Photographer:  Ken Eis
Image Title:  Tulip Glory
Date:  October 2009 - Best of Show Intermediate Challenge Topic (Close-Up Shot)
Score:  24/27
Comments from Judges: Very well done. Great lighting

Q. How did you set the shot up?

The shot was a table top flash setup. I used a strobe with shoot-through umbrella above and to the left of the camera as a fill light. The main lighting was another strobe with a snoot behind and above the tulips. This light was the key light. The idea was to have the primary light making the flower  translucent with transmitted, not reflected light.

Q. What equipment did you use?

Nikon D2x 105mm macro Alien Bee 400 and SB800 strobe both on manual. Umbrella and a snoot made up of a rolled up sheet of black foam to concentrate the key light just on the flower petals.  

Q. What f-stop and exposure?

F16 and 1/125 sec ISO 200

Q. How many attempts before the success?

Three or four to get the light balanced between reflected and transmitted light and the tulips composed correctly

Q. What did you learn from taking the shot?

Not to spend all your time setting up equipment. The arrangement of the flowers was critical.   Also that post processing was important. The original picture has room clutter in the background that I sent to black with a levels and curve adjustment.

Q. What did you learn from the image being judged at competition?

The others respond to the dramatic lighting as well. Black backgrounds seem to be a very good technique for presenting flowers and isolating the subject from unnecessary distractions.