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A. Lange - $50,000 On Your Wrist
A. Lange - $50,000 On Your Wrist
scarbrd


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Product Shot (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Location: Houston, TX
Date: Sep 6, 2008
Aperture: 18
ISO: 200
Shutter: 4 seconds
Galleries: Macro, Studio
Date Uploaded: Sep 1, 2008

 Used 10 exposures at different focus points and merged them to create greater DOF. First time I tried this technique. I like the results.

I don't think this will score all that high, but the exercise in creating greater DOF was worth it.


y 5th place in the Product challenge was done using 10 exposures at different focus points to get deep depth of field otherwise impoosible with a single exposure.

On the photography side, jewelry photography is pretty tricky all by it self. First I had to make sure there was no glare on the crystal, then I had to deal with the reflective surfaces. Several commenters mentioned they thought the shot was too tight. I don't have a proper setup for jewelry photography, so I used the tight crop to eliminate the reflection issue. Probably suffered a tenth or 2 becuase of it.

Now the DOF issue.

Here is my original shot that I had entered.

[thumb]717196[/thumb]

I liked the shot OK but the shallow DOF bothered me. This was shot at f22. I tried backing away a bit and cropping a smaller image area but still could not get the DOF I wanted. Then I remembered the new Advanded editing rules allowed for multiple exposures to get greater DOF, except I had no idea how to do it. After a few Google searches I came across this little gem

Helicon Focus

This software brings in multiple images (including RAW) and renders an image that uses the in focus elements of the various images.

I took 10 shots at different focus points




As you can see, different parts of the watch are in focus in each shot.

The software compensates for the size shifting as the focus shifts - very cool feature. You can actually see it build the image in the display area as it parses through each image.

The software is Shareware and well worth the $30 price. You can download it and use it fully fumctional for 30 days before it starts to watermark images.

Statistics
Place: 5 out of 118
Avg (all users): 6.7081
Avg (commenters): 7.2381
Avg (participants): 6.5102
Avg (non-participants): 6.7946
Views since voting: 3419
Views during voting: 334
Votes: 161
Comments: 29
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 09/15/2008 04:04:21 PM
How did you merge the shots? Did you blend layers manually?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/15/2008 02:36:45 PM
PostLuminous Award Winner
extraordinarily well done

Message edited by author 2008-09-16 05:27:42.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/15/2008 07:20:01 AM
Well done! Congrats on your HM.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/15/2008 05:35:21 AM
Certainly overcomes the narrow DOF with that lens. I think the technique works well. Strangely enough, I was helping a friend evaluate a Lange and Sohne watch earlier in the week just before I saw this during voting. I can, therefore, also appreciate the quality of this watch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/14/2008 09:53:12 PM
great dof for a 100mm macro...well done and congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/14/2008 08:23:54 PM
Good to know uploading that 100MB was worth it! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/14/2008 08:11:20 PM
Congrats on the top 5 placing, just as well you did upload your originals before Hurricane Ike struck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/14/2008 07:24:31 PM
The lighting and focus are excellent. The shot could have been composed so that the viewing angle was more normal to the face. The chopped off date dosn't flatter the watch. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/12/2008 04:05:38 PM
Excellent and right on time! It's ten o'clock: very good. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/12/2008 11:56:48 AM
Very clear, great macro, this thing looks huge. Not so sure about this particular angle, I can see an edge above the "20" in the tiny window...makes it look as if it is defective or falling down, not something you'd want to portray in a product shot. But that is just a nit-pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/11/2008 06:14:07 PM
not bad at all 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/11/2008 02:00:00 PM
wonderful detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/11/2008 04:07:33 AM
very sharp.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/10/2008 07:49:20 PM
Very sharp. I wish it would show a little more of the product though.
The way the date box is shown is a concern. along with the tight crop.
Maybe the crop is that tight to avoid distracting elements?
I think this would do great as a close up or macro shot, but not so sure it is a good enough take to show a 50 thousand dollar worth product.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/10/2008 05:40:51 PM
is it really worth that much? id be terrified even photographing it...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 01:30:11 PM
Nice lighting and details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 01:18:07 PM
The is exactly what I expect from a catalog ad. Lovely composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 07:27:50 AM
Very nice product shot, but definitely make wonder why in the world anyone would spend 50K on a wristwatch?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 05:58:38 AM
Nice closeup on brand and dials, shows the detail and quality of the piece.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 05:58:10 AM
Just stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2008 01:43:31 AM
Yeah it would be nice to be able to afford this watch....Good job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 10:16:52 PM
Nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 07:52:04 PM
Your depth of field is fantastic! Well captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 05:30:18 PM
everything about this is so elegant. the lighting is fantastic, it really brings out the texture in the face of the watch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 11:15:25 AM
Nice clarity and lighting, 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 05:48:38 AM
Wondering where you got ahold of one of these, LOL... That's some seriously rarefied watch real estate there. The image is very nicely done as well, although I might quibble with the way you cropped portions of the watch face off.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2008 03:38:11 AM
Lovely shot, but IMO does not give enough detail on the entire watch to be effective in a catalog. For an advertisement - close to perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2008 08:54:06 PM
Very nice lighting and colors
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2008 08:19:07 PM
I would actually zoom out a bit more to showcase the entire product.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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