Submitter's name:	Joel Wilcox
Title:	The mystery of plants
Gear used:	OM-2S + Zuiko 85/2 + T20 with homemade diffuser, shoe-mounted
Diaphragm:	f5.6
Shutter speed:	1/60
Film used:	Fuji Velvia
Technical information:	The diffuser was made from a typical American plastic gallon milk jug, cut large enough to fold over the top and bottom of the flash lens with a notch cut out of the bottom to expose the "OLYMPUS" marque on the flash (and of course the flash sensor embedded therein). OM-2S was set to auto mode for OTF/TTL control. With this flash and diffuser and the slower films I like to shoot, I rarely stop down further than f5.6. With the diffuser, there is a little less of a tendency to burn out the highlights of the main subject with shoe-mounted flash, but it is still a danger. If the background is darker or more cavernous than in this instance, I often use exposure compensation of -1/3 to -2/3 stop. This shot was made without exposure compensation.
Digital technique:	The scan was made with Polaroid SS4000 and Silverfast Ai software. In Photoshop I digitally burned in the large flower pot at the left slightly for a little more pleasing balance.
Subject information:	My favorite photo so far of our newly-adopted feline, Sparky. He wasn't really musing over the plant and he certainly wasn't standing still. This photo is not the greatest for any number of reasons, but it does illustrate some of the characteristics of the T20 with a diffuser and the ability of flash to stop action! even at Olympus' much-maligned 1/60 second flash sync.
Here you can leave some comments about this picture. Please fill out all the fields before submitting the form. Once you're done filling out the form, click the "Leave comments" button, after which you can see your comments down below.
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Comments:

Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

Lovely diffuse lighting, and that naughty look on the cat's face makes me think that moments after the shot that pot might have "accidentally" fallen on the floor ;)

Comment left by: Mickey Trageser (no e-mail specified)

Good use of diffusion. No harshness on the main subject, yet still crisp. BTW- you needn't worry about the flash sensor on the flash in TTL auto mode. The camera takes over the sensor's task. I've wanted to experiment with milk jug material as a diffuser. I'm surprised how smooth it rendered. Single layer? It really doesn't look like the flash is shoe mounted. Good job.

Comment left by: John A. Lind (no e-mail specified)

Good use of diffuser and looks very sharply focused. Got a nice catchlight in the near eye that brings it to life and you did an excellent job of avoiding the dreaded, more dramatic than human, feline red-eye. Some suggestions: As you continue to photograph your feline, try experimenting with wider apertures in the f/2.8 to f/4 range on the 85/2 for a shallower DOF (at f/2.8 focus must be very accurate). Also try shooting some at his level, and try some closer (if you can do this). I've bumped into minimum focus distance using the 85/2 to to tight shots of our cat and found Oly's 7mm extension tube shortens the minimum distance enough without reducing the maximum distance too much. -- John

Comment left by: Wiliam Wagenaar (wiliam@zeelandnet.nl)

Great shot of your new feline. Even the black hairs are still visible.

[Previous]

[Return to index]

[Next]