Independent Shoot: Tone

Independent Shoot: Tone 
I wanted to look at flowers and the effects that different camera setting created.
I looked at Imogen Cunningham to influence this shoot.
Here are some examples of her work:



Contact Sheets:

Camera Settings:

I used a Nikon D7200 with a Tamron 60mm Macro lens on a tripod, with a white-light torch and a cup to put the flowers in. For the first few images I spritzed the flowers with a water spray bottle to create little droplets that looked like morning dew. I kept my camera setting manual on all shots. 

For the first flowers I used a 1/200 shutter speed as a direct stream of light from the torch was ampel. I used F/10 to keep the depth of field wide as to keep all the droplets in focus and  ISO 160 to minimize grain. I changed the camera settings for the second flower as I wanted to achieve different effects.

As these flowers were very soft, almost velvety, I wanted to capture their texture and their beautiful imperial purple. I had my exposure at 15 seconds and swept the light over the flower to disperse the light, I chose F/32 to keep all the petals in focus. The camera decided an ISO of 160. 

Images that need improvement:

DSC_5021.NEF: 

This image is over-exposed as the exposure of 1/4 seconds was too long. I was using a macro lens on a tripod and I kept experimenting with the camera settings, the camera determined the ISO and so set it at ISO 159, Which I kept as it would lower the risk of taking grainy images. I had the exposure at 1/5 of a second which was too high, I looked at all the images after taking them and I was able to adjust the camera settings accordingly. 

Here is the improved image:

 Only though experimenting with the camera settings was I able to find the best settings to capture the image I had in my minds eye.

DSC_5046.NEF:

This image is underexposed. The exposure was too short for this image and didn't let enough light in. The settings were f/10, 1/15 exposure and an ISO 160. 

My best images: 

To edit my images I used Photoshop:

As I shot my images in RAW format I was able to edit them more subtly than if I'd have shot them in JPEG. I raised the exposure to lighten the details, then I raised the contrast to define the flowers edges and the water droplets. I very subtly changed the highlights as the image was rather bright as it was and then I raised the shadows so the centre of the flower was more visible. I raised the whites to create a glowing effect. I didn't change the vibrancy or saturation as I was happy with the colour of the image. The only variation between the first image and the others, is I changed the vibrancy and saturation in the other images.

Here are my final images: