Passion fruit seeds

[Mike Buckley]

I was unbelievably lucky to cut into one of the seeds when I cut the passion fruit in half. And the seed I cut is attractively close to the pink part of the fruit. Only one seed was cut in the entire fruit.

The magnification ratio is about 1:1.12, which means the physical scene is about 12% larger than the camera's sensor. One capture; no focus stacking.

Please click to display the details in a larger size.

Setup
The background is translucent vellum lit by a small continuous-light lamp. A medium continuous-light lamp on the right side lights the subject, though the effect would have been the same if I had used a small lamp.

[Suzan J]

Hello Mike: This is quite an interesting take on every day food items. I have been away for awhile so I assume this is a relatively new subject matter for you. The colours and the placement of the seed are quite lovely. I am a bit confused though in the ratio you give. I thought that the maximum ratio for macro was 1:1. How do you arrive at 1:12?

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Suzan!

You're right that food is a relatively new subject for me. I like to present it in a context that we don't normally experience or at least don't notice, so this image fits in with that theme. Moreover, just a couple weeks ago I acquired a macro lens so that aspect of this photo is very new to me. For my other food photos, see this.

I thought that the maximum ratio for macro was 1:1. How do you arrive at 1:12?

Good question! When the ratio is 1:1, the scene projected onto the sensor is the same size as the sensor. When the ratio is 1:2, the scene is twice the size of the sensor. Notice that the magnification is actually less (not more) than at 1:1. Conversely, when the ratio is 2:1, the scene is one-half the size of the sensor, resulting in twice the magnification of 1:1. That hopefully explains the magnification ratio.

You mentioned thinking that the maximum ratio is 1:1. I'm aware of a third-party macro lens that has a maximum magnification ratio of 2:1 and a Canon lens that is at 5:1. It's also possible to increase the magnification ratio of a system by adding extension tubes between the camera body and the lens or by adding close-up filters to the front of the lens.

[george013]

Thank you, Suzanne!

You're right that food is a relatively new subject for me. I like to present it in a context that we don't normally experience or at least don't notice, so this image fits in with that theme. Moreover, just a couple weeks ago I acquired a macro lens so that aspect of this photo is very new to me. For my other food photos, see this.



Good question! When the ratio is 1:1, the scene projected onto the sensor is the same size as the sensor. When the ratio is 1:2, the scene is twice the size of the sensor. Notice that the magnification is actually less (not more) than at 1:1. Conversely, when the ratio is 2:1, the scene is one-half the size of the sensor, resulting in twice the magnification of 1:1. That hopefully explains the magnification ratio.

You mentioned thinking that the maximum ratio is 1:1. I'm aware of a third-party macro lens that has a maximum magnification ratio of 2:1 and a Canon lens that is at 5:1. It's also possible to increase the magnification ratio of a system by adding extension tubes between the camera body and the lens or by adding teleconverters to the front of the lens.

I would think the answer should be 'more distance from the subject'.
I see the ratio as a division that gives the magnification. So 1:1 =1, and 1:1.12=0.89. And 2:1=2.
Where did you get the number 1.12 from?

George

[Mike Buckley]

Where did you get the number 1.12 from?

The lens

[george013]

The lens

On the distance scale. I never noticed it.

George

[JohnRostron]

This is a serendipitous image!

John

[ST1]

Well captured Mike. I like that the subject matter is recognisable.
This image reminded me of some macro images from a photography book, having had a rummage though my library I've found the book of which your image had triggered a very small piece of my old grey matter. The book is "Understanding Close-Up Photography" by Bryan Peterson, has within it an image of some whole wheat flakes (think Granola) taken at 4x magnification which look like pieces of raw bacon or prosciutto. Thanks for lighting up my memory Mike.

[madcrow]

Imaginative, creative and great composition.

[bnnrcn]

Lovely colors Mike The image has an abstract taste. It reminds me the eggs of some aliens in science fiction movies . Thanks for the info about magnification ratios .

[Wavelength]

This is a lesson...that how much more to explore the common things around; i feel inspired; really a great image!!!!

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to everyone! Glad you enjoy the image.

[KimC]

I really like this image Mike. Love the colors, the transparency, and the texture! You can just taste and feel this one!

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Kim!

Considering that I had never seen the outside, much less the inside, of a passion fruit, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Frankly, almost all of the inside looked really ugly when I was in a mood to make a photo that looked beautiful. I was lucky that this very small section of the fruit is so attractive.