What equipment and lighting are used to create extreme close-up iris photos like Suren Manvelyan’s?
Asked 6/8/2012
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I’ve seen Suren Manvelyan’s dramatic macro photos of human eyes and I’m curious how this look is achieved. Based on the images, what camera/lens setup and lighting would typically be used for this kind of iris close-up? In particular, what makes the iris texture stand out so strongly, and are there any visible clues in the catchlights about the lighting modifiers used?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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It's not that hard. You just need a good macro lens, and a patient subject.
In this case, it looks like he is exaggerating the texture of the iris with hard side-lighting, which leads to the starkly defined structures you see. If you try to take pictures of an eye with diffuse lighting, the texture really does not show up.
Here is a shot I took myself. It was with a Sigma 150mm macro lens.
The hardest part, by far, was convincing the cat to stay still.
Canon 30D, 150mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/250 sec
It probably should have been shot with a more open aperture (~f/2.8).
Originally by user2611. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2611
14y ago
0
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This look is mainly about true macro magnification plus directional lighting. According to a quoted source, Suren Manvelyan used Canon DSLR bodies with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens.
The strong iris texture is likely emphasized by hard side-lighting rather than soft, diffuse light. Side light creates shadows in the iris structure, making the patterns appear much more pronounced. Several images also suggest controlled artificial light; some may use an LED panel, and at least one catchlight appears to indicate a honeycomb grid or similar modifier.
So the basic recipe is:
- a dedicated macro lens (around 100mm is very suitable)
- a very still, patient subject
- close focusing at high magnification
- directional side lighting, possibly with a gridded source
In short, the effect is not from unusual camera gear so much as from macro technique and carefully placed light. Diffuse front lighting would flatten the eye and reduce the visible texture.
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