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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 105: High Contrast (Hosted by Melbob) >> Challenge 105: Exhibition > Inside Galileo
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03-SEP-2006 Paul C. Guttenberg

Inside Galileo

Maryland

After a first attempt which was underwhelming I worked out a better technique for shooting macro images of my Galileo Thermometer. I am using a Canon 5D with an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro. By examining the work of photographers more accomplished than myself. I corrected some things I did the last time around. Here is a summary of what I did to adjust:

1. Bottom Lighting
2. Black Background Material
3. Reduced Ambient Light

I found bottom lighting better exploits the colors of the fluids. The black background material gives better contrast. Glass spheres and cylinders gather light from every direction, reducing ambient light helps clean everything up and aids contrast.
For bottom lighting I used an old 12”x9” light table, which I previously used to look at my negatives with. ;-) I used the black under sides of two 16”x23” Kodak film boxes as background material. I am very pleased with the results of this effort over my last attempt where I shot outside in bright sunlight.

Canon EOS 5D ,Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
0.80s f/9.0 at 100.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time03-Sep-2006 06:15:38
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 5D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length100 mm
Exposure Time0.80 sec
Aperturef/9
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-1.00
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 30-Oct-2007 09:14
I *really* like this. It's so crisp, bold and exciting! I'm surprised there's no evidence of distortion from shooting through the outer layer of glass and the liquid inside ....

Great work :)
ctfchallenge30-Oct-2007 02:39
This is extremely cool, Paul. Wonderful, in fact. The colors just really grab me and haul me in for a closer examination. Well done. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Oct-2007 02:31
I have one of these an have experimented with getting good pictures with it. It's surprisingly tough. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Oct-2007 02:09
This is beautiful Paul, stunning colours and great contrasts. Interesting shapes and it is good to get your explanation. That really puts things much more into perspective.

Your lighting setup worked well here, terrific composition.

Paul, just one point here, your image needs to come down in size to comply with the rules... maximum size of 150K which is 153,600 as reported by PBase, which is always different than PS when 'saved as'. Currently yours weighs in at 469,197.

Thanks Paul. ~ Regards Melbob