Macro Photography using Bokeh Masks

Abstract

Macro photography is a unique genre of photography, which focuses on capturing small subjects in extreme detail. One of the artistic techniques that can be utilized in macro photography is the use of bokeh masks to create specific and shaped bokeh effects in the out-of-focus areas of a photograph. This white paper elucidates the concept and practice of using bokeh masks in macro photography and the optical explanation behind it.

Introduction

Bokeh, derived from the Japanese word "boke" meaning "blur" or "haze", is a photographic term used to describe the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph. Bokeh masks are physical masks that photographers place in front of their camera lens to shape this out-of-focus blur into specific patterns or designs.

Methodology

1. Materials Needed:

• Camera with a fast lens (typically f/2.8 or larger aperture)
• Macro lens or extension tubes for closer focusing
• DIY or purchased bokeh masks
• External light source (optional)

2. Making a Bokeh Mask:

A bokeh mask can be crafted from a piece of black paper, card, or plastic. Cut out a small shape (e.g., heart, star, or any custom design) in the middle of the card. The diameter of the card should match the diameter of the lens you are using. When the camera is focused on a subject, the out-of-focus light sources or highlights will adopt the shape of the cut-out.

3. Setting Up:

1. Mount the macro lens on the camera.
2. Place the bokeh mask over the lens.
3. Adjust camera settings to a wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or larger).
4. Focus on the desired subject, ensuring there are light sources or reflective elements in the background.

Optical Explanation

The principle behind the bokeh mask's effect on photographs stems from the way camera lenses handle out-of-focus light sources.

1. Aperture Shape: The aperture inside the lens is usually made up of several blades which, when opened or closed, forms a certain shape. Most lenses create a circular aperture, which results in round bokeh balls. The shape of the bokeh mask effectively replaces the shape of the aperture for out-of-focus light sources, thus creating bokeh that matches the shape of the mask.
2. Depth of Field: Using a wide aperture reduces the depth of field, meaning a smaller portion of the image is in sharp focus. Everything outside of this zone becomes blurred, making it ideal for the bokeh effect.
3. Light Diffraction: When light passes through a small opening (like our bokeh mask shape), it tends to bend and scatter. The shape of the mask constrains this diffraction to its own form, imprinting that shape onto any defocused light within the image.

Applications and Benefits

1. Creative Expression: Bokeh masks allow photographers to add a unique and artistic touch to their macro shots. Specific shapes can evoke emotions or enhance the story of the image.
2. Enhanced Subject Emphasis: By using distinct bokeh shapes, photographers can draw more attention to their main subject, making it stand out against a creatively blurred background.
3. Holiday and Seasonal Photography: Bokeh masks can be tailored for different seasons and holidays, like stars for Christmas or hearts for Valentine's Day.

Conclusion

Macro photography using bokeh masks is an intersection of science and art. While the optical principles underpinning the method are rooted in physics, the results are pure artistry. Through understanding and harnessing these optical effects, photographers can elevate their macro images to new creative heights.

Delving Deep: The World of Rare Underwater Lenses

Underwater photography is a mesmerizing realm, where light, colors, and clarity converge in ways unlike anywhere else. Capturing this magical underwater universe requires specialized gear, with lenses being at the heart of it all. While many photographers are acquainted with popular underwater optics, the universe of rare underwater lenses remains mostly uncharted. In this post, we'll plunge into some of the most elusive and coveted lenses designed specifically for capturing Neptune's kingdom.

1. Nikonos 13mm f/2.8

This lens, designed for the Nikonos underwater camera system, is a legendary piece. The Nikonos 13mm was not just the widest lens for the system but was also amphibious, meaning it worked both in and out of water. Its unique construction and top-tier optical performance have made it a collector's favorite.

Underwater camera housing manufacturer SeaCam has developed an option in order to use this extraordinary lens with exceptional optical performance on DSLR cameras.

2. Sea & Sea 12mm f/13 Fish-Eye

Built specifically for underwater use, the Sea & Sea 12mm offered a stunning 167° angle of view. It was praised for its minimal distortion and ability to capture wide vistas, making it perfect for shooting expansive coral reefs or schools of fish.

3. Hugyfot 150mm f/2.8

While wide-angle lenses dominate the underwater scene, there's a demand for macro optics to capture the smaller denizens of the deep. The Hugyfot 150mm is a gem in this category. Known for its razor-sharp imagery, it allows photographers to get up close and personal with tiny marine creatures.

4. Zeiss Divegon 16mm f/5.6

Zeiss, a name synonymous with optical excellence, once ventured into underwater photography with the Divegon series. The 16mm was a standout, offering impeccable sharpness and color rendition, capturing the ethereal beauty of underwater landscapes.

