Beautiful and fragile.
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Processed in Nik 8 Color Efex.
Leica SL2-S, Leitz Focusing Bellows II, 135mm Elmar lens head at f/8, two Novatron strobes. ISO 400. Composite of 51 images focus stacked in Helicon Focus.
Rays abound.
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I cycled the image through Nik 8 Color Efex to enhance the rays through increased micro-contrast, then backed off the harshness with a touch of the Dehaze slider in Lightroom Classic.
Leica SL2-S, Leitz Focusing Bellows II, 135mm Elmar lens head at f/8, two Novatron strobes which confer shadows and modeling. ISO 400. Composite of 23 images focus stacked in Helicon Focus.
Intricate and delicate.
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The backgrounds provided with this little setup are actually vinyl, not paper, a blessing given the clean-up required after this session.
Leica SL2-S, Leitz Focusing Bellows II, 135mm Elmar lens head, ring light. Focus stacked composite of 18 images, combined using Helicon Focus. ISO 400 at f/11.
A fine workplace.
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Here’s my studio setup for macro photography:
The large backdrop and platform are from the Studio Dogs project.
The small backdrop/frame is for macro work, using either a ring light or studio strobes. It comes with a selection of colored backgrounds on coated vinyl, making for easy clean-up when required. Note the counterweight on the boom arm. Everything is pretty much at eye level as my back has seen better days!
The wireless remote transmitter for the strobes is atop the Leica SL2-S which has a wired remote fitted. The sturdy B&S head ran me all of $20. The equally sturdy vintage Linhof S168 tripod can be found in any number of variations on eBay, none of them cheap nowadays.
The wall mounted monitor on the left is for tethered shooting with Lightroom. The rug covers strobe cables to prevent tripping.
It’s a fine work environment. This image of my two Light Lens Lab optics, the 50mm Cooke Speed-Panchro and the 35mm 8-element Leitz clone is a 12 image focus stack made in Helicon Focus and took mere seconds to make. Optically and mechanically outstanding these two are equally at home on the M11 or SL2-S bodies:
Sublime beauty.
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Leica SL2-S, Leitz Focusing Bellows II, 135mm Elmar lens head at f/8, LED ring light. Composite of seven images focus stacked in Helicon Focus. ISO 400.