Twin Stars
Before / After
Explanation
What makes this image work is the repetition of shape throughout the frame. The smaller star immediately attracts attention, while the larger star beneath it quietly reinforces the same visual pattern.
The shallow depth of field helps separate the two layers while the lighting keeps the viewer's attention exactly where it needs to be. The warm shapes in the background created by the pine needles add atmosphere without competing with the subject.
The result feels simple, but every element contributes to the same idea: repetition.
The shallow depth of field helps separate the two layers while the lighting keeps the viewer's attention exactly where it needs to be. The warm shapes in the background created by the pine needles add atmosphere without competing with the subject.
The result feels simple, but every element contributes to the same idea: repetition.
Gear Used
– Canon R5
– Canon RF 100mm Macro
– amaran Ace 25c (x2)
– amaran Pano 60c
– Peak Battery
– Canon RF 100mm Macro
– amaran Ace 25c (x2)
– amaran Pano 60c
– Peak Battery
Settings
Camera: Canon R5
Lens: Canon RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
ISO: 200
Focus stacking: ~50 images
Lens: Canon RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
ISO: 200
Focus stacking: ~50 images
Breakdown
I started by composing the image from directly above the subject. What interested me most was the way the same star-shaped pattern repeated itself naturally along the stem.
Since the scene was being photographed in bright conditions, I underexposed the image by roughly three stops. This helped darken the background and allowed the artificial lighting to have a greater impact on the final image.
I placed light (2) on the right side and carefully aimed it toward the smaller star (6), making sure not to illuminate the larger star (7) too heavily.
I then added light (3) from the left side to further shape the subject while maintaining separation between the two layers.
At this point the subject felt strong, but the background lacked interest. To solve this, I introduced pine needles (5) into the upper portion of the composition and illuminated them using the Pano 60c (4).
After experimenting with different intensities and color temperatures, I settled on a warmer tone that created soft out-of-focus shapes and reinforced the repeating pattern found in the subject.
Finally, I captured approximately 50 bracketed images at f/2.8 using the smallest focus increment setting to ensure smooth transitions throughout the stack while preserving the shallow depth of field.
Since the scene was being photographed in bright conditions, I underexposed the image by roughly three stops. This helped darken the background and allowed the artificial lighting to have a greater impact on the final image.
I placed light (2) on the right side and carefully aimed it toward the smaller star (6), making sure not to illuminate the larger star (7) too heavily.
I then added light (3) from the left side to further shape the subject while maintaining separation between the two layers.
At this point the subject felt strong, but the background lacked interest. To solve this, I introduced pine needles (5) into the upper portion of the composition and illuminated them using the Pano 60c (4).
After experimenting with different intensities and color temperatures, I settled on a warmer tone that created soft out-of-focus shapes and reinforced the repeating pattern found in the subject.
Finally, I captured approximately 50 bracketed images at f/2.8 using the smallest focus increment setting to ensure smooth transitions throughout the stack while preserving the shallow depth of field.
Quick Tip
When shooting at high magnification and wide apertures like f/2.8, use the smallest focus increment available. It's much easier to remove extra frames later than it is to recover missing detail between slices.
Final Thoughts
What caught my attention was the way the same shape repeated itself naturally along the stem. Sometimes the most interesting compositions aren't about finding a complex subject, but simply recognizing patterns that nature has already created for us.
