Super Macro Photography

Super Macro Photography – How to Photograph Ballpoint Pen Tips – Watch on YouTube

Super Macro Photography of Ballpoint Pen Tips

Ballpoint pens are everywhere, but under a super macro lens, they reveal a world of intricate textures and details. This guide walks through how to photograph the tip of a ballpoint pen using high magnification and Adaptalux lighting, right from your home setup.

Why Photograph a Ballpoint Pen?

The tip of a ballpoint pen is a classic macro subject. It’s small, detailed, and surprisingly complex. At 10x magnification, you can see scratches, dried ink, and the curvature of the ball itself. These features make it ideal for practising super macro photography techniques.

Choosing the Right Lens

To capture the fine details of a pen tip, you’ll need a lens capable of at least 5x magnification. A 10x objective lens, like those found in microscope lens sets like the Laowa Aurogon, offers even more clarity. These lenses can be mounted to most DSLR or mirrorless cameras.

Lower magnification lenses (2.5x to 5x) are more versatile and easier to use. They’re suitable for general macro work and still capable of capturing pen tips, though cropping may be needed and this sacrifices some of the detail.

Ideally, you need a lens that will fill the frame with your subject to make full use of the camera’s resolution.

Managing Magnification Challenges

High magnification introduces several challenges:

• Shallow depth of field: Only a tiny portion of the image will be in focus.
• Camera shake: Even the smallest movement can ruin the shot.
• Limited working distance: There’s very little space between the lens and subject.
• Limited Light: High magnifications require more light to expose the subject.

To overcome these, mount both the camera and subject on the same surface. This keeps them stable relative to each other. A focus stacking rail is essential to manually shift the camera in tiny increments and capture multiple focus points. Some dedicated macro lighting and diffusion is also essential for good settings.

Before shooting, scribble with the pen to get ink on the tip. This adds visual interest and texture. Whether you prefer a clean nib or one with ink residue, both offer unique photographic opportunities.

Lighting the Pen Tip

Lighting is crucial in super macro photography. The working distance is often just a few centimetres, so compact and bright lighting is needed. The Adaptalux Studio system is ideal here. Its super bright white lighting arms fit easily into tight spaces and provide enough intensity to illuminate tiny subjects.

To avoid harsh reflections and specular highlights, diffusion is key. While Adaptalux offers snap-on diffusers, they may be too large for extreme close-ups. A simple sheet of thin white paper placed over the lens and subject works surprisingly well. It softens the light and reveals more detail, like dried ink and surface texture.

Fine-Tuning Light Position

At this scale, even millimetre adjustments to lighting make a big difference. Moving a light slightly changes which part of the pen is illuminated. Adjusting the distance between the light and the diffusion material also affects the softness of the light. Experiment with overhead and side lighting to find a setup that highlights the pen’s features.

Generally, you should aim for at least one edge of the pen illuminated, with a second light above the ball to capture the curvature.

Focus Stacking for Sharp Results

With such a shallow depth of field, focus stacking is essential. This involves taking multiple shots at different focus points and combining them afterwards in software.

Manual stacking using a rail is time-consuming but effective, the images you see here are actually 150 -180 images. After 10x, manual stacking becomes very difficult and you may want to consider an automated solution. Either way, once stacked, the final image reveals sharp detail across the entire pen tip and the difference is clear to see.

Photographing a ballpoint pen tip at super macro magnification is a rewarding challenge. It teaches precision, patience, and lighting control. With the right lens, a stable setup, and Adaptalux lighting, you can capture stunning images of everyday objects.

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