This is a very simple image to create, but I want to detail exactly how simple this is for anyone out there to accomplish, as a single frame, even if you do not have a macro lens. “Back to basics” images like this are so helpful in revealing the fundamental ingredients that go into these types of images! Read on for all the details.
First, you need a tabletop macro setup, and the end result should be:
- A bright LED flashlight, pointed at the flower (gerbera daisy) in the background
- A clamp holding a flower petal in front of the flower
- The flower and the petal are a few inches apart
The camera needs to be positioned such that there is good alignment between the petal and the flower; the center of the flower should appear roughly behind the droplets. You can accomplish this by moving the camera, the petal, the flower or any combination – but the alignment is very important to get the refraction to show up properly in the droplets.
The droplets are placed carefully with a hypodermic needle (available for sale on Amazon with blunt tips for safety!). Some flower petals will hold droplets very nicely, such as this yellow gerbera daisy. Oddly, some fail – a white gerbera daisy from the same purchase would allow every droplet to roll off. Some people add an amount of glycerine to the water to help droplets “stick” better, but I prefer just plain water and working with compatible subjects.
The hidden secret to this shot – which did not require any focus stacking or extensive editing trickery – is in the resolution of the image out of camera. I utilized the “high-resolution” mode on my Lumix S1R to quadruple the resolution of my image, and then cropped in extensively down to this frame. The closer you get to your subject, the shallower your depth of field. The reverse is true as well – getting farther away will supply you with a greater depth of field.
So long as diffraction doesn’t muddy the details (shoot at F/11 or wider) and the lens is capable of resolving the finest details, you’ll still have very good-looking pixels and plenty of detail to work with. I used a Tamron 90mm macro lens for this image which is inexpensive and has great optical performance, but I could have used a non-macro lens based on how little magnification was required for the full image. I’ve also been experimenting with Topaz Gigapixel AI to push the details even farther with promising results.
For a comprehensive tutorial on all things macro photography, including a chapter dedicated to water droplet refraction photography, check out my new book:
skycrystals.ca/product/pre-order-macro-photography-the-un... . It’s available only until I move to Bulgaria, likely within the month of October. If you have been on the fence about purchasing a copy, now’s the time to place an order! Ask anyone with a copy and they’ll tell you it’s the definitive book on macro photography. :)
