More Little People ... for C&C

[IzzieK]

OK... these were my three more efforts this morning...a bit of food but not as grandiose as a pack of chips. I still have to tidy up my lens-ing thing but I think I got a pretty good idea. I showed Bill these and I think he likes it...

1 Navigating a red onion ring...one of the little people I have in my collection. They are all really HO size train models, about half an inch so I have to find my long tweezer to position him here. He keeps falling off so I have to be quick. Not a good shot on the head part...I was not successful in the showing speed thing...I'll have to work at it again..



2 Boating on spilled milk instead of crying over it...I have a problem with the guy I put on top of a garlic clove ... I call him the observer...



3 I've been working on the garlic...reminds me of a song ... really?!



C&C appreciated...I have to prepare dinner now...Thank you all so much for viewing...hope you find inspiration to do your own too...it will be nice...I think I am going to Toys R US instead...

[rpcrowe]

Very interesting and creative collection. Was the shutter speed on #1 pretty slow?

[Inkanyezi]

Your onion ring reminds me why I got the tilt adapter. With tilt, sharpness may be laid along another plane than perpendicular to the optical axis. For your camera the Hartblei Super Rotator 40 mm or something similar could be a good tool for this kind of work. A bit expensive though. Nikon also has similar lenses that couple to the diaphragm, but they don't work well with all models, see http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/45mm-pc-e.htm
Stacking is another solution to getting exactly what you want in focus.
See also: Flosser hack, DOF challenge

[george013]

Izzie,

It looks like they all suffer from motion unsharpness. You shot them from 1/20 to 1/40. Even on tripod you should use mirror-up and no VR.

George

[Mike Buckley]

The first and third photos are marvelous concepts! They're so good conceptually that it would be well worth taking the time to revisit the execution.

[DickyOZ]

Very creative, I like them all - even with the minor technical flaws. I would steer clear of that garlic, it's bent his pick.

[Shadowman]

Very creative captures, are you manually focusing on these?

[Mike Buckley]

Nikon also has similar lenses that couple to the diaphragm, but they don't work well with all models, see http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/45mm-pc-e.htm

Rockwell's list is woefully out of date.

A perspective control lens is an ideal specialty lens to rent for a weekend or a week for a project like this. The compositions and lighting could be determined ahead of time to get maximum use of the lens for the shortest period of time and, thus, least expense.

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that stopping down a regular lens all the way to achieve maximum depth of field would work just fine with these images.

[ionian]

I love the concept of these Izzie. I strongly urge you to consider focus stacking for these, or consider ways to make your compositions with less depth required (all of your subjects on a similar plain) to help with sharpness.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Izzie,

OK, I let you off too easy last time - even you said so - well, stand by ....

#1 Massive camera shake shot at 1/20s
Good choice of subject and surface to ride on

#2 I don't think this needed an observer, or if you do have one, I suggest they sit on something with a different colour to the milk - perhaps a Brazil nut in its shell.
I see primarily insufficient Depth of Field (DoF) here (shot at f/7.1), but a lower camera angle may help too.

#3 Great little cameo scene, again spoiled (somewhat) by insufficient DoF; shot at f/8

#3 is my favourite

If you re-shoot - and I hope you do, please don't just 'snap' them;

If the lack of light warrants, shoot with a tripod
Either focus stack or use a smaller aperture to increase DoF
Shoot them on a non-textured and non-patterned surface, I find the wood grain very distracting

Cheers, Dave

Oh, one last thing, I think they need faces, how are your painting skills?
(yes I do know how small they are <heh, heh, heh>)

[Loose Canon]

Too cool Izz!

The Sky is the limit! Run with it!

(I see “stock photo” potential written all over this!)

[DEAN01]

Izzie, I like the garlic mining shot. Needs a little more dof.

[FootLoose]

Great imaginative work, Izzie. I love the garlic miner. You just need to work on your technique a little.

[Rita]

These are so imaginative Izzie. I do agree with the others about DOF. Keep at it.

[NorthernFocus]

I clicked on this post with no idea what to expect but not having high hopes. Just goes to show... Izzie, these are awesome. When I scrolled down to the canoes I thought it was genius but the garlic is my favorite. Really cool. The onion rider has some technical issues. Overall nice job.

[IzzieK]

Very interesting and creative collection. Was the shutter speed on #1 pretty slow?

Yes... I know I should not be taking pictures when I have other things in mind, e.g, my P52 project... thanks for passing by and commenting. 'Appreciate it very much.

[IzzieK]

For an occasional theme I am thinking of my little people, I think these equipment you mentioned are a little bit too rich for me. I didn't know what I was doing wrong yet at the time of the shots as I was on that experimental funk kind of thing but I had uploaded my image to get to know what it is. I think there will be other ways to solve my problem here. I am glad you have that kind of equipment. 'Would be nice to have one too, but I will pass....

Nice shot and very sharp and clear -- should be and must be -- as good and as expensive your equipment are. I am envious. Thank you for your suggestions and comments. I really do appreciate it very much.

Your onion ring reminds me why I got the tilt adapter. With tilt, sharpness may be laid along another plane than perpendicular to the optical axis. For your camera the Hartblei Super Rotator 40 mm or something similar could be a good tool for this kind of work. A bit expensive though. Nikon also has similar lenses that couple to the diaphragm, but they don't work well with all models, see http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/45mm-pc-e.htm
Stacking is another solution to getting exactly what you want in focus.
See also: Flosser hack, DOF challenge

I cannot get my stacking perfect yet...I will one of these days. Thank you..again.

[IzzieK]

Izzie,

It looks like they all suffer from motion unsharpness. You shot them from 1/20 to 1/40. Even on tripod you should use mirror-up and no VR.

George

I have only used MUP once -- when I attempted sky photography. The first I wanted to try a motion effect, but nevermind...

Reading all the responses here I think I know where my problem lies.

I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I will try it sometime before the week is over as I have my P52 to think of, shoot and process to keep up with it. Thank you.

[IzzieK]

The first and third photos are marvelous concepts! They're so good conceptually that it would be well worth taking the time to revisit the execution.

I think I should. After yesterday's shoot, I undressed my garlic so I need to buy a new one before I go home. I like that garlic thingie very much that I want to really do a re-shoot. 'Appreciate your comment and suggestion. I will reshoot, but maybe another scene.

[IzzieK]

Very creative, I like them all - even with the minor technical flaws. I would steer clear of that garlic, it's bent his pick.

That's my favourite shot!.. I like that scenario...I will have to do a reshoot, can be another scene and that was the only garlic I have that has the skin... 'Appreciate your comments. Thank you.