Too shiny macro photos

[Jim Ford]

Thirded!

There is no possibility of preserving detail in specular highlights resulting from a bright source such as the Sun or a flash, without underexposing so much as to completely block up all other detail in the image. Such an image would typically have tiny detailed highlights, the rest being a velvety black!

A lot of photographers are neurotic about 'blowing' highlights, and underexpose to such an extent that they've only captured a fraction of the tonal range available.

Underexpose by just one stop and you've only captured half the available tonal range. Two stops and you've only captured a quarter.

When such an image is subsequently adjusted in PP to give a spread of tones from black to white (to correct a 'muddy' image mainly consisting of greys), the histogram will look like railings because of the discontinuities in tone, which may been seen as posterisation in the viewed image.

Jim

[DorsetDunk]

ok Jim take a landscape expose the land correctly and you will end of with a blown sky and visa versa so what do you find a suitable balance so both are exposed correctly so apply the same method with insects to lessen the highlight and using a diffuser which will lessen the highlight still further
if you have a very iridescent bug try moving it into the shade and use diffused fill in light it might take you 30 odd shots and a good deal of fiddling with focusing and exposure to get a near perfect shot without exaggerated highlights now take the best raw image and run it through hdr software to bring back the details in the highlighted areas
no i would not waste my time with every bug shot going through the whole process but if its scarce and perhaps the only record shot on the web then I try my very best to use my skills to get a near perfect shot as possible as those details are extremely important

[Geoff F]

I think we have now returned to where we were several answers ago.

If there are over exposed areas when you look through your viewfinder they will be reproduced by the camera unless you underexpose to such a level that you lose the details of everything else. That is inevitable.

What can be controlled are excessive highlights which are caused by using flash. Although even then you may have difficulties in preventing some overexposure if you need a fast shutter speed in reduced natural lighting conditions.

The obvious answer when photographing dead specimens is to take a number of different exposures then combine them to produce a perfect photo - HDR. Or use carefully controlled studio lights/reflectors to produce perfect lighting.

One quick shot of a nervous insect doesn't allow for this.

'Fake HDR' can sometimes help. Shoot Raw then convert using two different exposures and combine the results. But, 'combine' sounds good when you say it; the reality can involve quite a bit of work.

Covering over the highlights with Clone Tool or Healing Brush can sometimes be an option.

Also using some of the portrait photographer's tips for 'painting' in some colour over the highlights is another possibility. This, once again, does need a little bit of skill and experience.

However, we are principally talking about artistic results here. I would always be wary of doing excessive 'improvements' on images which need detailed examination to discover correct identity.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by DorsetDunk

ok Jim take a landscape expose the land correctly and you will end of with a blown sky and visa versa so what do you find a suitable balance so both are exposed correctly so apply the same method with insects to lessen the highlight and using a diffuser which will lessen the highlight still further

There's generally a much smaller dynamic range in a landscape than in a subject where's there's a reflection of the sun or flashgun, like a shiny insect. There's a good chance of capturing a satisfactory image in the former, but there's none in the later - the range is simply too huge for the camera, or even the human eye to capture.

Jim

[Alan Hewitt]

Originally Posted by DorsetDunk

please don't go rubbishing other peoples skills in solving this

I am not rubbishing their skills. I am giving what in my opinion is a little bit of advice. The OP has requested constructive criticism and advice and I have offered this.

Yes there are details lost in highlights but they are very much minimal, it is not like the entire detail of white seabird has been lost due to harsh light and poor exposure. Quite the opposite, the exposure is probably very good in terms of the difficulty of the subject. Had it been in focus and sharp they may not have been so obvious either.

I do appreciate your point of view in terms of recording a species but even still the highlights are still very minimal.

[turkeyneck]

Originally Posted by catbee

The insect was taken with the camera's own pop-up flash (canon 50D). Perhaps I should try something over the flash - or just wait for a sunny but not too sunny day.

Personally the sunny days are the days I grab my camera and macro as this allows me to get the shutter speed I'd like instead of having to use the flash.
With a ring flash, you have better control of the flash output but as you are using the pop up, you are tied slightly. The problem with the pop up flash is even with reducing the output on my 7D for macro it can sometimes be to harsh. Just lately on macro trips I have left my RF behind and have used my pop up flash with one of these
Pop Up Flash Diffuser for Canon 550D 500D 50D 5D II 7D | eBay

I've tried the home made diffusers but was never was very good at the DIY stuff, so for £4.00 great value. I wanted something small for when sticking my lens into the undergrowth, I've found this works well. As everyone has said already yes we all get highlights, we just try to reduce them.
In macro mode to try to keep highlights down either flash or sunlight, I'll always shoot slighty underexposed then raise the level in PS after.

[nightshade]

I posted a link to an Origami flash diffuser on this site, but have recently seen these Amazon.co.uk: pop up diffuser Photography

[catbee]

Many thanks everyone. Will have a look at these diffusers. I have noticed on sunny days that some insects seem to reeflect sunlight anyway. I will keep on persevering though.