Hi all :-)

 

I have not shot a macro shot in a few years now, so I have a few questions I would like you to help me with :-)

 

* Do you use a polfilter??

 

* how do you make these beautiful out of focus rings in the background??

 

/Wulff

Hello Niels,

 

To answer your first question, the use of the polar filter is not excluded. It does not necessarily bring big changes, but it may be enough for some nice shooting bright light because it will allow you to get the color stronger, especially with the blue, green and yellow . But we must also know that you risk losing quality sharpness.

Personally, I prefer to keep my focus and play with the colors in the shot. If you take pictures with beautiful lights start or end of the day, you will realize that it's possible to get wonderful colors using appropriate openings and moving differently depending on the natural light.

 

For your second question, the small rings (flares) can be obtained in several ways. Either naturally or artificially, by software post-processing.

 

I actually prefer the natural way. That's to say, that to succeed such effects background, you must be placed in backlight, with a little grazing light will come crashing drops of dew or rain.

It should also focus a large aperture (f/2.8 - f/3.2 - f/3.5 - f/4) to have well concentric circles. According to your direction and the number of drops of dew, you can get amazing backgrounds.

 

Here some exemples possible of backlights in drops with this natural technics :

 

http://1x.com/photo/115169/all:user:146644

http://1x.com/photo/101586/all:user:146644

http://1x.com/photo/99452/all:user:146644

http://1x.com/photo/128015/all:user:146644

What excellent pictures Cyrill! Is it also possible to help a bit with a speed light for the backlighting? Have you tried it?

 

About the polfilter, i never used my one. I do not know why i have it right now as for the main purpose of such filter i never used it. To gain more contrast i believe nowadays it is not necessary anymore in the view of what a modern digicam can do but in the view of having reflections in windows and water degreased ok such filter is good.

 

Robert

 

Hello Robert and thanks for your kind appreciation!

 

I'm glad you like it!

 

Regarding the use of speedlight, it's quite possible to realize such background by controlling the backlight in the same way as natural light.

The technique doesn't change, except that it must be equipped with a transmitter to use the flash in "deported" mode.

I have a French friend who uses this technique and control perfectly. He even uses several speedlight to make some photos.

 

Here is one of his pictures made ​​with the speedlight:

 

http://1x.com/photo/51658

 

Door een macro lens te nemen en een groot diafragma b.v. 2.8 of 4

Krijg je een mooi bokeh

If you have enough light and can "afford" the loss of 1-2 stops with the polarizer, I would always recommend to put it on. The polarizer is the one filter you cannot replicate in PP. Reduction of reflections is not only important for water, but also for shiny insects (especially exoskeleton, eyes, etc). I would only remove it when shooting directly into the sun / strong backlit scenes (it doesn't have the positive effect, and increases the probability of flares - the ugly ones) or if you need the extra 1-2 stops.

 

Hello Jan,

 

Just few words to tell you to answer in english, please!

It's better for all people who are reading your reply!!

 

Thanks really in advance!! ;)

 

Cheers, Cyril!

 

Yes exactly Kahi, very interesting reply about polarizer in use.

 

I think I will try to put it for next pictures with hard light and perhaps, show the different pictures here to compare!

 

Nice comment!