Refracted Autumn
Feb, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I set this up in my back garden in Nottingham. I blue-taced the leaves to my back wall and balanced the grass stem along two chairs.Time
Set in the mid-afternoon.Lighting
The lighting was natural as the photo was taken outside.Equipment
I used a Canon 600D with an 18-52mm lens on a reverse ring to make it macro. Because of this it made the image easily blur so I used a tripod to stabalise.Inspiration
I had seen the idea in a macro magazine where they did it with a flower. I really wanted to try the technique out myself and I had to create a different image for my photography module portfolio at University. I had the idea of using the leaves since it was Autumn and I wanted a really unique photo! I spent hours trying to find the right shape and coloured leaves to fit this picture in my mind! So much effort but it is genuinely my favourite photo I've taken!Editing
Because I used a reverse ring I had no control over the aperture. To get the depth of field I wanted on the whole image I took two at different depths and then combined the two images on Photoshop by layering them over the other and removing part of the one on top to reveal the focused part underneath.In my camera bag
I have a Canon 600D with two lenses, 18-52mm and a 100mm macro lens. I've recently got a polarizing filter and a crystal ball, the filter I've used but the ball I am yet to use but look forward to in the future. I also keep the reverse ring in my bag but do not use it as often now I have my macro lens. I also have a fold-away light-weight tripod, always good for anyone who needs stability but hates carrying a heavy tripod everywhere!Feedback
The technique for this photo can be found in many magazines and tutorials. It's simple, using the refraction of the image behind the waterdrops to fill the whole frame with colour and the interesting image is pin-pointed into focus in the waterdrop (by using a macro lens it really helps it fill the frame and enlarge the waterdrops). The hard bit is the composition, in the number of waterdrops, and finding an interesting subject to focus on. Everybody does flowers so finding something new but just as colourful and pretty is always good!
