirror.
Yes, but only if it is not of good quality, right?Craig Gerard wrote:The 'thin glass disk' in your illustration may cause more problems than initially anticipated (resolution).
BTW, a similar "translucent" mirror is rumored to be used in Sony's new 24MP (APS-C sensor?!) model A77 DSLR:
http://www.petapixel.com/2010/10/05/son ... iewfinder/
Bob in Orange County, CA
The obvious glass to use, would seem to me to be a microscopy coverslip. It's thin, and of course many microscope objectives are designed to be used with one in the system. They're also easy to "trim".Yes, but only if it is not of good quality, right?The 'thin glass disk' in your illustration may cause more problems than initially anticipated (resolution).
See Page from on old Leitz illumination booklet
I am not sure your beetle idea will fly.
Problem 1 is that the sheet of glass looks like invading the beetle's personal space. The idea might not fly but the beetle will!
Problem 2 is more basic. Your window is not stopping the image of your camera being reflected by the beetle. All it does is add a hopefully larger reflection to mask it. You are replacing a dim reflection of the camera with a bright reflection of the beetle. You will get a beetle reflected in a beetle reflected in.... well you get the idea. Just like a hall of mirrors.
Problem 3 is how are you going to get the camera relatively dark? you would need to put the camera in a black box, with a window.
Finally why bother when there is already an easy answer? Use a polarized filter on both lens and a flash. Angle them at 90 degrees. There will be no reflection. The beetle will photograph as if it was not shiny.
Problem 1 is that the sheet of glass looks like invading the beetle's personal space. The idea might not fly but the beetle will!
Problem 2 is more basic. Your window is not stopping the image of your camera being reflected by the beetle. All it does is add a hopefully larger reflection to mask it. You are replacing a dim reflection of the camera with a bright reflection of the beetle. You will get a beetle reflected in a beetle reflected in.... well you get the idea. Just like a hall of mirrors.
Problem 3 is how are you going to get the camera relatively dark? you would need to put the camera in a black box, with a window.
Finally why bother when there is already an easy answer? Use a polarized filter on both lens and a flash. Angle them at 90 degrees. There will be no reflection. The beetle will photograph as if it was not shiny.
-
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Re: The dreaded black hole & window shopping, a theory
Exactly the experience I had when I put aside my film camera and borrowed my wife's compact digital camera.Rusty wrote: Ever tried looking into a shop window when it is brighter outside than inside? all you see is a reflection of the outside world
I found out exactly why they call it a "compact": after those little boxes that women carry in their handbags, with a some face powder and a vanity mirror. The digital viewfinder is a vanity mirror, with a camera attached, just as a cell phone is a phone with a camera attached.
Harold
My images are a medium for sharing some of my experiences: they are not me.
- Craig Gerard
- Posts: 2877
- Joined: Sat May 01, 2010 1:51 am
- Location: Australia
Here is some more food for thought.
Lieberkühn Reflector
http://www.alanwood.net/photography/oly ... ctors.html
Craig
Lieberkühn Reflector
http://www.alanwood.net/photography/oly ... ctors.html
Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"