As you all know, I am very passionate about portrait photography. And when I shoot portraits, my main focus is always on the eyes. Eyes just attract and fascinate me. Back then when I still was shooting pool billiard tournaments, I started already a series about eyes on the pool table. Its called “the eye of pool”:
Thats the article from back then (11 years ago) https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2011/08/eye-of-pool-update/
But now I wanted to go closer and create a more abstract artwork. I started with buying the Laowa 25mm Ultra Macro lens. As explained in the video, I build a whole rig with macro focusing rails and a a linear transition stage.
Eye movement, ripod movment and head movement was a big issue. For that I build a special kind of headrest.
I tried different camera/lens setups during my shootings. That is one of them
At the end I am very happy with the outcome. It was a lot of work, but for me it was totally worth it. I love how these abstract eye photographs turned out on fine art prints. If you want to get a signed fine art print, contact me here: http://contact.mhaustria.com for prints from my shop visit http://prints.mhaustria.com. If you are an ophthalmologist and want to work with me on some of the images, please let me know and contact me.
That headrest looks specially uncomfortable. You might want to try a curved headrest, or possible even the donut-shaped ones massage tables provide that you press your face against.
I need a uncomfortable headrest for this kind of micro photography. Let me explain: the depth of field is super shallow. Every tiny movement would result into a blurry image.
For example, I once filmed with the same lens and the same magnification chemicals and how the react during development.
You could see tiny movements in the video. T caused these movements, because I distributed the weight of my body from the left to the right foot on a concrete floor.
Now imagine any kind of soft surface where my sitter leans against. It would cause extreme movement at that kind of magnification