Like Leather

[Pete Askew]

An oak leaf from the ones collected a week ago.

This was lit from the front using this setup (different leaf).

Main image using a Hasselblad 503CW / Zeiss 120mm Macro Planar f1:4.0 CFi / PhaseOne P20 back. ISO 50, 1/30s at f1:11. PP in CaptureOne, LR, Nik ColorFX 4.

 

[Pete Askew]

I'm still not entirely happy with the lighting as the leaves have become quite shiny as they've dried and curled. This makes controlling reflections quite tricky.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, but this is still an excellent shot, and it really appreciate your context image. Is that an example of what is called tethering?

 

[Glenn Clabo]

I'm still not entirely happy with the lighting as the leaves have become quite shiny as they've dried and curled. This makes controlling reflections quite tricky.

Are you ever "entirely" happy Pete with your work? I think the shine (he says putting his hat on) adds character.

 

[Hamish Gill]

It looks a little bit like leather ...

 

[Hamish Gill]

... haha ... you titled the thread as suh ... im a moron sometimes

 

[Brian Moore]

Pete,...I agree with Hamish. It looks like leather so it does.

(@Hamish Gill: )

Its great to see the behind the scenes set-up, Pete. Thanks.

 

[Beth Carter]

nice setup. i like the lighting on this.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks all. Shame I wasn't smart enough to switch on the main lights in the studio when I took the shot of the setup! You can see it better in http://www.realphotographersforum.com/forum/threads/autumn-leaf-detail.14603/ though. The lights are virtually the same but angled from the front left and upper right. I used the same ratio and there is a reflector below the leaf (you can just make it out) and the heads are powered from an asymmetric generator pack. Yes @Rob MacKillop, the camera back is operating in tethered mode (the P backs can be used tethered or stand-alone whereas the older H backs were tethered only) through CaptureOne. The shot is triggered from the body though as the 503CW is a manual camera. You can 'control' an ELM body from the software though and the H system of course (the P39 in Germany is H-fit).

 

[Paul Lange]

It seems kind of obvious but really we don't tend to actually look at the structure of things that we see common place, well I don't anyway. I like the way this image shows not just the pattern in the leaf but make you take notice of it's shape more.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

I'd be happy to produce a shot like this Pete.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks both. I had a similar thought when I decided to collect them and shoot them as single objects. The details were a distraction really.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Note sure how you watch the telly with all that gear in front of the couch!

I do like the front lit effect Pete - very crisp against the black

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Chris.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Pete another great good one and nice to see the set up. Does a Polarizing filter help with this type of shiny,subject or not?

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Julian. Yes a polariser would have reduced it a bit but I didn't have one large enough for that lens here.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Thanks Julian. Yes a polariser would have reduced it a bit but I didn't have one large enough for that lens here.

Thanks that is good to know.