Jeff Fleisher  

Lathe Sawdust by Jeff Fleisher

August 2026 - Lathe Sawdust

About the Image(s)

I am a woodworker and I had finished up making some items on my lathe and saw this interesting collection of sawdust. I had turned some Redheart and Maple woods and the two together created an interesting pattern. I liked how the color of the two woods provided a nice contrast. I had set down my turning gouge and the combination of the sawdust and tool made an interesting composition.

Specs:
Nikon Z8
Lens: Nikon 105mm f/.8 micro lens
ISO 2500
f/stop: f/32
1/4 second on tripod

The image was shot at 1:1 magnification. I used a high ISO so that I could use a high f-stop so that I could maximize the DoF. I used DXO PureRaw 6 to denoise the image although I actually had very little noise. It also provides a little sharpness adjustment. I also used some texture and clarity in Lightroom to compensate for any softness due to diffraction. I didn’t really do anything else to the image in post processing.

4 comments posted

Stuart Ord   Stuart Ord
Yes, I agree - the swarf without the tool would be less interesting. The texture and colours are super. The grinding on the tool is interesting, too.

I like the slight vignette, although from your narrative, I wonder if that's just falloff in the lens?

I like wood turning, as well, albeit only occasionally. I don't have a good setup, I use my metalworking lathe!

  Posted: 08/01/2026 07:11:54
Margaret West   Margaret West
Nice environmental type photo. Without the gouge the photo wouldn't have context.   Posted: 08/01/2026 13:01:25
Carol Sheppard   Carol Sheppard
Jeff, I like this image...it makes you look twice. Your use of the tool as a leading line works great. There's great contrast and clarity, and you've captured the texture nicely. There are no blown out areas and no areas without detail in the shadows. If I had to make a suggestion, it would be to get a little more light (maybe side lit?) to keep it from being too flat. I'm not saying it is flat, but I think a little more light and shadow would bring out more texture and depth. It is really personal taste, I think?   Posted: 08/17/2026 01:36:35
Gloria Grandolini   Gloria Grandolini
Jeff, the color combination and the composition are very nice. Maybe with a closer crop one could see more of the details of the texture of the wood.   Posted: 08/21/2026 19:16:39

 

Please log in to post a comment