This simple shot of an orange turned out to be a real challenge.
I started with my 50mm lens, but it would not focus close enough to get a good photo. That meant I would have to go into macro mode: add some spacers to let me get closer to the subject.
Macro shots spread out the light more, so you need longer exposures. Now I could not hold the camera still long enough, so I tried setting the camera on the counter near the orange—but the camera was too low, the orange wasn’t in the shot.
So I put a casserole lid under the camera—camera too high.
I put a plate under the camera—too low.
I turned the plate upside down, which raised the camera a little and all looked good. Except it was too loosey-goosey, and I couldn’t get a steady shot or keep the orange in focus.
Brought out my tripod. Carefully adjusted the height to be correct. Finally got a focused image, but the color was poor; the ambient light in the kitchen was too flat, the texture of the orange did not show up.
Got out the flashlight we use to walk our dog at night, put that on the plate (so it wouldn’t roll away), and adjusted it until I got reasonably bright light with reasonable useful shadow detail.
Took exposure, but camera shook a tiny bit and smeared the image. Turned on the camera’s 2-second timer, and got the shot you see here. Took ten more just in case.
And in less than half an hour, I got the (@*#&$(&@#$ shot I wanted. ;)
The orange tasted quite good, by the way.
Did you find the owl? Or is this really a bat spreading its wings????
Here’s what some of the early images looked like:
And that was one of the better ones! Sometimes you just have to stick with it until you figure it all out.