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Inside a large amethyst

Towards the end of 2020, I bought a manual focus APO macro lens by Laowa, 100mm in focal length and capable of going to 2:1 natively. The inside of this amethyst stone is one of the first test shots I took with it.

It is a very good lens, I could say an excellent one when factoring in its low price. The focusing ring is well dampened, but the aperture ring has no stops and moves easily: fine for studio work, wouldn’t be so nice in the field. Of course, it has no electronic contacts and doesn’t transmit any information to the camera, at least in the Nikon Z-mount version; I think it may be different with some other versions/brands.

Composite shot made up of 14 focus-stacked exposures, set manually using a Neewer focusing rail. Stack processed with Helicon Focus. Usual setup, camera bolted onto tripod and Arca-Swiss geared head, artificial lighting. I think I remember blue-gelling the flash to camera left to contrast with the dominant purple-y color of the amethyst.

 

[Blue439]

A Tank in super-macro

Like all luxury brands, Cartier uses several little tricks on their watches that are very difficult to replicate, in an effort to differentiate the genuine article from counterfeits. The word “CARTIER” in the thin leg of the “V” in the Roman numeral VII on this Tank watch can only be read with a strong magnifying glass, otherwise it only looks like a line. It was extremely difficult to get in focus and to light through the tunnel of the bellows. I couldn’t avoid the chromatic aberrations in other parts of the photo, but then I am not a proficient user of bellows; merely an amateur.

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 105mm ƒ/2.8 G VR macro lens, FTZ adapter. Novoflex BALPRO T/S bellows. Reproduction ratio is about 10:1. Single exposure.

 

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Flashy foliage, or how to overpower the Sun with one single little cobra flash (2020)...

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 105mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR lens, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Leofoto VH–30R panoramic head. Artificial lighting, single exposure.

 

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A cosmetic macro shot (2020)

Having fun lighting and shooting beauty products pilfered borrowed from the bathroom.

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 105mm ƒ/2.8 G VR macro lens, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Arca-Swiss Cube C1 geared head. Artificial lighting. Composite shot (haven’t noted the number of focus-stacked exposures) using the built-in function on the Nikon Z7. Stack processed with Helicon Focus.

 

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Another foliage macro shot taken in the garden and lit solely by flash (April 2020). This photo is, I think, interesting because it was taken with an older macro lens, the 60mm Micro-Nikkor non-VR which I bought secondhand for a very small sum, and originally just to go on the Nikon ES-2 slide reproduction kit. I ended up never using it for that until now, but I have always found it a very solid performer overall —at least until the new Z 105/2.8 macro came.

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 60mm, ƒ/2.8 G ED, handheld, single exposure. Artificial lighting.

 

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The Baccarat crystal glassworks were founded in 1764 in the eponymous town in the province of Lorraine (northeastern France). Their traditional products (crystal tableware, chandeliers, etc.) are renowned worldwide, but they have also branched off into jewelry and this “Psydelic” pendant is one of their iconic products. Treated with a secret process, its polished crystal changes color depending on what it is resting on: bare skin, fabric from clothing, etc. A very fascinating object.

Nikon D850, Micro-Nikkor 60mm, ƒ/2.8 macro lens. Gitzo tripod, Arca-Swiss Cube C1 geared head. Shot on an Artograph Lightpad 930 light table.

 

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April 2020, lockdown, shooting macros in the garden and overpowering the Sun with off-camera flash: I found this strangely wilted flower, maybe from the year before?

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 60mm, ƒ/2.8 G lens (amazing performer, I already said!), FTZ adapter. Handheld, single exposure, off-camera flash.

 

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Murano glass bracelet

Another one that was a bitch to light —and, of course, loads of fun because of it! I bought this bracelet for my wife at the Antica Murrina glass-making shop in Venice. It is gold with “charms” made of glass, hand-blown by Murano artisans. Costume jewellery of course, still lovely to look at.

Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 105mm ƒ/2.8 G VR II macro lens, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Arca-Swiss Cube C1 geared head. Artificial lighting. My notes say it was focus-stacked, but I haven’t recorded the number of exposures. Stack processed with Helicon Focus, as usual.