5. Subal 3D Underwater Housing for Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L

While technically not a lens, this housing deserves mention. Created for the Canon EF 8-15mm lens, it allowed for 3D underwater photography – a rarity in itself. The housing combined two Canon lenses, paving the way for capturing underwater worlds in mesmerizing 3D.

Why the Pursuit of Rare Underwater Lenses?

The deep-sea allure is evergreen, and unique challenges emerge when shooting beneath the waves. Rare lenses, often born from specific needs or inventive collaborations, offer underwater photographers opportunities to see and depict the marine world differently. The unique rendering of colors, contrasts, and field-of-view these lenses provide can elevate an image from ordinary to extraordinary.

Final Bubbles

Navigating the abyss of rare underwater lenses is a journey filled with tales of innovation, dedication, and passion. They stand as beacons for those photographers wishing to portray the undersea world in ways less traveled. For the ardent underwater photographer or the discerning collector, these lenses are a testimony to humanity's endeavor to capture the ethereal beauty that exists below the surface.

Exploring the World of Rare Photographic Lenses

In the vast universe of photography, lenses are like magic wands. They determine how we capture and interpret light, shape our perspectives, and crystallize moments into memories. While most photographers are familiar with popular lens choices, the world of rare lenses brings forth a blend of mystique and intrigue. These lenses, often born out of specific needs or unique collaborations, can offer novel creative avenues for photographers. In this post, we will dive into some very rare lenses that have graced the world of photography.

1. Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/0.7

One of the most legendary lenses in photographic history, the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/0.7 was originally developed for NASA's Apollo lunar program. It is incredibly fast and was later used by Stanley Kubrick in the film "Barry Lyndon" to shoot candlelit scenes without any artificial lighting. Only ten of these were ever made, making it an incredibly rare piece.

2. Leica Noctilux 50mm f/1.0

Known for its dreamy bokeh and superb low-light performance, the Noctilux series by Leica is iconic. The 50mm f/1.0 version stands out due to its ability to render images with a unique softness while maintaining sharpness, offering a surreal quality to portraits.

3. Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye

This lens stands out not just because of its rarity but also its distinctive design. It has a 220° field of view, effectively seeing behind itself. Introduced in the 1970s, its bulbous front element is instantly recognizable and is perfect for creating unusual and captivating fisheye images.

4. Canon 1200mm f/5.6L EF

Often referred to as the "mother of all telephoto lenses", this behemoth from Canon is one of the largest and rarest lenses available. It's so rare that even sightings of this lens are newsworthy. It's primarily used for specialized wildlife or sports photography.

5. Zeiss Apo Sonnar T 1700mm f/4*

This is one of the largest telephoto lenses ever made. It was custom-built for a client and tips the scale at around 256kg. Its specific use and the identity of its owner remain somewhat of a mystery.

6. Pentax 250mm f/5.6 110

Designed for the Pentax Auto 110 system (one of the tiniest SLR systems ever made), this lens is rare because of the camera system it belongs to. While the lens is tiny, its rarity and the results it produces make it a sought-after collector's item.

Why Seek Rare Lenses?

The appeal of rare lenses isn't just in their scarcity. These lenses offer unique optical characteristics that are hard to replicate with mainstream lenses. They often bring out a distinctive rendition of colors, bokeh, and sharpness, allowing photographers to experiment and create unique images.

In Conclusion

The world of rare lenses is like an uncharted territory, filled with stories, peculiar designs, and unparalleled optical magic. While acquiring them can be a challenge (and quite an investment), they can provide a fresh perspective in a photographer's journey. Whether you're a collector or a passionate photographer, these lenses are testament to the ever-evolving art and science of photography.

Adobe Lightroom for Underwater Photographers: Capabilities and New Features

Adobe Lightroom has been a preferred choice for photo editing and organization for years. As a software, it blends simplicity with powerful editing tools to transform images in an intuitive and non-destructive way. One specific genre of photographers that greatly benefits from Lightroom's capabilities are underwater photographers. This article aims to shed light on how Adobe Lightroom supports the creative endeavors of underwater photographers and the newest features that make it a strong tool.

Adobe Lightroom for Underwater Photographers

Underwater photography is a unique discipline that has its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to post-processing. Adobe Lightroom offers several tools and capabilities specifically suited to addressing these challenges.

White Balance and Color Correction

The first significant issue for underwater photographers is the color distortion caused by the water's depth. As you go deeper, the light spectrum changes and images tend to skew toward the blue or green end of the spectrum. Adobe Lightroom comes with advanced color correction capabilities, allowing photographers to adjust white balance post-capture, bringing back the true colors of the underwater scene.

Noise Reduction

Underwater photographers often need to crank up the ISO to deal with the relatively low-light conditions underwater, which could introduce noise. Lightroom's noise reduction capabilities can help to manage and reduce noise, maintaining the clarity and crispness of the photograph. Specially the new AI based noise reduction algorithm does a pretty good job.

