This is one of my preserved paper wasps that I staged for a focus stacking session. I'm using an assortment of gradient and patterned pastel colored papers as a background. Due to the extremely shallow depth of field it produces a soft blur of mixing colors.
It is yet another in a series of using coupled lenses and extension tubes and placing the subject into a ping-pong ball which is used to diffuse light and suppress cast shadows.
As always, thanks in advance to all who view and for your comments, suggestions, questions and critique.
Congratulations on another great result.
Looks like you have found a compatible pair of lenses. Nice, sharp detail.
Thanks, I use an old 50 mm f/2.8 enlarger lens that are readily available on Ebay for $35. I mount it backwards onto a Raynox DCR-150 magnifying lens that sells new for $68 which I also mount backwards. These two lenses are then connected to a set of $18 extension tubes that measure 150 mm in length connected to the camera which in my case is a Nikon D810. This combination of lenses and extension tubes fills the entire frame of the camera at that magnification for me.
Sippyjug, you have created a very pleasing background with great detail on the face. Thank you for explaining your technique.
Thanks for the positive feedback. I bought several pieces of pastel gradient and patterned sheets of paper at Hobby Lobby for $0.25 each. When placed a little bit behind the subject it is out of focus so the colors appear to be softly blurred and the multiple colors meld into each other. I started out using solid colored paper however I believe these add a bit more interest for the eye.
Light falls off very quickly so creating the black backgrounds is accomplished by letting the camera see past the subject with nothing behind it. I also drape a piece of black velvet cloth a bit past it which assures a complete black color. Of course some subjects do not show up well on black so a choice of colors comes in handy.
I use constant lighting and my setup has two IKEA JANSJĂ– LED desk lamps that retail for $13 each.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/jansjoe-led-work-lamp-black-00385941/ and I use two fiber optic lights that have variable output so that I can light the subjects from four directions to subdue any cast shadows.
Thanks for viewing and for your positive feedback. This is what inspires me to continue shooting and posting which is my passion.
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