Macroholic

A section of my work appeared in Practical Photoshop Magazine Gallery, July issue 2012.

Small print blow my profile image.

Funland by Peiling Lee.

This image was taken with everything pre-planned. I set up the “stage” for the ant, carefully put the ant in place, pre-focused and snapped the photo while spraying water with my free hand. I used Photoshop Elements 9 to process the Raw image twice - one with a cooler tone for the insect’s body, another for the vibrant, warmer background. I used Noise Ninja for the finishing touches.

www.peilinglee.com

Photo title: Stalk

This is my first article work with a blogger before any other media. but somehow, I guess it has not seen the lights. So, I decided to share the article here.

Below are something about me and how I create my image in general, each of the image which I have created surely has it’s unique method and story behind, this is just one of the example.

Q: How exactly do you prepare the shots?

First stage:

Started with an idea from my imagination, preparing the “stage” based on the idea from my drawing, gathering the props from my garden or even go shop for it, put everything in place, if I need to do some extra work like creating a background with leafs or using wood chips to create a small hut of the set, I will need to spend one more day extra.

Second stage:

A: Wait for the right hours ( for example, sometimes the best time is in the night when in total darkness), prepare the lighting, a few test shots, invite the star from my garden and start shooting.

Q: How long do you usually shoot until you get the shot you want? Where and how do you get the insects? Which equipment are you using?

A: Is hard to say how long it takes since insect is always hard to predict, they do not co-operate most of the time especially insect like ant ( I never ever freeze them), but average is between 4 hours. That’s the max I can hold on regardless how long the insect can stay on the stage, they will run away after times.

The insects is all from my garden. Canon 5oD, Canon 100mm Macro with IS and one external flash, sometimes with table lamps

Q: Did you shoot all these in your studio or do you also shoot outdoors?

A: For this project, mostly are indoor.

Q: How do you create the bokeh in your shots?

A: Place the flash in 45 degree facing the camera, it has to be back-lit for the subject with a darker background. I like to shoot with aperture wide open, It is not hard to get beautiful bokeh but just be careful with the off focusing problem for your main subject.

Q: How did you create the small water droplets on the plants and in the air?

A: Water spray, but an external flash has to be fired as well. Timing is the key for freezing droplet in the air; you just have to keep trying.

Q: About you: What is your profession?

A: I am an ex designer that just retired from advertising line.

Q: How long are you photographing for?

A: More seriously involved only for the past 3 years, before that I was just having fun with my digital compact like others and do not know what is exactly what is aperture and shutter speed. I am considering myself still a beginner.

Q: What was the reason you started with photography?

A: Ever since I left advertising line, I suddenly have this emptiness in life that need to be filled up by another interest or hobby. I have chosen to stay focus on this hobby instead of other interest like illustration.

Q: Why do you shoot mainly macro?

A: It started with my interest of gardening and photogarphy, and the easiest way for me to practice photography is floral macro in beginning, then it has extended to insect from floral… it’s still macro. I do shoot others subject or theme but nothing seems good enough to be noticed.

How I did it

(picture shown as above)

A pot of grass has been placed in the middle of stage; basic lighting like table lamp is set with a coloured diffuser, this work as the clean background for the stage.

Place the insect on the grass and let them get used to the environment, once the insect has been settle down, press the self timer and spray water when the flash fired. Keep shooting, until I have something happy with. Post editing with Photoshop, enhance the colors also work on the cropping at the final stage.

I can shoot, I can draw but I can’t write.

I am a self learner of photography. For the past few years, besides reading from book and magazine, I have also learned so much from other photographer through their sharing, tips, tutorial or perhaps, just by showing their work.

I have learned so much and perhaps is time for me to share something back to the viewer. Unfortunately, I have hesitation because of my barrier of language, I can’t write (so obvious…) or should I say, I write poor English… but I guess, for now, my desire of creating a blog has become stronger then my disadvantage.

My goal is sharing some thought behind every single shot I have take in every week basis. Tips, tutorial or even believes. In short, I can soot, I can draw, but I can’t write, but I wish to try. Hope you will enjoy the blog, in some ways.