What’s Your Preference?

JWilliamson · #21 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 06:23 PM

This is my contribution and it should be called "dizzy" as that is how I felt after awhile trying to get this.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/14.0
Focal Length: 190 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off
Date and Time (Original): 2009:03:22 12:13:33

yolanda_b · #22 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 06:33 PM

I was so excited by this one because it's perfect for my favorite lens, the lensbaby 3G! Furthermore, my new custom blank aperture rings arrived this week! The Lensbaby uses magnetic plastic disks with holes cut in them for apertures. A set is included with the purchase of a lens. There's little magnets around the frame of the lens and you just drop the ring you want into the lens. The size of the hole determines the aperture. As it happens, a shaped aperture will shape the highlights on your image where they're out of focus. They sell blanks that let you custom cut your aperture. I experimented with a variety of shapes and sizes. I had the best results in this shoot using the 5 point star.
The setup for this shot involved all my sparkliest jewellery and a few other baubles from around the house including a disco ball, crystal sphere, moonstone wand and spear, and colour changing LED 5 light strand. I laid them out on a black velvet cloth and blocked the natural daylight coming in the windows. Using the LED lights and a candle as my key light, I set up the shot in my kitchen. I had the camera on a tripod and used the lens's focal set features to hold everything in place for slow shutter speeds. The eye is an old holograph pendant and the sparkle in it moves in true 3d, reflecting light in the room.

Camera set on Manual mode, lens is manual focus and aperture (very manual). I took a lot of shots, letting the camera periodically set a shutter speed as a starting point. My focal sweet spot was set on the eye, so you can see that most else is out of focus including the center of the shot. This is a feature of the lensbaby's abilities, that you can set your focal point off-center.
PP involved a bit of color tuning to darken the blacks and enrich the colors, but otherwise very little modification. I use ACDsee 10 photomanager.

Camera: Pentax K200D
Exposure: 1
Aperture: f/0.0
Focal Length: 0 mm
Focal Length: 0.0 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off
Exposure Program: Manual
Date and Time (Original): 2009:03:24 18:30:46
Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:03:24 18:30:46
Metering Mode: Spot
Sub Sec Time: 628
Color Space: Uncalibrated
Sensing Method: One-chip color area
Custom Rendered: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto bracket
White Balance: Manual
Focal Length In35mm Format: 0 mm
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Contrast: High
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Hard
Subject Distance Range: Unknown
Pentax Version: 4.1.2.0
Pentax Model Type: 0

yolanda_b · #23 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 06:35 PM

I love the little bee with green fuzzy behind. You got him so sharp and clear you can practically the sun in the reflection on his back! Excellent shot. But then I do love bees, they make honey. :-)