The Royal Snail - Technical Description of Macro Photography Session

Hi everybody :)

The piece I present today is another shell, in this case a shell from a royal snail.
Well, I actually have no idea whether the snail was royal or not, but from the look of the shell, I want to believe that there must have been something special.
In fact, they are specimens that develop these defense mechanisms to better protect themselves from the various predators present in the wild.
There was no longer any clue about this one, other than the shell that was stuck in the sand.

Technical Description of Macro Photography Session

Camera Settings

Focus Mode: Manual focus to ensure precision in specific details of the structure.
Aperture: Variable aperture between f/1 and f/2 for adequate depth of field, ensuring all important details are in focus.
ISO: Low ISO setting (1600) to minimize noise in images.
Shutter Speed: Adjust shutter speed as needed to avoid underexposure, while maintaining a value that allows you to capture sharp details.

Procedures

Environment Preparation:
Assembling the macro photography set in a controlled environment, minimizing the presence of dust and ensuring a clean and white surface for positioning the piece.
Section Positioning:
Placing the subject in position that highlight the unique characteristics, using appropriate supports to keep the example stable.
Lighting Adjustment:
Setting the LED lights to provide uniform illumination, adjusting the intensity and angle of the lights to eliminate unwanted shadows.
Image Capture:
Taking multiple shots with variations in aperture settings, shutter speed and capture angle, exploring different perspectives and compositions.
Image Review:
Immediate analysis of images captured on the camera's viewfinder to ensure that all desired details were captured sharply and clearly.
Post-Production Editing:
Importing images into editing software (Adobe Photoshop CS) to adjust brightness, contrast, sharpness and remove any imperfections.

Among the numerous techniques available for macro photography, this method is arguably the most cost-effective and efficient for individuals possessing a camera with a removable lens. By simply detaching the lens and reversing its direction, and employing an inversion ring, the process becomes more manageable and streamlined.

Session Purpose

The main objective of this macro photography session is to capture detailed images of a shell, with a focus on thoroughly observing and documenting all characteristics and visual details. Furthermore, i seek to create attractive visual compositions for publication on this blog, aiming to share the beauty and complexity of this structure.

Used equipments

Camera: Canon EOS 600D Digital SLR with CMOS sensor
Lens: EFS 18-55mm with f/2 maximum aperture, allowing shallow depth of field and capturing fine details.
Used inverter ring
Tripod: not used
Lighting: Adjustable LED lights to provide soft, even lighting, avoiding harsh shadows and highlighting the details of structures.

Let me present today’s model:

Before moving onto the result...

My introductory thoughts about macro photography:

The field of macro photography is a domain replete with limitless possibilities and boundless creativity. It is truly remarkable how the use of macro lenses, with their capability to produce beautifully blurred backgrounds, can yield such a diverse array of images rich in contrast and texture.
Macro photography unveils a world of intricate details that often escape the naked eye. It is as if an entirely new universe unfolds before the lens, inviting us to explore and appreciate the beauty inherent in the minutiae of everyday life.

What makes macro photography so captivating is its ability to offer a new perspective on the world around us. With the right technique and vision, even the most mundane subjects can be transformed into works of art, each image telling its own unique story.
There are no limits to what can be captured. Each object becomes a potential subject, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, where even the smallest details can evoke a feeling of surprise.