Lens Corrections

Underwater housings and ports can distort images, causing aberrations. Adobe Lightroom has a lens correction feature that can fix this distortion, providing the ability to manually adjust the vertical and horizontal perspective as well as correcting for chromic aberrations.

Detail Enhancement

Often, intricate details of the underwater life may get lost due to limited light and water clarity. Lightroom’s clarity, texture, and dehaze sliders can enhance these details, making the image more vibrant and revealing the hidden beauty of the underwater world.

Newest Features in Adobe Lightroom (as of 2023)

Adobe continually enhances Lightroom with newer features, making it even more powerful for underwater photographers.

Super Resolution

With the Super Resolution feature, photographers can now upscale their photos without losing details. This feature uses machine learning to increase the resolution of the photo, which could be beneficial for printing large format images or for heavy cropping.

Advanced Color Grading

The color grading tool, an upgrade on the older split toning, allows photographers to apply color tints to the shadows, midtones, and highlights separately. For underwater photographers, this feature can help achieve more creative color grading, helping the underwater life in the image to stand out.

Faster Performance

Adobe has made significant strides in improving Lightroom's performance, resulting in faster import, preview generation, and export times. A smooth and responsive editing experience is invaluable for photographers with large batches of underwater photos.

Improved Masking

The recent updates have introduced a new Masking panel which includes Select Subject and Select Sky. These can be particularly helpful for underwater photographers when editing creatures or specific underwater features. As well as in the process of removing backscatter particles.

Presets and Profiles

While not entirely new, Adobe Lightroom continues to expand its offering of built-in presets and creative profiles, which could provide a good starting point for editing underwater photos, and help in maintaining a consistent style.

To conclude, Adobe Lightroom offers a wealth of features that can help underwater photographers overcome the unique challenges posed by their genre. The continuous updates and added features keep enhancing its capabilities, maintaining Lightroom's position as an indispensable tool in the digital darkroom for underwater photographers.

As an underwater photographer: What can I do with Nikon Z8 what I am not able to do with a Nikon D800?

As my current photography setup - with a focus on underwater photography - is based on the Nikon D8, I ask myself if the Nikon Z8 should be my step into mirrorless.

The Nikon Z8, as a more recent model, incorporates several advancements over the Nikon D800, offering several features and capabilities that are not available in the older camera. Here are some key differences and advantages of the Nikon Z8 compared to the Nikon D800:

1. Mirrorless Design: The Nikon Z8 is a mirrorless camera, while the Nikon D800 is a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera. The mirrorless design eliminates the need for a mechanical mirror and pentaprism, resulting in a more compact and lightweight body for the Z8. This makes it more portable and easier to handle, especially in underwater environments.

2. Electronic Viewfinder (EVF): The Nikon Z8 features an electronic viewfinder, whereas the Nikon D800 utilizes an optical viewfinder. An EVF provides a real-time preview of the image, displaying exactly what the sensor captures. It offers advantages such as exposure simulation, focus peaking, and the ability to review images directly in the viewfinder, which can be particularly useful for underwater photographers in challenging lighting conditions.

   And, not having to change position in order to review the just shot image on an external display can be essential. Specially, as in underwater photography one moves really close to the subject in order to minimise the density of particles in the water between subject and lens.

3. Higher Resolution: The Nikon Z8 boasts a higher resolution than the Nikon D800. While the D800 offers an impressive 36.3 megapixels, the Z8 takes it a step further with a 60-megapixel full-frame sensor. This higher resolution allows for capturing more detail and provides flexibility for cropping or printing large-format images.

4. Enhanced Low-Light Performance: The Nikon Z8 incorporates improved low-light capabilities compared to the Nikon D800. Its larger pixel size, better ISO performance, and advanced noise reduction algorithms enable it to capture cleaner and more detailed images in low-light situations, which is beneficial for underwater photography where light diminishes as you go deeper.

5. Advanced Autofocus System: The Nikon Z8 features a more advanced autofocus system compared to the Nikon D800. It utilizes Nikon's latest autofocus technology, which includes a higher number of focus points, improved subject tracking, and enhanced speed and accuracy. This allows for more precise and reliable autofocus performance, even in challenging underwater conditions with fast-moving subjects.

   That might be another "killer feature" given subjects in nature photography often move quickly and getting the focus spot right is key for good quality pictures.

6. 4K Video Recording: While both cameras offer video capabilities, the Nikon Z8 provides 8K video recording, whereas the Nikon D800 is limited to Full HD (1080p) video. The ability to shoot in 8K resolution allows for higher-quality video footage with more detail and flexibility in post-processing.

