Alan Kiecker, QPSA
May 2020 - Hosta
About the Image(s)
This photo of a hosta was taken just a few days ago in my garden – Spring has arrived in Minnesota! I have done very little macro photography, so this is an experiment with macro and noise reduction using Topaz DeNoise AI. At anything over ISO125, images with the D810 show excessive luminance noise (squiggles). This is my first attempt at using DeNoise AI. I will be trying several more images before I make up my mind on this, but so far I am quite impressed.
Nikon D810, Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro lens at f/16, 1/125 sec @ ISO 1600.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
(Groups 36 & 67)
Since you say you are experimenting I understand the image. But I still think I would prefer that the dark and large tree trunk was not in the center of the image. I do like the arrival of new live as shown in the greens. Posted: 05/18/2020 15:36:56
How do I go about doing that? Stand up some sort of backdrop behind the plant? Posted: 05/18/2020 15:47:06
(Groups 36 & 67)
There are a number of ways this can be done. As you said you could place something behind the plant. If the plant is really small I've used my hat, the back of my camera bag, even my camouflage raincoat for my camera. I know some macro photographers who actually bring small drapes that they set up.
Then there are camera tricks. One method is just using shallow DOF by using a smaller fstop. Of course you have to experiment. FOr example, you used f16. Did you actually need f16 to keep the plant in focus, or could you have managed with f11. The lower the fstop, the more blur you get in the background.
I have always been a background fanatic. I look at backgrounds as much as I look at subjects. I strive to get uncluttered backgrounds because then the image looks better. Often changing the camera angle will do the trick. For example, could you have shifted slightly to the left or the right and cleaned up the background. What about camera angle? Maybe shooting slightly down on the subject will change the background, or even slightly up.
You just have to learn to be aware of what is in front of the camera. I try to avoid anything bright because it will draw the eye away from the subject.
Although I was not at your location, the portion of the background to the left of the offending tree is the best part of your background. So I would have tried to move myself to the right and angle the camera a bit to the right as well as that would move the dark tree toward the right and maybe right out of the frame.
Sorry for the long explanation.
Good Luck Posted: 05/19/2020 07:36:43
Then there are camera tricks. One method is just using shallow DOF by using a smaller fstop. Of course you have to experiment. FOr example, you used f16. Did you actually need f16 to keep the plant in focus, or could you have managed with f11. The lower the fstop, the more blur you get in the background.
I have always been a background fanatic. I look at backgrounds as much as I look at subjects. I strive to get uncluttered backgrounds because then the image looks better. Often changing the camera angle will do the trick. For example, could you have shifted slightly to the left or the right and cleaned up the background. What about camera angle? Maybe shooting slightly down on the subject will change the background, or even slightly up.
You just have to learn to be aware of what is in front of the camera. I try to avoid anything bright because it will draw the eye away from the subject.
Although I was not at your location, the portion of the background to the left of the offending tree is the best part of your background. So I would have tried to move myself to the right and angle the camera a bit to the right as well as that would move the dark tree toward the right and maybe right out of the frame.
Sorry for the long explanation.
Good Luck Posted: 05/19/2020 07:36:43
Larry - Thank you for the long response! You gave me much to consider. And yes, one of my problems is being excited about the subject and forgetting the background. This is definitely something that I have to work on :-) Posted: 05/19/2020 09:31:11
The central plant is full of detail and color and definitely shows the rebirth of spring. I have to agree about the background of the large tree and would also consider removing the touch of green on the lower left of the image. Posted: 05/20/2020 11:30:02
Yes I have to agree about the background. I can't even count the number of times I've made the same mistake. Macro photography is not easy but the results can be spectacular if one has patience for it. The image of the hosta itself looks fine to me. Maybe you can Photoshop in an alternative background?
Posted: 05/21/2020 22:01:47
Posted: 05/21/2020 22:01:47
Good job for a macro experiment. The background issue has been covered (I may have tried a couple different angles to have more of the ground in the background, but that may not give you the angle on the subject that you wanted). I am not sure of the size of the plants, but I would have tried to get even closer in if possible with your macro lens so that the frame would be filled with the shape of the leaves in the middle plant. Posted: 05/31/2020 11:40:14
At the time I took the photos, the plants were about six inches tall. Camera was on a bean bag maybe little over a foot from the plants.
This was the first time I had tried doing anything like this but it got me started experimenting. I set up a little macro studio using xenon lights from my garage as a light source. Subjects were small things I found around the house. I connected my tablet to the camera and tried various software packages to control the camera (digicamcontrol, Helicon Remote) and to process the image stacks (Helicon Focus, Photoshop, Zerene Stacker). Thanks to Shiv Verma for a PSA webinar on macro photography. Posted: 05/31/2020 12:20:48
This was the first time I had tried doing anything like this but it got me started experimenting. I set up a little macro studio using xenon lights from my garage as a light source. Subjects were small things I found around the house. I connected my tablet to the camera and tried various software packages to control the camera (digicamcontrol, Helicon Remote) and to process the image stacks (Helicon Focus, Photoshop, Zerene Stacker). Thanks to Shiv Verma for a PSA webinar on macro photography. Posted: 05/31/2020 12:20:48