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X-Warrior
9th of February 2008 (Sat), 06:16
Went out for shooting some early flowers this year, with the sun decorating a clear blue sky.

So, there's a problem already - the sunlight's too harsh. Too much contrast, etc.
I tried standing in the sunlight myself, basically putting the flower in the shadow. The result of this wasn't too pleasing either.
Then I remembered the idea of possibly putting some kind of 'diffuser' in between the sun and the flower (I've read stuff like that before). Went back inside, got me a Kleenex Ultra Soft tissue. Took one layer (out of 4 if I counted correct) and placed it in the sunlight's way.

Now next on my equipment wishlist is a third hand/arm. Still, using the 10 second timer I was able to push the button and then take a little time to hold the 1/4 tissue in it's place.

Got results from all 3 situations, so I though I might as well share the lot. These are RAW, only resized.

No shadow, no tissue. Full sun. (Yeah, DoF isn't what it's supposed to be, but it proves the point.)
http://www.dvdpimages.com/web/tissue/IMG_4622.jpg

Body shadow.
http://www.dvdpimages.com/web/tissue/IMG_4623.jpg

The way it's meant to be, tissue diffusing the sunlight.
http://www.dvdpimages.com/web/tissue/IMG_4630.jpg


Hmm... any recommendations for a proper diffuser for these situations ? Works great with a tissue, but like I already mentioned, I need a third hand for optimal results...


Oh, the end result, which has been optimised a bit in PSP:
http://www.dvdpimages.com/images/macro/IMG_4630.jpg

C&C welcome on that one :)


(400D with Sigma 105mm - exif is included in each image.)

cdifoto
9th of February 2008 (Sat), 06:22
Clever. :D

LordV
9th of February 2008 (Sat), 08:19
Good demo- funnily enough I took exactly the same 3 shots this morning with a similar crocus :). You can get collapsing circular filters some of which will fit onto a pole to do this.Think lastolite do a reflector series in different sizes one of which is a diffuser/reflector.
I actually used a large sheet stretched over an old aluminium shower frame thing.

Brian v.