Live In Contrast: December 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Macro

It's the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, and while I have many Christmas photos to post, I have also enjoyed extra time to work on another part of my hobby- macro photography.

The following pictures were taken of our table centerpiece using a reversed 50mm lens on extension tubes.

[Editors note: These photos are uncropped.]

On Light, Contrast, and Focus

Focus draws our attention to something and makes it clear. It helps us to perceive what is important and what is insignificant. It allows us to recognize things as they are and to see them in rich, accurate detail.

But focus is impossible without both light and contrast.

In darkness, no subject is visible, so attempting to focus is futile. It doesn't matter how good your focus might otherwise be, without a source of light, you cannot see anything clearly.

We need contrast to provide definition as we attempt to focus. A well-illuminated subject that lacks contrast no longer provides the information necessary to adjust our focus, resulting in a vague, unclear image, void of detail.

My goal is to be a lens through which God focuses His light on creation, showing how His ways live in contrast to our own, in order that I may learn to do as He does.