Macro Focus Stacking

We were recently tasked with shooting a sunflower seed for an ad agency that specializes in agriculture. Their client needed the image for a billboard and print ad campaign. For comparison, sunflower seeds are about 3/8 inches tall by 1/4 inches wide. Billboards, on average, are 14 feet tall by 48 feet wide. So...in order to get images of the teeny, tiny seed as large as possible, we needed specialized equipment. We rented a Canon MP-E 65mm Macro Lens that is capable of 5x magnification and a focusing rail. 

Because of the extreme magnification, we had very little depth of field – say, about the thickness of a sheet of paper. Therefore, we ended up employing a process called "focus stacking." We shot in increments of 1/4 centimeter to capture 15 images of the seed at various focal depths. While none of these 15 images had the seed entirely in focus, collectively, they contained the data needed to generate one focused image of a sunflower seed. 

We used Photoshop to blend the 15 shots together and generate the final seed image. Photoshop masks out the unfocused areas and keeps the areas of the image that are in focus. The end result is a crystal clear image in focus from top to bottom. Stand alone programs such as HeliconSoft and Zerene Stacker also offer this feature. If you plan to do a good deal of macro focus stacking, I'd suggest investing in a stand alone program.

Photography is about problem solving and visually communicating what your client wants to say. This project employed one of the smallest subjects we've ever photographed, and we had a blast figuring out how to show every detail of a sunflower seed!

Wide view of our teeny, tiny set.

Closer view of the set and seed being photographed.

We shot the seed on its side as it was easier to light it horizontally. It was rotated vertically in post-production.

Focusing rail we rented, which allowed us to seamlessly move the camera 1/4 centimeter at a time. 

David concentrating on focusing and shooting every 1/4 centimeter.

The final image with the "stacked" sunflower seed for the billboard campaign.

David's stylized version, with a more dramatic sky.

Photographing in Studio with Natural Light

Although you can come close to imitating natural light, that imitation simply isn't the same. The combination of natural light and a long exposure time adds a quality to images you just can't achieve any other way. 

When we designed our studio, we knew we wanted to be able to shoot with natural light. As part of the studio design, we added softening silks and blackout curtains to the windows so we could control the amount of sunlight that comes through to naturally light a set.

We recently shot a new line of holiday candles for Trapp Candles, one of our amazing, long time clients. On this particular project, we were challenged to illustrate how consumers can use Trapp's products in and around their homes. We were also challenged to show retailers how they can best display Trapp's products and achieve greater sales results.  

We wanted the light in each shot to look natural, like you'd see in your own home or in a retail store window. So we used the softening silks to diffuse the natural sunlight while still highlighting the products and set.

You may look at these behind the scenes images and ask yourself, "Why in the world are the table and chairs on apple boxes?" In order to achieve the right perspective between the table, product and background, we had to raise the table and chairs. If we hadn't done this, we wouldn't have been able to see enough of the fireplace mantel to frame the shot. Just another trick of the trade!

Apple boxes were used to lift the table and chairs.

So many silverware options for our dining room table!

Adjusting the window silks to control the light on the front of the table.

Putting the finishing touches on the set before we shoot the final image.

After David completed the main shot, he moved in and captured a few detail shots.

Wax and wax melter shot.

Putting the final touches on the display image for retailers. This shot will be
composed with another image we shot to create the final display image.

Stacks and stacks of Trapp product!

Retailer display shot.

Some of the most difficult items to photograph are made of foil or chrome.
Here, David works to get the lighting just right on the foil product box.

Final dining room shot.

Final fireside pumpkin candle shot.

Latest Work / Sculpting Light

I’m so excited to show you our latest work!

 Lately we’ve been using our ability to sculpt light in a unique and creative way. Yes, what you’re looking at is all light!  In the next few weeks we’ll be unveiling a series of image ads where we’re using light a little differently.  We’re thrilled about this unique visual approach to get your client's products to stand out.

Credits:

Model: Alex Griffey

Photo Assistant: Tiffany Matson

Lighting assistant:  Braden Edwards

Product:  HJC helmets

Motorcycle:  Shawnee Cycle Plaza

Photography: David D. Morris

Retouching: David D. Morris

 Credits:

Model: Katherine Garcia

Photo Assistant: Tiffany Matson

Lighting assistant:  Braden Edwards

Product:  Blue Angle Martini

Photography: David D. Morris

Retouching: David D. Morris

 Credits:

Model: Abuk

Modeling Agency: I and I Agency

Photo Assistant: Tiffany Matson

Lighting assistant:  Braden Edwards

Product:  Chanel Purse

Photography: David D. Morris

Retouching: David D. Morris

Light and sparkly

 Credits:

Model: Cara Dunsmoor

Photo Assistant: Tiffany Matson

Lighting assistant:  Braden Edwards

Product: Citrine Bracelet

Photography: David D. Morris

Retouching: David D. Morris

Light and magical

Credits:

Model: Shelby Mathews

Photo Assistant: Tiffany Matson

Lighting assistant:  Braden Edwards

Product: Kubler Absinthe

Photography: David D. Morris

Retouching: David D. Morris

Hair and Make-up: Sarah Uhler

How we explored the world to find what was in our own back yard

Sometimes one of the more challenging aspects to commercial photography shoots can be finding the right props.  Whether it's food, people or produce, finding the right accessory props can make or break the image.  One of our favorite long time clients is Trapp Fragrances.  If you've never used their candles, they are the best!

We are often asked to help find some of most exotic fragrance visual cues.  This time we needed a (Cymbidium Black Ruby "Midnight") or to most of us a Black Orchid, and Cananga odorata, commonly called Ylang-Ylang flowers.  Where were we going to find these?

You have to love the internet for just these types of challenges.  We started by look for tropical flower suppliers.  We called California, Hawaii, Austria, etc.  As fate would have it, one of the Orchid suppliers I talked with in Hawaii used to live in Kansas City. She asked if I had tried to contact Bird's Botanicals here in KC.  Never heard of them.  We called them up, then went by and sure enough they had everything we needed for the shoot.  Some times you have to go around the world to find what's in your back yard! 

Putting the final touches on our lifestyle shot.

Using our big camera to get the best quality out of our photos.

Looking good

Getting ready to shoot another version of the Black Orchid shot.

Working with our Set stylist Casey Dobbins to put the final touches on this beauty.

Casey, not sure this is your best look.  (:-)

We love our clients being involved in our shoots.   

Final Image

Final image

Problem solving is what we do.

We were recently challenged to photograph an ad campaign for a client where we needed to shoot the same product on location and in the studio.  The final image is a split view of the same product in to different environments at the same exact focal length and position.

Our solution was to have our friends at Machine Head build us a camera bracket that would affix the product in the same position in front of the camera no matter where we were shooting.  This made post production a lot easier.

Final image

Shooting product in water

Testing out our camera bracket

Some fun out takes of us playing around. 

Look mom no hands

Background in motion

Sometimes the business of Advertising can be so ironic

We have been shooting on a number of large high profile clients lately.  All top secret advertising! (:-)

Recently we worked on a project for ( ............... ).  It was one of the smoothest shoots we have worked on in some time.  We had a Great client, Awesome crew, and Fantastic agency.  Everything was Awesome.

On the ( ................ ) project we had 2 sets to make to project run more efficient.

I can show you one of our awesome lunches.

Oh, and I can show you some of the tools we used too.

This is where the product was!

Sometimes you can to have a little fun and still respect the clients wishes.

Hope you enjoy the post. (:-)

Photos by Intern Arne Wilkin