Reflector bowl test shots

[GardenersHelper]

As described in this post in the Show us your macro rig thread, I have been experimenting with flash diffusion using reflected light rather than multiple diffusion layers in front of the flash heads. Here are some examples from the first test session I did using the latest version of this reflector bowl setup in the grounds of the church opposite our house. This album at Flickr has 1300 pixel high versions of these images and the other images I kept from the session.

I used a Sony A7sii with two 2X teleconverters and a Laowa 100mm 2X macro lens and Yongnuo YN24EX twin flash. I shot raw at f/45 with 1/4 flash power .

The raw files were processed in DXO PhotoLab and Adobe Lightroom using presets, with image-specific adjustments in Lightroom and image-specific masked output sharpening in Topaz DeNoise AI. Images #3 and #5 had round trips from Lightroom to Photoshop and back to damp down reflections of the flash source on highly reflective surfaces.

#1

1922 04 2021_06_20 DSC00515_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#2

1922 05 2021_06_20 DSC00575_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#3

1922 07 2021_06_20 DSC00601_PLab4-Edit-Edit LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#4

1922 11 2021_06_20 DSC00640_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#5

1922 18 2021_06_20 DSC00687_PLab4-Edit LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#6

1922 19 2021_06_20 DSC00734_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#7

1922 21 2021_06_20 DSC00696_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

#8

1922 25 2021_06_20 DSC00756_PLab4 LR 1300h DNAI DNAIc by gardenersassistant, on Flickr

 

[jdburkedjburke]

Super stuff Nick. Setup looks good.

 

[Cobra]

Very nice Nick lots of detail as always

 

[Paul Iddon]

They all look very good Nick - the globby is my fave subject from them - it's uber-cool.

Paul.

 

[alfbranch]

 

[Norkie]

Quite amazing, thank you

 

[footman]

Beautiful images, quite inspirational.

 

[scoober]

lovely work well done

 

[Bobsyeruncle]

That seems to work well.
Excellent shots.

 

[GardenersHelper]

Super stuff Nick. Setup looks good.

Very nice Nick lots of detail as always

They all look very good Nick - the globby is my fave subject from them - it's uber-cool.

Paul.

Quite amazing, thank you

Beautiful images, quite inspirational.

lovely work well done

That seems to work well.
Excellent shots.

Thank you all for the very encouraging comments.

Paul, I've found an area across the road, under some trees where the ground is covered in ivy, where there are lots of them. I've never had such a ready source of springtails to photograph. Mind you, I could wish it was one of the less difficult species. The flash reflections from those (Allacma fusca so I've been told) are really strong, which is why I cheated with the clone brush on that one.