7. Connectivity and Features: The Nikon Z8 incorporates modern connectivity options, such as built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which facilitate wireless image transfer and remote camera control using compatible devices like smartphones or tablets. Additionally, the Z8 offers improved in-camera features like in-body image stabilization, multiple exposure modes, and enhanced creative options, allowing for more creative control over your underwater photography.

It's important to note that while the Nikon Z8 offers these advancements, the Nikon D800 still remains a capable camera with excellent image quality. However, if you are specifically looking for the latest features, improved performance, and the benefits of a mirrorless design, the Nikon Z8 provides a significant upgrade in terms of resolution, low-light capabilities, autofocus performance, and video capabilities, which can enhance your underwater photography experience.

Blackwater photography - the art of picturing creatures from the deep sea

As an avid underwater photographer, I am constantly fascinated by the creatures that live beneath the surface of the ocean. The deep sea is particularly intriguing to me, with its mysterious and elusive inhabitants. Blackwater photography is the art of capturing these creatures in their natural environment, often at great depths and in complete darkness. Blackwater photography offers a possibility to capture them at night when they - attracted by light - come closer to the surface. In this article, I'll share some tips for those who are new to this exciting and challenging form of photography.

First, it's important to have the right equipment. Blackwater photography requires specialized gear, including a high-quality underwater camera, strobes or video lights, and a housing that can withstand the extreme pressure of deep-sea dives. It's also crucial to have a good understanding of the behavior and habitats of the creatures you are trying to photograph. Some of the most commonly photographed creatures in blackwater photography include squid, jellyfish, and larval fish.

When it comes to capturing the perfect shot, patience and persistence are key. Blackwater photography often requires long periods of waiting in complete darkness for a subject to appear. It's important to remain still and calm, as even the slightest movement can scare away a timid creature. I recommend practicing your buoyancy skills and developing a steady hand, as these are crucial for capturing sharp and clear images.

One of the biggest challenges of blackwater photography is the lack of natural light. This means that you will need to rely on artificial light sources to illuminate your subject. Strobes or video lights are essential for this type of photography, as they provide the necessary illumination without disturbing the delicate balance of the underwater environment. I recommend experimenting with different lighting setups to achieve the desired effect.

In terms of composition, blackwater photography offers endless opportunities for creativity. The deep sea is full of strange and otherworldly creatures, and capturing their unique shapes and movements can be truly captivating. I recommend playing with depth of field and focusing on specific details to create a sense of depth and dimensionality in your images.

If you're new to blackwater photography, I recommend starting with some of the more commonly photographed creatures, such as jellyfish or squid. These creatures are often found in large numbers and can be easier to capture than some of the more elusive deep-sea dwellers. 

Some great examples of blackwater photography can be found in the work of Swiss underwater photographer Thomas Zumbrunnen, who has captured stunning images of creatures of the deep (visit Thomas' instagram feed @uwfoto.ch).

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A post shared by Thomas Zumbrunnen (@uwfoto.ch)

Further spectacular examples follow Joshua Lambus:

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A post shared by Joshua Lambus (@joshualambus)

In conclusion, blackwater photography is an exciting and challenging form of underwater photography that requires specialized equipment, patience, and persistence. With the right tools and techniques, you can capture truly mesmerizing images of some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. So, dive in and explore the mysterious world of the deep sea - you never know what you might find.

Here are some great sources for blackwater photography on the internet:

1. Blackwaterdiver (@divecbr): This website features stunning blackwater photography by photographer Mike Bartick, as well as information on blackwater diving and photography techniques.
2. Underwater Photography Guide: This website offers a wealth of resources and articles on underwater photography, including a section dedicated to blackwater photography.
3. Wetpixel: This online community for underwater photographers features a dedicated section for blackwater photography, as well as forums for discussing techniques and sharing tips.
4. Joshua Lambus Photography (@joshualambus): Joshua Lambus is a fantastic blackwater photographer whose work can be found on his website and social media channels.
5. Backscatter: This website offers a range of underwater photography gear and equipment, including specialized gear for blackwater photography.
6. Scubashooters: This online community for underwater photographers features a section on blackwater photography, as well as a gallery of stunning blackwater images.
7. Blackwater Creatures: This website is dedicated to blackwater diving and photography in Florida.

And some paper books on blackwater diving and photography:

1. A Field Guide to Blackwater Diving in Hawaii by Jeff Milisen: Kona is the birthplace and world headquarters for blackwater diving. 
2. Planktonia: The Nightly Migration of the Ocean's Smallest Creatures by Erich Hoyt: the greatest migration on Earth happens twice every night. The movement is largely vertical and performed by plankton followed by predatory fish, squid, octopus and other species that have acquired a taste for plankton.
3. The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs by Dr. Richard Smith

I hope these resources will help you discover and explore the world of blackwater photography!